RCEdit & save an aircraft#
The aircraft editor changes a complete local aircraft definition: shape, component mass and position, propulsion, battery, controls and FPV equipment. Repository JSON stays unchanged until you export it and edit the file yourself.
A useful editing loop#
- Choose an aircraft, then History → Save version and name the starting setup.
- Change one thing in Airframe, Components or Control test.
- Check mass, CG and visible installation. Inspect Top and Side views as well as Perspective.
- Apply & fly to try it, or open Experiments and run a comparison.
- Keep the result as a named version, or restore your earlier checkpoint.
Mass and center of gravity#
AIRCRAFT BALANCEMove the battery. See the balance.253 g assembled50 mm aft50 mm forwardCG FROM WING LEADING EDGE mm aftNose / 0 mm100 mm aftSame parts. Same weight. Only the balance changes.
Illustrative placement; not a clearance or safe-CG check. This demo does not edit your aircraft.Open static diagram ↗
Try the battery slider in this guide: the highlighted pack and gold CG marker move together. The readout uses the FT Tiny Trainer component ledger. This demonstration stays separate from your aircraft; use Components → Move on model to change an actual editor draft.
Aircraft mass is the sum of its installed parts. Editing total mass scales those masses; for a real component substitution, edit that component instead. CG aft of LE is the longitudinal center of gravity measured from the main wing leading edge. The CG editor moves the battery to reach the requested balance. The resulting full inertia tensor follows each component's mass and position.
Positions use body axes: X forward, Y right, Z down. Coordinates are relative to the aircraft's fixed datum. The simulator's position refers to the center of mass. Positive Z moves a component downward.
Change components#
In Components, select the battery, motor, servo or payload. Choose a catalog replacement and review its mass and performance before applying it. Enter measured values for your build when available.
| Component | Values that affect the model |
|---|---|
| Battery | Mass, position, cells, capacity, initial charge, voltage curve and internal resistance |
| Motor and prop | Mass, position, paired thrust/current table, response time and torque assumptions |
| Servo | Mass, installation, commanded travel, rated speed and linkage geometry |
| Structure and payload | Mass, position, dimensions and optional principal inertia |
Material names and servo torque ratings do not automatically calculate structural flexibility or loaded servo behavior. Prop diameter alone does not derive motor thrust. Component models describes what is calculated and what remains descriptive.
Place components on the model#
Choose a part by its icon and name, then Move on model. Drag the body-axis handles or enter X/Y/Z in millimeters. Top and Side views help check clearance. The gold CG marker and live balance readout show the effect immediately. Cancel keeps the previous draft; Use placement writes the position into the draft. Apply when ready to save a local version.
Moving a motor or propeller keeps the paired components and motor force station together. Other installed parts move independently. The editor does not enforce collisions or fabricate a new structural or aerodynamic shape. For the tricopter VTOL, Check motor headroom reports calculated hover motor commands after a placement change.
Check control movement#
Open Control test and enable Test sticks. Move the keyboard or configured controller and inspect the physical surface deflections. Adjust response rates, expo, servo travel and per-surface mixing as needed. The same actuator model drives the preview and flight.
The Bronco V-tail mixes pitch and yaw into two ruddervators; its conventional configuration has fixed fins, one elevator and differential motor yaw. The FT-22 uses mixed elevons. The Simple Trainer has rudder/elevator control and no ailerons. Avoid applying the same mix in both your transmitter and RCForge.
Place an FPV camera#
Add a camera in Components, then choose Adjust camera. Use the interactive mount tool to position it on the aircraft, inspect its lens preview, adjust tilt and field of view, and accept the placement. The installed camera has mass and moves with the aircraft. FPV and control setup has the complete workflow and field definitions.
Save, restore and contribute#
Apply to flight saves an automatic version when the setup changes. History compares complete snapshots and restores a version to your draft before you apply it. Restore original aircraft loads the bundled source while preserving the previous draft as a checkpoint.
Export ordinary aircraft JSON to share one setup, or export a history archive to keep all local revisions. Before reloading, apply, save or export unapplied drafts. See versions and recovery for storage limits, and contributing to submit an aircraft to the public catalog.