Flying Model Aircraft
Generally known collectively in all its forms as the sport and pastime of aeromodeling, some flying models resemble scaled down versions of piloted aircraft, while others are built with no intention of looking like piloted aircraft. There are also models of birds and flying dinosaurs. The reduced size affects the model's Reynolds number which determines how the air reacts when flowing past the model, and compared to a full sized aircraft the size of control surfaces needed, the stability and the effectiveness of specific airfoil sections may differ considerably requiring subtle changes to the design.
Flying model aircraft used in the range of different aeromdeling activities can be placed in one of three groups:
- Free flight (F/F) model aircraft fly without external control from the ground. This type of model pre-dates manned flight.
- Control line (C/L) model aircraft use cables (usually two) leading from one wing to the controller. A variation of this system is the Round-the-pole flying (RTP) model.
- Radio-controlled aircraft have a transmitter operated by the controller, sending radio signals to a receiver in the model which in turn actuates servos which manipulate the model's flight controls in a similar manner to a full sized aircraft.
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