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