| Fancy yourself as a model flyer or as a model race | | | | really a dual control system, one for you the student |
| car demon? Radio control hobbies are amongst the | | | | and one for the instructor to get you out of trouble. |
| most addictive probably because of the adrenalin rush | | | | Likewise with a radio controlled car - where are you |
| you get! The sheer buzz of landing that warbird safely | | | | going to use it without risking an expensive crash? |
| or taking that corner at speed in your drift car is one | | | | There is absolutely no point in purchasing a screamer |
| you cannot help but want more of. | | | | of a drift car without a deserted car park or basketball |
| Radio control hobbies are varied from beautiful yachts | | | | court to use it on. A monster truck on the other hand |
| gracefully sailed on lakes to gliders silently riding the air | | | | would be boring to use on such a surface, you need |
| currents and on to screaming drift cars and even huge | | | | some rough ground for that baby. |
| model jet airliners. The common trait being they are all | | | | Then you need to think whether electric or gas |
| controlled remotely from a handheld radio transmitter. | | | | powered models are going to be right for you. They |
| Radio control models have been around since the | | | | both have their pros and cons. Bear in mind gas |
| 1950's and getting better all the time with advances in | | | | powered models tend to be powerful and noisy but do |
| circuit technology and battery technology allowing | | | | require constant tuning. This is not as onerous as it |
| more and more dependability and control. As transistor | | | | sounds, just something to get used to. Electric models |
| technology has miniaturized and chips have become | | | | are quiet and lighter but batteries can be expensive, |
| cheaper more has been achievable at lower power | | | | even allowing for the re-use you get with |
| requirements. Modern RC models use 2.4 gigahertz | | | | rechargeables. |
| transmission systems making them less susceptible to | | | | The ability to get spares for your model should also be |
| interference from other radio sources. | | | | a factor in your decision making, no matter how |
| Before you leap into a purchase however there are a | | | | careful you are you will have accidents and you will |
| few things to think about and clearly these vary with | | | | need spares! |
| the particular flavor of RC you are smitten with. | | | | Talk to other hobbyists before you make your choice |
| The idea of getting airborne fast is an attractive one | | | | and talk to your local hobby shop. The guys there are |
| but without the right preparation and training it could | | | | always looking to talk about their hobby because |
| well prove to be a short and expensive flight. It really is | | | | they're fanatics themselves and they want to promote |
| best to learn to fly with someone else, better still with | | | | their hobby by bringing new recruits into the fold, the |
| an instructor who can start you off with a simulator | | | | marvelous world of radio control. |
| before moving on to a buddy box system which is | | | | |