How to Land an RC Plane • Plus: The Landing Pattern Explained 

Thanks this improved my landings

Great to hear this from a pilot who is also a full-scale pilot.

I agree with you! In trying to help others, I have realized that actions taking place during downwind, base, and final are actually a checklist of things to be accomplished to ensure a good landing. On downwind I am planting my feet parallel to the runway and I am slowing a bit. I enter base at an altitude that will allow me to descend on a (hopefully) constant slope to landing. The turn to base is when I decrease power and the visual comparison to the horizon gives an idea of the rate of descent. The turn to final comes when I feel I am over the vanishing point of the line down the runway center. Wings level on that path, and the only thing to manage is power to the touchdown.

Crazy how the scenery looks like a sim

Definitely gave me understanding and insight on landing.. I've crashed around 7 edf jets due to hot landings and bounce. Thanks

Good to see you’re back

Thx for this, I'm brand new to the flying aspect of the rc hobby, Just totaled my first airplane today trying to learn things like this due to no experienced guidence. I'll be remembering what you taught on my next one👍

Outstanding tutorial! I've burned countless batteries just practicing the approach in fact the CG for me anyway is determined on how controllable/smooth the glide path is on landing.. everything else is secondary. Determine how much flap if any at all. I like 3 flap settings.sometimes less is more depending on the airframe and wind conditions!! What a great way to enjoy social distancing!!

Very well explained . Thank you for sharing !

Very good explained. I practice this as much as I can.

Another great presentation. I have practised the technique many times and found it a great help with my RC landings. My landings are much better now. Very well explained. I have gained much RC experience from your videos. Thank you very much.

Great work Sir! I’m new and have a simulator and will be using this technique. Thanks again!

I spent a lifetime controlling rate of descent with the elevator until I tried EDFs which with flaps causes a stall and 2' splat. Without flaps seems fine. I am slowly learning this method. No prop wash with jets!

Thanks and a great job... I was an A6E Dewb, NATOPS, Misson Cmdr, Weapons Tactical Instructor... definitely a thumbs up!

Great video, thanks

Good. Exponential good explanation of landing but need to have a video where you can actually see the airplane

Thank you….great video

Thanks for this

Whoever was flying that RC Hawk is amazing!!

Thanks and subbed, not sure why I didn’t think about throttle controlling attitude on landings 🤦🏼‍♂️ lesson learnt

Agree 100% Proofs in the pudding. Very well explained

Thank you

I am with you on the race track turn approach.

When I fly, I fly patterns as well. Makes it more fun and realistic.

Down wind, base, final, I learned it on a full sized bird. Easier to fly inside than outside...we entered at a 45 deg. Angle, pulled power, add flaps and greased i in...my rc foamies are squrrly. 👍good video.👍

Thanks ... 👍👍👍

I totally agree with your modified pattern. With a smooth curve through base & approach, it is easier to achieve a steady rate of descent. I’m fortunate as a beginner pilot, that at my club field, the racetrack pattern is used by the majority of fliers. So although I need to be able to fly a proper rectangular pattern, I’ve never had to worry about performing a 90 degree turn while I am attempting to bring my plane gently down onto the runway.

Tip for all, on final add 03 or 04 clicks down on trim (elevator) , this will help you in high winds conditions to take it down. Best Regards

Would have been just as good as a podcast.

thanks for creating this rc video...as a beginner pilot just learning to fly with a high wing trainer 40 size nitro..I find knowing exactly when to begin making my base turn very difficult ...any tricks / tips to help with that specific part of landing ....thanks much

I blip the throttle on landings with a nose up attitude. SO I flare the plane and add power if needed

At the end of this video I thought I was watching Chef John at Food Wishes. And as always, land straight.

Thanks for the video. Landings, yeah, I need to work on those... Were you doing coordinated turns? Do you recommend them for the base leg and final?

Thanks for this complete video... :).. My biggest problem is that I am not able to keep my plane in a straight line after landing, it goes to the left and that's just annoying :(..

My instructor taught me to fly the downwind bleeding speed and altitude then turn dirrectly to myself still bleeding speed and altitud until arriving a the far edge of the runway. Then use airloins to left turn onto runway. He said this makes it easier to judge your position and altitude. Im just getting into flying and am curious about your opinion?

What rc plane were you flying?

I have a hard time with landings. I always initiate the glide slope so close to where I am landing and don't end up with enough space to land and end up having to do a go around. I get scared to slow down the speed further out because I don't want to stall the plane and make it crash. Guess I need to work on conquering that fear.

Great video bit it was hard to see the plane unless it was on the runway .

Great video! I was thinking about you the other day. Have you seen the new badass motors from rc dude hobbies/ innovative designs? Specs are impressive as heck. Someone should review one of them ;-)

Do you release elevator at touchdown to prevent bounce?

Hello, I have been flying a sports cub s2 for a while now, I have a 1.2 twin otter from e flite laying around my room, should I jump to that, or what plane would you recommend?

I have a beginner rc plane, and I’m not really sure how to loose speed efficiently without flying in circles with the throttle on idle, or how to get the right airspeed so I’m fast enough to flare, but not fast enough to start going up again

I'm self taught (not an AMA member, I usually fly at various parks around where I live, closest AMA field is a prohibitively long drive away), and I've never had any issues getting taildragger aircraft down. Recently I got my first plane with a tricycle gear, and I keep bouncing on the landing and breaking the nosewheel off on the second impact. What am I doing wrong?

How to prevent a bouncy (ballooning) landings ? Do I need to put some up stick immediatly after the wheels touches the ground ?

As a newbie my biggest problem is when the a/c is on final and I can't seem to get the aileron inputs correct when the a/c is coming towards me I get the inputs reversed. I wish someone would explain that skill and how to do it correctly.

Can't help but crack a joke... If you ask me, landing an actual plane is also optional, just remember to bring a parachute and have really, REALLYYY good and shady lawyers lmao Anyway, loved the video I was thinking about getting some cheap Chinese RC plane so I wouldn't feel bad about certainly crashing during the first flight... Probably would be to afraid to even take off lmao, and I can't help but think that even with having all the knowledge to fly an actual plane, it'd still be easier to land an actual plane then those models, unless you hook it up to a VR headset cause I think that a lack of any instruments and no image feedback from the plane's point of view would make it really hard to make an accurate decision... I'll probably stick with drones and choppers, they're just easier, but just as fun imho... Anyway cheers and have a good one y'all

You did say elevator controls altitude. Some say ideally elevator controls attitude. Throttle (power) controls altitude in landings. ???

Thanks. What plane are you flying here?

So your doing an old school carrier landing

how the hell do you align the plane with the runway if you can't see the first person perspective from the plane? it seems really hard to get the plane to land at the proper angle since you are observing it from where you are standing

I just lost my rc plane today flying through the air the some wind came and birds started swarming it then it went down somewhere

Your a pilot and no one ever told you not to "dive at the runway?" Lol good info though

I'll just land it in my neighbors yard

I hate landing