Model Aircraft Glossary

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Fail Safe

A system which closes the throttle and moves the control surfaces to pre-set positions in the event of loss of signal from the transmitter. Required by larger models and is intended to bring the model to earth quickly in the event of radio interference or transmitter failure.

Fairing

A streamlined cover over a joint or around angular parts of an aircraft intended to reduce drag.

Fillet

A rounded contour used at the junction of vertical and horizontal surfaces on an aeroplane, to reduce air resistance.

Fin

The fixed forward portion of the vertical tail surfaces.

Final Appraoch

The last phase of a flight when lined up with the runway during the landing approach.

Finishing

The detail in the finishing of the aircraft can be as important as the fundamental design.

Firewall

A strong bulkhead immediately behind the engine on a powered aeroplane.

Flaps

Hinged surfaces attached to the trailing edge of a wing, either to increase manoeuvrability (as on a control line aerobatic model) or to increase lift at the expense of drag (as on most full size aircraft and some radio control aeroplanes). more......

Flaperons

A combination of ailerons and flaps. The diferential movement has the same effect as ailerons and the collective movement the same effect as flaps.

See also: Ailerons, Flaps.

Flare

The point during the landing approach in which the pilot gives an increased amount of up elevator to smooth the touchdown of the airplane. Ground effect may result in the aircraft remaining airborne for longer than expected.

Flight Box

A special box used to hold and transport all equipment used at the flying field. The more compartments the better, but ensure that the box is easy to clean as it will inevitably get covered in fuel and dirt.

Flight Pack

All of the radio equipment installed in the airplane: Receiver, Servos, Battery and Switch Harness.

Flight Simulator

A system that tries to copy or simulate the experience of flying. These systems range from those used to train fighter and airline pilots to those used for radio control flight simulation.

We tested out the Aerofly Professional Deluxe flight simulator.

Flutter

Rapid oscillation of a wing or control surface. Usually appears only at high speed and is often caused by excessive gaps between wing and control surface, or by inadequately stiff control rods, or in the case of a wing insufficiently stiff structure.

Flying Boat

An aeroplane with a fuselage shaped like a boat. For operation off water.

Search for flying boat books on Amazon.co.uk

Flying Scale Model

A flyable miniature of a manned aeroplane.

Flying Wings

If you are looking for more information on flying wings try this excellent site: The Wing Is The Thing (TWITT)

Former

See: Bulkhead.

Forward Sweep Wing

The tips of the wing are forward of the leading edge at the root of the wing. There are many problems with this design, one being torsional stability resulting in flutter.

Four Stroke Engine

Free-Flight

Freewheeler

A propeller with a special device that allows it to windmill after the rubber motor is unwound.

Frequency Monitor

Multi-channel radio receiver used to check for interference on model radio control frequencies.

See also: Radio Frequencies.

Frize Type Aileron

When the aileron is down there is a very smooth flow over the top surface. However, when the aileron is up the bottom sticks out below the surface of the wing creating drag and balancing the drag created by the opposite aileron.

See also: Ailerons.

Fuel

Check that the fuel you use is clean. If you always tranfer it from one can to another e.g. for your flight box be careful not to mix fuels up.

NEVER USE UNLABELLED CONTAINERS.

Check that there is no residue in either can. Use a filter between the pump and the fuel. A filter should also be included between the fuel tank and the engine. This filter should be checked from time to time, a dirty filter will starve the engine of fuel and cause problems. Never suck fuel through a system with your mouth, a small clean plastic bottle fitted with a piece of fuel pipe can be used to pressurise the fuel tank or draw fuel through the system from the pipe that supplies the needle valve.

Fuselage

The body of an aeroplane.

Fuselage Construction

The fuselage of a model aeroplane that is intended to fly may be constructed in a number of ways depending on the required performance envelope of the model aircraft. A number of construction methods along with useful hints and tips are included here.

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