| Flying rc airplanes and helicopters has | | | | ones with the wing underneath. Another |
| become a hugely popular pastime in recent | | | | important point to look for is the amount of |
| years, and more and more people are | | | | dihedral the model has. Dihedral is the |
| discovering the hobby on a global scale.The | | | | upward angle of the wings when looking at the |
| letters RC stand for radio control, and refer | | | | model from the front. The more dihedral an |
| to anything that is controlled by radio | | | | airplane has, the more stable it will be in |
| signals that are sent out from a transmitter | | | | the air, and hence easier to fly.The majority |
| to a receiver.You'll often see rc referred to | | | | of electric RTF rc airplanes are high wing, |
| as 'remote control' but this is technically | | | | and are designed for beginners into the |
| incorrect. Radio control is the correct | | | | hobby.The same rule applies to nitro |
| term.RC airplanes and (especially) rc | | | | airplanes. High wing trainers with plenty of |
| helicopters have traditionally been expensive | | | | dihedral always make good beginner planes.The |
| to buy, and you had to have a fair amount of | | | | big difference between nitro and electric |
| model-building knowledge to know how to | | | | airplanes is where you can fly them. Electric |
| assemble a kit from plans, not to mention | | | | ones can be flown in public places, but nitro |
| knowing how to install the radio control gear | | | | planes can really only be flown at a model |
| properly and of course the motor.But all that | | | | flying club, or on private land with the |
| has changed and, while kits are still | | | | owners permission.This is simply because they |
| available of course, airplanes and | | | | are bigger, noisier and faster than their |
| helicopters nowadays can be bought as 'RTF' | | | | electric cousins.Also, this makes nitro |
| models, or Ready To Fly. This basically means | | | | airplanes harder to learn on because there is |
| what it says; the model is assembled at the | | | | more to think about. So if you want to get |
| factory, the rc gear and motor have been | | | | into the hobby of radio control flying, and |
| installed and set up and there is nothing for | | | | want to jump in at the deep end with a nitro |
| you, the consumer, to do apart from install | | | | model, seeking out your local model flying |
| the radio control gear batteries, do some | | | | club is the best thing that you can do as a |
| very basic final assembly work such as | | | | first step toward your new pastime.The above |
| attaching the wing to the fuselage, and | | | | information goes for rc helicopters too. In |
| taking to the skies!RTF airplanes and | | | | fact, electric rc helicopters have really |
| helicopters can be powered by either electric | | | | changed the hobby, because they have become |
| or glow plug motors. The latter is often | | | | so much cheaper to buy than they ever have |
| referred to as 'nitro' or 'gas' because the | | | | been, and many nowadays are designed for the |
| fuel that a glow plug motor runs on contains | | | | complete beginner.Even if you've never held a |
| nitromethane.Nitro planes need a few extra | | | | rc helicopter before, you can very quickly be |
| accessories than electric ones do, simply | | | | mastering the controls of an electric model |
| because of the motor. Also, nitro planes are | | | | heli without too much trouble.Some even come |
| much bigger and have a steeper learning | | | | with their own flight simulation software - |
| curve.Electric rc airplanes are far more | | | | just load it onto your home computer and |
| common for people entering the hobby. They | | | | practice first, without running the risk of |
| are clean, quiet and simple. The very popular | | | | crashing your model!There are literally |
| 'Park Flyer' style electric planes are | | | | hundreds of models to choose from these days |
| bringing thousands of new rc pilots into the | | | | (airplanes and helicopters), but always be |
| hobby because of these reasons. Also, they | | | | sure of what you're buying first. Check out |
| are cheap to buy; a simple 1 or 2 channel RTF | | | | reviews if you can find some, and be happy |
| model can be bought for well under | | | | that the model is suitable for a beginner.If |
| $100!Because they are quiet and small, they | | | | you have a flying club nearby, get yourself |
| can be flown in any decent-size open area, | | | | along to that and chat to fellow modelers.The |
| hence the name Park Flyer. Public parks, | | | | good thing is that with the models that are |
| sports fields or empty parking lots can all | | | | on offer now, getting into the hobby of radio |
| be used as flying space, provided that flying | | | | control flying has never been easier or |
| rc airplanes there is allowed in the first | | | | cheaper!If you'd like to read a lot more |
| place!The best type of airplane to buy if | | | | about many aspects of this pastime, is a |
| you're first starting out is a high wing | | | | comprehensive 'Getting Started' Guide to the |
| trainer type. Airplanes with the wing on top | | | | hobby.Pete CarpenterAuthor/owner of and a |
| of the fuselage are much more stable than | | | | general 'rc head'! |