Soaring through the air, watching the clouds and the birds fly by. No, you are not flying your own private plane, but you are doing the next best thing. You are flying an RC airplane through the sky. With a little practice, you can even have your airplane doing acrobatics, and you thought you would never be a pilot!
Flying RC or radio controlled airplanes is an excellent hobby, and it can be a lot of fun. RC airplanes are perfect as a father and son activity. Bring the family together with some airtime and share the joy of flight. If you want to get started in the RC airplane hobby, you do not need to be intimidated, with recent advancements in electronics; getting started in RC airplanes is easier than ever before.
What types of RC airplanes are there?
There is so much more than just airplanes in the RC aircraft world. No matter what type of aircraft interests you, there is something available for you. Some of the most common types of kits and models that you can purchase are:
1) Airplanes
2) Jets
3) Gliders
4) Helicopters
5) Blimps
6) UFOs
In addition, of course, within all of these categories, there are a number of different styles. You can get simulations of most real airplanes and jets in the world. Whether you want to fly and old-fashioned bi-level plane or a modern jet. You will be able to find a ready to run kit or model kit that is perfect for you!
Can anyone Fly RC Airplanes?
RC airplanes are easy to operate and with a little practice, anyone can soon be an expert. You can choose from electric airplanes or gas powered. Typically, electric airplanes are the easier models to fly. With the advances in electronics over the last few years, the receivers in the planes are getting smaller and smaller, and lighter and lighter. This means that the airplanes are easier to manage, especially for new pilots.
When you are looking for airplanes that will be easy to manage, you should look for a model with a high wing. Airplanes with a high wing design provide much more stability. You may want to start out with an electric RC airplane and progress to a gas powered model, as the gas models are typically harder to handle and require quite a bit more experience.
Do I have to Build my Own RC Plane?
You have a few choices when you are starting out in the RC airplane hobby. You do not have to build your own plane; you have the option of purchasing a ready to fly or rtf kit. This is probably the easiest choice because everything you need will come ready in the box. All you need to do is do the final assembly and you are ready to be airborne.
You can also choose a kit that is almost ready to fly or arf. These kits typically only require minimal assembly. Often with this type of kit, you may need only to add the final paint job and the decals to be ready to go. You can buy almost ready to fly kits in a variety of finishing stages.
You always have the option of course to build your own RC airplane from scratch of course. There are endless kit options available if you are interested in this type of undertaking. The typical make it from scratch kit is made from balsa wood. You can use easy to follow instructions that will take you systematically through the entire process. This is obviously much harder and requires quite a bit more work, however for the experienced hobbyist, the rewards and self-satisfaction from creating your own model airplane can be extremely rewarding.
When you build your own RC airplane, you will definitely have a lot more work ahead of you. And these planes can be more difficult to fly. Often times they are touchier to steer and move and they require a lot more finesse. If you have a crash with your built from scratch RC plane, you will have to rebuild the part by hand. If you have an rtf or an arf RC airplane than you can simply purchase the replacement parts and have a quality part, instead of an inadequate repair job.
Your Final Choice
No matter what your final decision is regarding the type of RC airplane you decide to buy, you will be able to have hours of enjoyment learning to fly your aircraft. There are RC airplane clubs all over the country, and many of these clubs have their own airstrips. Whether you chose to be part of the larger RC airplane community, or enjoy your hobby alone or with a friend, RC aircraft flying can be extremely satisfying.
© 2005
http://www.rc-cars-now.comKevin Brown is successful author and publisher of many informative websites including www.rc-cars-now.com . His websites offer tips and advice on a wide array of topics including RC cars, RC airplanes, boats and more.
