| Radio-controlled aircraft (also called RC
| |
| | glow (gasoline) engine powered.
|
| aircraft) are small model aircraft that
| |
| | Scale and sport planes
|
| can be controlled remotely. They use
| |
| | These are larger aircraft, like scale and
|
| radio control with a hand-held
| |
| | sport planes. They are usually more
|
| transmitter and a receiver within the
| |
| | expensive.
|
| craft. The receiver controls the
| |
| | There are many different types of sport
|
| corresponding servomechanisms that move
| |
| | aircraft. They range from simple
|
| the control surfaces based on the
| |
| | "fun-fly" glow engine planes with
|
| position of joysticks on the transmitter,
| |
| | wingspans of under 40 inches, to colossal
|
| which in turn maneuvers the plane.
| |
| | aircraft that range from 25 to 50 percent
|
| RC planes as a hobby has been
| |
| | of the full scale size, with engines with
|
| internationally growing due to the
| |
| | hundreds of cubic-centimeters (cc's)
|
| availability of smaller, relatively
| |
| | under the cowling.
|
| inexpensive parts and advancing
| |
| | Most sport aircraft are capable to some
|
| technologies. A variety of models and
| |
| | degree of performing aerobatics. Many
|
| styles are available to suit any
| |
| | "giant-scale" aircraft are capable of
|
| preference or budget. Due to the
| |
| | performing complex aerobatics, ranging
|
| availability and advances in high
| |
| | from loops and rolls to multiple snap
|
| performance electric batteries and
| |
| | rolls and tailslides. Giant Scale
|
| motors, a growing number of hobbyists are
| |
| | aircraft are flown in world-class
|
| flying electric powered craft instead of
| |
| | competition. Most world-class
|
| fuel (most often methanol or gasoline
| |
| | competitors' aircraft have wingspans
|
| based) powered craft, because of their
| |
| | between 2 meters and 3.5 meters, with 2
|
| ease of construction and the absence of
| |
| | cycle gas engines of 50 to 250 cc's.
|
| fuel mess and fuss.
| |
| | Other sport aircraft are designated for
|
| Scientific, government and military
| |
| | scale-like flying refered to as "Scale."
|
| organizations are also utilizing RC
| |
| | Scale is a very demanding but very
|
| aircraft for experiments, gathering
| |
| | rewarding aspect of the hobby. (More to
|
| weather readings, aerodynamic modeling
| |
| | come later)
|
| and testing, and even use them as drones
| |
| | Sailplanes and gliders
|
| or spy planes.
| |
| | Gliders are planes that do not usually
|
| Types
| |
| | have any form of propulsion. As most
|
| There are many types of radio-controlled
| |
| | gliders are unpowered, flight must be
|
| aircraft. For beginning hobbyists, there
| |
| | sustained through exploitation of the
|
| are park flyers, and trainers. For more
| |
| | natural lift produced from thermals and
|
| advanced pilots there are glow plug
| |
| | wind hitting a slope. Dynamic soaring is
|
| engine, electric powered and sailplane
| |
| | another popular way of providing
|
| aircraft. For expert flyers, jets, pylon
| |
| | propulsion to gliders.
|
| racers, helicopters, 3D aircraft, and
| |
| | Jets
|
| other high end competition aircraft
| |
| | Jets tend to be very expensive and
|
| provide adequate challenge.
| |
| | commonly use a turbine or ducted fan to
|
| A distinction is typically made between
| |
| | power them. These aircraft can often
|
| hobby grade and toy grade model aircraft.
| |
| | reach speeds in excess of 200 mph. They
|
| Toy aircraft are exclusively electric,
| |
| | require incredibly quick reflexes and
|
| have less power, and require little skill
| |
| | very expensive equipment, so are usually
|
| to fly. As a result, they are much
| |
| | reserved for the expert.
|
| cheaper (less than $75 or so). Hobby
| |
| | Pylon racers
|
| grade aircraft come in all varieties,
| |
| | Racers are small propeller aircraft that
|
| from small electrics, to multi-thousand
| |
| | race around a 2, 3, or 4 pylon track.
|
| dollar craft with hundreds of cubic
| |
| | They tend to be hard to see and can often
|
| centimeters "under the hood".
| |
| | go over 150 MPH, though some people do
|
| Park flyers and trainers
| |
| | pylon races with much slower aircraft.
|
| Park flyers, as the name implies, are
| |
| | Helicopters
|
| small, easy to fly electric aircraft.
| |
| | Radio-controlled helicopters, although
|
| They are designed with the average flyer
| |
| | often grouped with RC aircraft, are in a
|
| in mind, requiring an area no bigger than
| |
| | class of their own because of the vast
|
| a park to fly. They are low budget and
| |
| | differences in construction, aerodynamics
|
| easy to fly. Trainers are similar to park
| |
| | and flight training. Hobbyists will often
|
| flyers in that they are on the docile
| |
| | venture from planes, to jets and to
|
| side and are comparatively inexpensive,
| |
| | helicopters as they enjoy the challenges,
|
| however, they are bigger and are usually
| |
| | excitement and satisfaction of flying.
|
