The most common articles about Rc airplanes handling, refer to the use of control surfaces when the model is on the air either at take-off, flying or landing.

       How about the ground handling and its tricks in order to avoid situations like these!

      There is no problem when there is absence of strong or side wing which varies depending on the field you are flying from. Here are some basic guides about taxiing depending on the type of your aircraft’s landing gear configuration i.e tail-dragger or tricycle (nose wheel).

      Α. Tail wheel (tail – dragger)

      Head wind taxiing.

      Elevator at the UP position.

      Tail wind taxiing.

      Elevator at the DOWN position. In this case if the wind is not strong, be extra careful to keep the engine’s revs to as low as possible in order to avoid lifting the tail by the wind generated by the propeller.

      In case of crosswind then the appliance of AILERONS and RUDDER is necessary.

      While taxiing with a crosswind the ailerons should be positioned so that the wind when blowing across them will hold down the upwind wing. If the wind is behind and to the left, the left aileron should be down causing the wind when blowing across it to push the wing down (stick right). When the wind is from the left and ahead the left aileron should be up (stick left). When taxiing in a cross wind look at the ailerons and picture the wind moving across them and position them accordingly.

      B. Tricycle (nose wheel)

      The same taxiing techniques apply with one exception which is the use of the ELEVATOR. It remains in the NEUTRAL position or slightly to the DOWN position to increase the nose wheel effect. 

      In both cases keep the model’s speed low and avoid over react.

      DO NOT HURRY!

      Practice a lot and get to know your model’s ground handling characteristics before you attempt the first take off and landing.