“Ground Control to Major Tom” – RC Airplanes for Complete Flying Fun!

Flying an RC airplane is a fantastic way to have some flying fun. It is suggested that you start at a level that is suitable for your experience. RC airplanes come in many sizes, shapes and control configurations. Here is a guide to where to start your RC airplane hobby.

For the kids

If you are looking at an RC airplane for a child, the best ones are small enough to fly indoors. these are made of a hard plastic and follow basic commands; dive, climb, left bank and right bank. Beginner RC airplanes for kids are small enough to fit in your hand and are extremely lightweight.

For the most part, this type of toy runs on batteries. Typically, there are batteries in the remote control and the actual airplane. You may want to consider getting rechargeable batteries; they tend to run out of juice quickly. Some types of RC airplanes even have a fuel-powered motor, but they require a bit of maintenance.

For the adults

For adult beginners, the models get a little larger and the upkeep is a bit more involved. Some are made of plastic while others are comprised of metal. Typically, the heavier the RC airplane, the more of a challenge it is to control. The basic commands are there and you even get a speed control on some models. Small electric RC airplanes go slow at about 10 to 15mph while gas powered ones can reach speeds of 80mph or more!

For the experienced or hardcore hobbyist

Now we get to the most exciting level of RC airplane flight. It is possible for the flyer to custom-build his or her own RC airplane from scratch. Choose the body style, material, controls desired and then add the propellers, motor and landing gear desired. This is only for the advanced RC flyer and makes for a full RC airplane experience.

The more advanced models will have all the basic controls and may have an option for rolling left or right. This is different from turning as it allows the flyer to control the flight path entirely. You may even have a remote start allowing you to start and stop the model from the remote control. Fuel is another consideration as it determines the overall speed of the airplane when in flight. Fuel powered RC airplanes have a typically higher speed and are more of a challenge.

Pricing

Prices range anywhere from as little as about $20 for the smaller models to approximately $500 or more for the custom-built models. It all depends on the flyer, their experience level and how you want to fly. Higher performance parts and accessories are available as well, so you can upgrade your RC model as you wish. The quality of the components heavily affects the cost, but is still very affordable.

Shop around a bit and see what is available. Pick the RC airplane that fits you, then go and enjoy the exciting world of RC airplane flight.