Lake Sawyer Hawks RC Glossary

RC terms, acronyms, and club references explained.

Showing terms starting with B · 17 terms
Backlash

Term describing the amount of play between gears, or gear mesh. If too loose, the gear can slip, or strip the teeth. Too tight, and excessive wear is caused.

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Ball Link

Connection using a ball, and a link which rotates on the ball. Used to connect the servo to a control surface or lever.

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Ballast

Extra weight added to a glider to help it penetrate better in windy weather or to increase its speed. Ballast is usually added in tubes in the inner portion of the wings or in the...

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Bank

This is a measure of how far from level flight a plane’s wings are set during a turn or maneuver. It is measured in degrees of angle from level flight.

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Barn Door Ailerons

Larger, built up ailerons rather than an aileron from a simple strip of solid wood like some kits have.

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Barrel Roll

This refers to an aerobatic maneuver that involves the airplane following the twist of a large imaginary corkscrew (horizontal) through the air by way of rolling the aircraft.

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BB

These letters usually designate a ball-bearing supported crankshaft in an R/C engine or ball bearings in a better servo. This makes the engine run smoother and last longer.

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BEC (battery eliminator circuit)

A feature of some speed control units that permits both the motor and the receiver to be powered by the same battery.

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BHP

Brake horsepower. A measurement standard used by manufacturers to help consumers compare engines. NOTE: BHP is measured at the maximum operating RPM of the engine, which may not be...

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Binding Process

A proprietary combination of gyros, sensors, and software that helps to stabilize and control the heading of RC aircraft models.

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Blind Nut:

(Also called a T-Nut) A pronged nut that is pulled into a surface such as wood so that it cannot turn when a bolt is tightened into it. Blind nuts are typically used in situations...

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BNF ("Bind And Fly")

Bind N' Fly airplanes/quads/helis already come with a receiver so all that is required is for you to bind the receiver to your radio. It is important to make sure that the receive...

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Boundary Layer:

The thin layer of air immediately adjacent to a body moving through the air.

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Brushless Motors

Brushless motors have almost completely replaced brushed motors in the RC industry. Their superior power and efficiency make them the obvious choice for powering your RC aircraft....

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Buddy Box:

Training method utilizing two transmitter control boxes, linked together. The trainer radio has override control, which the instructor uses to take control when the trainee loses c...

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Bulkhead

A vertical former inside a fuselage.

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Butterfly

Also known as crow. A mix which activates up flaperons and down inner-most flaps for gliding speed control without spoilers or airbrakes. Crow (or butterfly) is only used for landi...

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