RC Fixed-Wing Glider — Servo Actuation & Aerodynamics
Hand-built fixed-wing glider: two servos, one BLDC motor, and enough aerodynamics to get airborne.
0× Servo
Control Surfaces
BLDC
Thrust Motor
Flight Tested
Outdoors
Tech Stack
The Challenge
Designing a fixed-wing glider from first principles — sizing control surfaces, setting the center-of-gravity at 25–30% of the mean aerodynamic chord, and tuning servo throws to give enough roll and pitch authority without inducing flutter or coupling. The challenge was making a low-budget foam airframe flyable with minimal instrumentation and no autopilot.
Architecture & System Design
Fixed-wing aircraft with servo-controlled surfaces (ailerons, flaps) for pitch and roll. Brushless motor provides forward thrust. Integrated servo and motor control system for stable flight.
The airframe uses a conventional layout: a single wing with aileron servos for roll, an elevator/flap servo for pitch, and a nose-mounted brushless DC motor driving a propeller for thrust. The ESC translates PWM signals from the RC receiver (1000–2000 μs pulse width) into three-phase motor drive. Servo horns are connected to control surfaces via push-rods, with throw adjusted at the horn to set control sensitivity. CG was balanced by ballasting the nose and verified with a balance-point test before first flight.
Code Walkthrough
Non-proprietary extract demonstrating the core integration pattern.
// RC Glider control surface mapping
// All channels driven by RC receiver PWM (1000–2000 μs)
// CH1 — Aileron servo → roll control
// Neutral: 1500 μs | Full deflection: ±350 μs
// Max throw: 15 mm at aileron tip
// CH2 — Flap/elevator servo → pitch control
// Neutral: 1500 μs | Up elevator: 1200 μs | Down: 1800 μs
// CH3 — ESC throttle → BLDC motor thrust
// Armed idle: 1050 μs | Full throttle: 2000 μs
// Motor KV: ~1000 KV | Prop: 8×4.5 inch
// CG target: 28% MAC from leading edge
// Dihedral: 5° for passive roll stabilityResults
The glider achieved stable controlled flight on its first outdoor test. Roll authority from the ailerons was sufficient for banked turns without adverse yaw. The brushless motor provided adequate thrust for level flight and gentle climbs. Two documented flight sessions captured on video showed the aircraft completing multiple circuits before a controlled landing.
Gallery & Demos
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