Turn how you want an RC airplane to fly into a coherent set of design decisions and dimensions before you build.
RC Plane Designer is a decision-first method for RC airplane design. It uses practical aerodynamic logic, design ranges, and trade-offs to help you move from flight intent to build-ready specifications.
Design around your intent, then turn those decisions into a clean, coherent 3-view when you sit down to draw.
Who this is for
RC Plane Designer is for the kind of RC pilot I used to be.
Curious, hands-on, and learning by doing.
It started as a personal notebook and grew through flying, testing, building, and figuring things out along the way.
It’s for thoughtful pilots and creative builders.
For anyone tired of vague rules of thumb and engineering material that never tells you what to decide next.
You don’t need to become an engineer.
You need to think like a designer.
How the method works
Design decisions come first. Numbers come after.
That’s what gives you:
Enough structure to avoid dead ends.
Enough freedom to stay creative.
Mission-first decisions
Every design starts by defining what the airplane is meant to do: Trainer, Sport, or Acrobatic. That mission sets the direction for all major choices that follow.
Applied aerodynamic logic
Go beyond isolated rules of thumb. Learn how lift, drag, stability, and moments shape the wing, tail, and fuselage in a way you can actually apply.
Coherent design specifications
As the design takes shape, dimensions and ratios are checked together rather than optimized in isolation. The goal is a set of choices that make sense as one airplane before you commit them to the build.
From first intent to build-ready dimensions, the method turns decisions into a coherent, flyable airplane.
What you’ll design, step by step
RC Plane Designer is structured as a progressive design path.
Each part builds on the previous one, guiding you from first principles toward a coherent airplane with clear dimensions and ratios.
You don’t jump between topics.
You move forward, one design decision at a time, in the right order.
Some steps include lightweight tools that translate decisions into draw-ready dimensions.
Available now
Foundation
Build a clear mental model of flight: forces, control axes, and the trade-offs behind every design decision.
Wing
Define wing position, size, shape, and key ratios to match the mission you chose.
Fuselage
Define the airplane’s proportions, layout, and lever arms so its major components work together coherently.
Tail
Size and position the horizontal and vertical tail surfaces to establish the stability and control authority your design needs.
Airplane Balance
Check center of gravity and static margin, and understand whether the airplane’s stability matches your intent.
Design cycle
Connect the major design choices, check their consistency, and iterate until the whole airplane still matches the mission.
RC Plane Designer is an evolving project, refined through use, testing, and feedback.
If you’re learning from it, designing with it, or building something from it, I’d like to hear from you.
Share a question or insight →