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