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Motor Controller: Usually called an electronic speed
control (ESC), the motor controller controls the speed of
the motor. Motor controllers can also be simple on and
off switches.
Peak Charger: A type of battery charger that uses a mi-
croprocessor to sense when the flight battery is fully
charged. Once peak charged, the charger shuts off so the
battery does not overcharge.
Pushrods: They connect between the control surface and
the servo, transferring the movement of the servo directly
to the control surface.
Pushrod Housing: A tube that is usually nylon. The
pushrod tube or wire runs through the housing.
Receiver: The part of the radio system that receives the
signals from the transmitter.
Root Rib: The most inboard rib of any wing panel.
Rudder: The rudder is the control surface on the back of
the airplane that moves right and left. This causes the
nose of the airplane to yaw right and left.
Servo: The part of the radio system that produces the
movement necessary to move the control surfaces. The
servo includes a small motor, gears and a circuit board.
Servo Reversing: An option on almost all new radios.
Servo reversing allows you to change the direction a servo
rotates by just flipping a switch on the transmitter.
Servo Tray: Usually made out of plywood, the servo
tray is the mounting base for the servos.
Stall Speed: The speed at which air stops moving fast
enough over the surface of a wing to keep the airplane
flying.
Thermal: Simply put, a column of warm or hot air that
rises. Birds and glider pilots enjoy flying in thermals.
Transmitter: The part of the radio system that you con-
trol. It transmits the control inputs to the receiver, which
transfers that information to the servos.
Trim Lever: A sliding lever on the transmitter that al-
lows you to make small adjustments to the control surfaces
from the transmitter.
Vertical Stabilizer: Mounted on the rear of the airplane,
it works with the rudder to turn the airplane. It also gives
the airplane vertical stability.
Wing Hold Down Dowel: A length of hardwood dowel
inserted through the fuselage at the front and back of the
wing. It is an anchor for the rubber bands that hold the
wing onto the fuselage.
Wing Saddle: The portion of the fuselage that the wing
is mounted.
Z-Bend: This is a special bend made in the pushrod wire.
While it cannot improve your ability to make adjustments,
the Z-Bend is the most secure way to attach the pushrod
wire to the servo horn.
NOTES
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