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Wing Placement Affects How a Plane Flies

4 Common Wing Placements on RC Airplanes

4 Common Wing Placements on RC Airplanes

© J.James
Wing placement makes a difference in how an RC airplane handles. RC airplanes with certain wing placements are easier for novice pilots to control. There are 4 general wing positions for RC airplanes.

Monoplanes

So named because they have one wing, monoplanes usually have one of three configurations: high wing, low wing, or mid-wing.
  • High wing: The wing is above the fuselage. It may be attached or supported with wires or struts of some kind. A very stable, steady flyer.

  • Low wing: The wing is attached below the fuselage. You'll find this configuration on a lot of planes designed for aerobatics.

  • Mid-wing: The wings are on either side of the fuselage. Jets and sports planes often have this wing placement.

Bi-Planes

A bi-plane is a two wing design.

The plane has two wings, usually one over and one under the fuselage. The wings are connected to each other with various configurations of struts and wires. The two wings may be directly above/below each other or they may be offset or staggered with one a little further back than the other.

Best Wing Placement

Wing placement changes the way an RC airplane flies because it affects maneuverability and mass distribution. High wing monoplanes and bi-planes are considered more stable and easier to fly, making them ideal for beginner pilots. You'll find that most RC trainer airplanes are high wing models.

While the increased maneuverability and response to controls in low wing and mid-wing models may sound good, they can be harder to control for inexperienced RC pilots.

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