One of the complaints you used to hear about remote control was you needed a place to run them. With indoor remote control airplanes, that is no longer the case.
Remote controlled aircraft have always been scale models of the original full size versions. The scale has varied but there has always been a limiting factor to how small the plane could actually be. The plane had to be able to carry the motor, the receiver, and in the case of electric planes, the batteries. The resulting planes needed a fairly large area to take off and land. Even more area was needed for flight. This separated planes from other remote control models. The planes needed to be flown outdoors.
Remote control helicopters were one answer to this problem. The helicopter needed less take off and landing space, and was able to fly in a much more confined space. It was possible to fly the remote control helicopters inside a large building such as a workshop or gymnasium. This opened up the Hobby to year round fun as hobbyist began to move indoors during bad weather to fly. Yet, helicopters, despite their fun, were not airplanes.
It was the ability to produce miniature components that ushered in the era of the remote control indoor airplane. The receiver was a major issue, but the advent of microcircuits allowed small and light receivers. It was now possible to fly remote control airplanes inside buildings along with helicopters. Indoor flight clubs began to open and quickly grew in popularity. Just about any building with some open space was now a potential flight area.
The Micro Flyer Wattage Indoor remote control Electric Airplane is an example of the genre. It is a mere 8.2 inches in length with a 9 inch wingspan. Its small battery pack allows it to fly up to six minutes on a single charge. The controller operates off 6 AA batteries. The remote control indoor planes such as the Micro Flyer can also be used outdoors. They are much more susceptible to high wind due to their light weight, but can perform outdoors in calm weather just as well as indoors.
The ultimate expression of the remote control indoor airplane may well be the Plantraco 3.6g Butterfly. This miniature plane has a 0.4 gram Micro900 Receiver and a GB05 4mm 5:1 gearbox. This tiny and light aircraft needs a mere room at least 12 feet by 16 feet in order to operate. This is roughly the size of a good sized living room. Micro sized remote control toys have been part of the Hobby for some time with cars used for table top and indoor racing leading the way. Now, it is possible to fly remote control airplanes in your living room.
If you become a RC enthusiast, you will be happy to know there are others just as passionate. In this case, we are talking about RC Clubs
Quite often, people who share a common interest or hobby will band together to form a club. The idea is to interact with others to exchange information and to arrange competitions or activities appropriate to the hobby. The Remote Control hobby is no exception. Remote Control clubs flourish worldwide. In most cases, the Remote Control club will be dedicated to a specific area of the RC field. This might be a flying club or a boating club. Automobile and truck RC clubs generally sponsor racing events.
The best place to get information about Remote Control clubs in your area is through the associates at your local RC Hobby Shop. Many clubs will be sponsored by the Hobby shop. In many cases, the Hobby Shop will provide space for the club. This might include indoor racing areas for competitions. The Hobby Shop associates will often be members of local clubs themselves, even if the Shop is not affiliated with the club.
A second source for locating clubs is the internet. There are several websites that provide lists of various clubs complete with contact information. Many clubs are organized under national or even international associations. These groups generally have websites also that give listings of member clubs and their locations.
The RC Club is a great place to meet others that share your interest, but it is also a great place for a beginner to get a good start. It is not necessary to already be deeply involved in the RC hobby to benefit from a club membership. Teaching others the ins and outs of the hobby is one of the primary functions of most clubs. This is sometimes done informally with just the sharing of knowledge between the experienced and the inexperienced. Other times it is done with formal training sessions.
Competition is one of the functions of many RC clubs. This may consist of racing which can be done with planes and boats as well as cars and trucks. It may also consist of shows that recognize design and decoration as well as test skill in operation. A Remote controlled vehicle or toy can be fun alone. It is not necessary to share this fun with others if you do not wish to do so. It is not a requirement, by any means. Yet, many thousands of people have found that their enjoyment of the hobby is enhanced by sharing their experiences with others. If this idea appeals to you, the Remote Control Club is waiting.
Until recently, most rc airplanes were powered by small two-stroke engines, using liquid fuels. Models powered by electric motors were very uncommon, due to the excessive weight of the power system and battery. However, the electric rc airplane has become commonplace, especially in models meant for beginner pilots.
Electric power advantages include reliability, convenience, low noise, low vibration, and clean operation. The disadvantage of early systems was low power relative to weight. However modern electric airplane motors, combined with advanced batteries, have increased the performance of electric rc airplanes by leaps and bounds.
In the more common Brushed motors, current switching is done using sliding contacts known as brushes. These brushes get hot and wear out over time. In Brushless motors, the switching happens electronically using a special speed controller. This second type of motor and its controller are more expensive to make. Its advantages are no maintenance and higher performance.
There are three main types of battery packs in use for electric airplane motors. These are Nickel Cadmium (NiCad), Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) and Lithium Polymer (LiPo). LiPo batteries are lighter for a given application, but are more expensive than NiCad or NiMH.
Electric rc airplane types include powered sailplanes, indoor flyers, scale models, aerobatic models, and ducted fan (jet-type). Virtually any type of rc model can now be electric powered. Even electric helicopters are now a practical reality. For the beginner, something slow and stable is recommended for a trainer aircraft.
Visit the RC Airplane Advisor for more info about Electric RC Airplanes.
This article may be reprinted if proper credit is given and all links left intact.
If you are looking for a radio-controlled helicopter, the most difficult question to answer is: “what should I buy?”
Bear in mind that if you skip to answer this question, then you might be ending up with a one time flying experience. In other words, after you have bought and first flown your radio-controlled helicopter, you might not be able to fly it again.
So here are the things you should know in order to get you end up getting the right radio-controlled helicopter for you.
Evaluate your flying skill
If you have yet to fly an rc helicopter, then you should settle for kinds that are easy to fly. What you should be looking for is an electric radio-controlled helicopter. In this way, you eliminate the risk of crashing down your newly purchased helicopter to the ground. This is a great starting point to those who would like to take rc helicopter flying a hobby. Electric radio-controlled helicopter is also quiet. So if you are considerate enough to give your neighbors some peace, then this one is for you
You can move to gas rc helicopter if your skill is enough to fly an engine powered one.
Identify the size
Rc helicopter, whether it is electric or gas, comes in different sizes and identifying what is the size you need is important. Here you can trim down your choices into gas, electric, mini, micro, and toy.
Gas rc helicopter is relatively larger than other type of rc helicopters while electric rc helicopter can be categorized into 3 sizes- that is, electric, mini and micro.
If you are planning to fly your rc helicopter on open spaces, then the electric rc helicopter is your ideal size. On the other hand, if you only prefer indoor flying, then you can either choose the mini or the micro.
Choose rc helicopter with substantial parts
Crashes can come anytime so make sure that when you purchase a model, you also purchase parts. Used parts are abundant but they are less reliable so you have to determine if there are new parts available for the type of rc helicopter you are buying.
Know your budget
The price of rc helicopter depends on the size and components used. Make sure you have set your budget so that you can limit your selection that would make buying easier.
Use this information when you choose which type of rc helicopter to buy.
This content is provided by Low Jeremy and may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more info on RC Helicopter, please visit http://rc-helicopter.articlekeep.com
Mankind is now able to fly! During the last century, many new airplanes and engines have been developed and today people have even gone to such an extent of flying planes for fun. These are commonly known as RC airplanes, Building and flying an RC airplane is now a very popular pass time and you will realize that theres never gonna be an easier time to just get started.
I guess someone somewhere would have told you that you need an instructor to teach you how to fly RC airplanes. Dont believe it! You dont need an instructor if you choose the right airplane to start with, and there are plenty of true "beginner" airplanes, it will be like riding a bike only not on the floor but in the sky!
Create a budget. A beginning model flyer should always be on the cheaper side; you can go for a better one when you get more experienced.
The Soarstar is a good, all-around rc plane to start your training with. It is very stable and totally made out of foam, and is fairly easy to repair with Elmer's glue, if it gets damaged. It has a pusher prop setup; which protects the prop from damage during hard landings. Also a Northeast Sailplane Husky has a fair amount of dihedral, and is a good trainer Aircraft.
These are some popular RC Planes available:
Plated' F-84G Thunderbirds Model Airplanes Tamiya
RCAFUN' DHC Caribou Transport Model rc airplanes
'Snowbirds' Tutor Multi Role Jet Model Airplanes starjets 1:500 US Airways Airbus 330-300
Herpa 1:500 United Express Canadair jet CRJ-200
GeminiJets 1:400 Piedmont YS-11
Skyliner, FreedomFlyer, USS Los Angeles, Fantail flyer, Nitro Air Strike are some of the best known brands available today.
What Types Are Available?
Electric RC airplanes provide you with the easiest and quickest way of getting started, their affordable prices and availability make them a great attraction for any budding pilot!
Gas RC airplanes give you a bigger reward than electric planes, although they need to be taken a bit more seriously.
Mini RC airplanes are a great concept for indoor flying enthusiasts using normal indoor model planes, different kits modify them to take on the new breed of micro servos, receivers, battery packs and motors.
Micro RC airplanes ('micro flyers') are starting to appear in a lot of hobby stores, the reason is that radio control components are becoming smaller, lighter and cheaper to produce.
Youngsters should be accompanied by adults when flying scale models. The fuels used can be volatile, and the propellers spin fast enough to injure a finger or the hands.
Building and flying RC planes is now a very popular pass time and its not a hobby that you need an instructor to teach you how to fly RC airplanes. All you need to do is choose the right airplane and there are plenty of true "beginner" airplanes, and just take to the skies and it will be like riding a bike only not on the floor but in the sky!
A beginning model flyer should always be on the cheaper side; you can go for a better one when you get more experienced.
The Soarstar is a good, all-around RC Plane to start your training with. It is very stable and made out of foam, and is quite easy to repair with glue, if it gets damaged. It has a pusher prop setup; which protects the prop from damage during hard landings. Also the Northeast Sailplane Husky has a fair amount of dihedral, and is a good trainer Aircraft.
What Types of Rc Airplane Are Available?
Electric Rc Planes provide you with the easiest and quickest way to get started, their affordable prices and availability make them a great attraction for any budding pilot who doesn’t want to break the bank.
Gas RC planes give you more of a thrill than electric planes, and can achieve great speeds in the air, although they need to be taken a bit more seriously.
Mini RC planes are a great thought for indoor flying enthusiasts using normal indoor model planes, different kits modify them to use micro servos, receivers, battery packs and motors.
Micro RC planes are starting to appear in a lot of hobby stores, the reason is that radio control components are becoming smaller, lighter and cheaper to produce.
Here is a list of some of the more popular RC airplanes available from beginner planes to more advanced planes.
Micro Flyer Wattage Indoor Mini RC Electric Airplane
At the moment this is the world's smallest mass-produced radio controlled aircraft! With a wing span of only 9 inches and an elliptically curved polyhedral and molded-in airfoil this petite plane has unbelievable maneuverability. The two-channel radio transmitter controls the rudder movement, throttle, and also doubles up as a battery charger. The Micro Flyer can fly for over 6 minutes on a single charge and you can fly this plane indoors or outdoors. Boasting a length of 8.2 inches, and a weight of only about 1 ounce (29 grams) this remarkable, real radio controlled aircraft will bring you hours of flying fun and can fly almost anywhere with over 150 ft range.. This innovative design makes it great for beginners and hobbyist alike and with a few easy steps to get this Micro Flyer in the air!
RC Aerial Eagle B-52 Electric 2ch RTF Airplane 757-B52
This is a Ready to Fly Plane with twin electric motors(4 motors total) allowing learning to fly very easy and fun. Everything you need to get this plane is included apart from batteries. This is a great plane for all including the first time flyer. It comes with a rechargeable battery.
X UFO RC Flying Toy
The X UFO is one of the hottest and most distinctive flying objects available at this present time. The X UFO includes the latest minuscule technology, which comes with a matchless electronic control system. It uses powerful electric motors with two pairs of counter-rotating propellers and an inventive gyro for unbelievable stability. Made of ultra lightweight carbon fiber and EPP foam, it can fly up to 300 feet indoors or outside. The X-UFO features a 4 channel proportional radio control, and with the Digital 4 CH Radio you can control all aspects of flight, throttle, pitch, roll, and yaw! It also has an impressive radio range of over 300 feet which means you can fly outdoors on calm days up to the limits of clear visiblity.
Cessna 182 Scale RTF 4 CH RC Electric AirPlane
The Cessna 182 RTF 4 by ParkFlyers is a true scale ready to fly 4 channel R/C aircraft. Eye-catching looks make this super realistic in the air. This impressive aircraft is super stable and capable of maintaining flight at super slow speeds that allow novice to master flight mechanics with ease. As the beginner flyer learns he can push the Cessna 182 to faster speeds of up to 50 mph! It can also easily take off from any smooth surface on its scale landing gear. Made from a high strength styro-foam for added toughness. Powered by a high torque 480 7.2 v electric motor and a 8.4 volt 1000 nihm battery pack that can provide up to 18 minutes flight between each charge with a range of about 2500ft. A quick charger is available to fully charge the battery in only 4 hours. You get a 3 Channel FM Radio, Battery, Charger, Spare Propeller, Motor all included and pre installed. The three channel gives you control of Rudder, Elevator, Throttle and Ailerons. Only 8 AA batteries for transmitters are needed.
Kalwant Rana is A Freelance Writer For Buyrcairplanes.com You Can Find Lots Of Useful Information About All Kinds Of Rc Airplanes.
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:
Airplanes
Jets
Gliders
Helicopters
Blimps
UFO’s
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.
About the Author Kevin Brown is successful author and publisher of many informative websites including http://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.
I'm big snowboarding fan. If so you are, you'll understand my desire to feel something similar to snowboard riding in summer. I've tested a lot of summer snowboard-like alternatives; here's short review of what i've found out.
Bushpig Wheelman
It is called "motorcycle for your feet". It has center mounted gas engine, supported at each end by a spokeless wheel into which feet can be inserted.
BushPig has a 43cc 2 stroke engine which takes a mix of oil and gas like a lawnmower. It holds one liter of fuel and will give you a ride time of over an hour!
At speed you use body movement to steer and at low speed (and you can ride The BushPig at an extremely slow pace) you can angle the front wheel from side to side with your foot. The controls is quite similar to snowboard.
The speed and brake are controlled by a cable type controller held in your hand and easy to use.
To stop, you need to let the throttle off and press the brake lever. The vehicle will slow quickly but smoothly.
Pros: No need to find long hills to enjoy snowboard-like skating. Due to big wheels can be used in offroad terrains, woods etc.
Cons: Not very fast (up to 20 mph, but this is quite enough really), noisy (due to gas engine). Quite heavy (45 lbs).
Editor's rating: 9/10
Videos:
Longboard
Longboard is quite similar to skateboard, but is longer and wider. This is done for additional stability and for bigger momentum, which leads to more snowboard-like curve feeling.
Pros: Availability. It is one of most popular snowboard alternatives, can be found in most big sport shops.
Cons: You'll need hills to ride longboard. Not very similar to snowboard due to lesser possible front-back leaning angles.
Editor's rating: 6/10
Videos:
Mountainboard
Mountainboard is similar to longboard, but has more snowboard-like deck, bigger (up to 20", usually 7-8") and wider-based wheels. Can be used on any terrain type, not only asphalt/concrete.
It is just a Mountainboard with 50cc motor. It has similar to bushpig control cords and similar to MountainBoard riding feeling.
Pros: No need for hills, it is gas powered.
Cons: Not big leaning angles.
Editor's rating: 8/10
Video:
Freebord
Freebord's deck is quite similar to longboard. Compared to longboard or skateboard, it has two additional wheels located on the middle axis of the deck.Those wheels are similar to wheels ued in supermarket' carts and can be rotated in any direction. When you move your weight forward, forward and middle pair of wheels is in contact with ground; when you lead backwards, back and middle pair of wheel is in contact with ground. Such behaivor leads to very similar to snowboard riding feeling.
Pros: Very good snowboard-like feeling. Alows a lot of tricks. Allows to slide facing down and uphill (but imho it is lame on snowboard, i prefer good one-thin-line curves).
Cons: Again, you'll need hills to ride freeboard.
Editor's rating: 8/10
Video:
T-Board
Similar to freeboard, but have only two center wheels (two times wider than freeboar's). This allows sharp curves and big forward/backward leaning angles.
Pros: Sharp curves.
Cons: Unstable on slow speeds, need hills to ride, not very snowboard-like.
Editor's rating: 7/10
Video:
Snakeboard
Very similar to skateboard, but snakeboard have a central board with two pivoting footplates attached at each end. Wheels are attached to the footplates via a form of "truck" as they are with regular skateboards. Your feet are fixed to the board tith footstraps.
Pros: You can skate it on plains, no hills needed. Just give your board a momentum by rotating your hips.
Cons: Not very snowboard-like movement. You need to be in really good shape to ride this. Mostly skatepark-thingie (or maybe this is one of pros? :) ).
Editor's rating: 6/10
Video:
Freeline skates
The newest and smallest in size snowboard-like thingie. They look a little bit like inline skates, but they are not connected to your feet (you just step on them, like on skateboard), have only two instead on four wheels and wheels are rotated 90 degrees compared to snowboard.
Pros: Very small footprint, can be placed in any bag or rucksack. Fun to ride and cheap.
Cons: Hard to master, unstable on low speeds, compared to snowboard. And again, you need to be in good shape to ride freeline skates on plain surface. Feels more like T-board than snowboard.
Editor's rating: 9/10
Videos:
Flowboard
Has a deck similar to skateboard, but instead of regular tracks and wheels has two u-shaped tracks with 7 wheels pinned on each. Allows sharp curves and big leaning angles.
Dirsurfer has aluminum frame with two BMX-sized (16" or so) wheels attached to it. It optionally had footstraps. Dirtsurfer incorporates patented steering system where the front wheel pivots from a point in front of and below the axle of the wheel, via the 'Swingarm'. Riders weight automatically centres and straightens the front wheel, creating stability and confidence.
Pros: The fastest allowable downhill speeds (up to 50mph and even more), sharp curves (for its size, of course), offroad-friendly.
Cons: downhill-only, quite big, compared even to snowboard.
Editor's rating: 8/10
Video:
Conclusion:
Every snowboard alternative has a right to live. I hope you'll choose what you like most. My favorites are bushpig, freeboard and freeline skates.
