| Remote planes are one of the fastest-growing | | | | way to do it is to buy a kit - they don't cost that much. |
| hobbies around, not to mention one of the most fun. | | | | Generally, you will get a collection of parts made out of |
| You can buy a kit (or even cut wood yourself), build a | | | | balsa wood (used because it is so light), together with |
| plane, and then use your remote control to fly your | | | | instructions for building the plane. However, the kit will |
| creation around in the park. In recent years their | | | | not include all the tools you need, which can include |
| popularity has even begun to catch up to | | | | saws (if the wood hasn't already been cut) and |
| remote-controlled cars: cars might be fun, sure, but do | | | | various kinds of glue. |
| they fly? No! | | | | Unfortunately, building planes this way can be very |
| So how do remote-controlled planes work? Basically, | | | | difficult and time-consuming, even when you buy a kit |
| the controller you hold sends radio waves through the | | | | that is supposed to be easy to build. Because what |
| air to the plane, telling it what to do. The receivers on | | | | you're making is basically a scale model of a plane that |
| the plane then carry out your actions to move the | | | | has to work in the exact same way, it doesn't take |
| wings and other parts, just like the controls on a real | | | | much for it not to fly at all. Errors that wouldn't matter |
| plane send signals to mechanically move the parts - | | | | when building most other DIY projects can cause your |
| after all, it would be almost impossible for a pilot to | | | | plane to crash on its first flight, destroying hours of |
| move a plane without mechanical assistance. | | | | work. |
| Remote-controlled planes have gained popularity in | | | | While you could just go out and buy a 'ready to fly' |
| recent years as their technology has advanced in | | | | plane, many people believe that takes a lot of the fun |
| leaps and bounds. A decade ago, for example, people | | | | out of remote-controlled planes as a hobby. If you're |
| were still using fuels like petrol to make their planes go, | | | | careful when you build your plane and follow the |
| but today technology has moved to the point where | | | | instructions to the letter, it should work just fine. Good |
| model planes can fly using only electricity. | | | | luck! |
| If you want to fly a remote plane yourself, the best | | | | However you do it, enjoy your shed! |