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