I want to fly an R/C Airplane - Where do I begin???
There's a big selection of 'Beginner' R/C airplanes to choose from these days which is great news for the newcomer to the hobby, although the choice can be a bit overwhelming to begin with. Let's give a brief overview of what's available for you to purchase and have SUCCESS!!!!
What defines a beginner radio control airplane? There are no set rules but essentially an R/C Airplane that's slower flying, stable and relatively simple to operate is considered a beginner category aircraft. As for construction a 'Ready To Fly', or RTF as they're more commonly known, R/C Airplane is your best choice if you just want to get flying without having to do any building work first.
The design of the airplane is very important for beginners, when learning to fly a radio controlled airplane you need something with stable and forgiving flight characteristics - a "High-Wing" Trainer configuration is best for this although, there are a few other options available.
What Types Of Power Selections Are Available???
The Power Plant is also an important thing to consider and these days the majority of beginner R/C Airplanes are electric powered as opposed to glow fuel (gas) powered airframes. Electric Power means convenience, clean operation, "Go Green Operation", and much lower costs, this is always good news for a beginner.
A great example of a good beginner R/C Airplane is the famous Hobby Zone Super Cub LP and its smaller cousin the Micro Champ, both of these airplanes are from Horizon Hobby. Some Dudes has sold over 600+ of the Super Cub, since it's inception 4 years ago.
These R/C Airplanes are popular choices for beginners and offer great self-teach learning opportunities without too many complications. The HobbyZone Super Cub LP is still one of the best sellers for newcomers to the hobby and is a great package to go for whilst the more recently released Champ makes self-teaching very straight forward and can be flown in a smaller area than the Super Cub LP.
There's no doubt that electric is more popular for beginners because it's cheaper, cleaner and quieter and electric planes can be flown in public places where a glow/gas powered R/C Airplane is limited to a club field.
Things to Consider When Starting With a Gas/Glow Powered Aircraft....
Some newcomers to the hobby will know that they want to fly a glow/gas R/C Airplane and there is a great selection of such beginner planes available, these are shown further down the page.
R/C Flying Club instruction IS A MUST!!!!!! More accessories are required and a higher level of maintenance is needed because of the engine.
A glow/gas powered trainer will typically be a 4 channel setup - Throttle, Aileron, Elevator, and Rudder control and self-teaching IS NOT AN OPTION!!!
Glow/gas powered R/C Aircraft weigh in at @6 lb's Plus, and generally fly at high rates of speed. Lack of control can result in property and bodily injury!!!!
What "Other" Types Trainer Aircraft Are Available???
There are alternatives to the classic high wing style trainer that suits beginners, and that's the Electric Powered Glider such as the Parkzone Radian, details of this aircraft are shown down below.
Powered Gliders like the Radian are generally very stable and forgiving, giving you plenty of time to react to your control inputs. The (usually) larger size makes them easier to see at a distance but of course this larger size isn't as convenient for transportation purposes. As far as flying one goes, such a model will give you a gentle introduction to the hobby and many newcomers are choosing this type of aircraft for a beginner's R/C Airplane.
R/C Aircraft Construction Materials???
Something else to consider when choosing a beginner plane is the availability of spare parts, as well as the construction of the airplane.i.e. how robust and durable it is. For example, a foam R/C Airplane can take more knocks than a traditional balsa wood constructed one and suffer less damage and, generally speaking, is much easier to repair.
Spare parts availability is important because your airplane will suffer some degree of damage sooner or later, and being able to replace a part that's broken beyond reasonable repair is important to safe flying. Some Dudes carries all the spare parts for HobbyZone, ParkZone, and E-Flite.
What Are Channels???
The Number of channels (controllable functions) that a beginner R/C Airplane has will vary from model to model, but to get a true taste of proper radio control flying you should look for planes with three or four channels. A two channel powered rc airplane is much simpler to fly, such planes have simple motor on/off and rudder left/right control which, although easy to master, does limit the plane's flying abilities. You will learn the basics with such a plane, but you might get bored quickly!
RTF vs. Building From A Box Of Sticks.
So, what's RTF and why are such planes so popular? It stands for Ready To Fly and means that the model needs virtually no work done to it apart from some very basic final assembly, such as attaching the wing. In fact, in the case of smaller beginner rc airplanes even this job might not be necessary because the wing may be an integral part of the airplane.
RTFs are so popular because many folks don't like the idea of building a radio control model plane, they only want to fly one. A Ready To Fly R/C Airplane sorts out this issue very well indeed - there's a lot to be said for RTF ease and convenience!
This page may be a bit of a generalization and the reality is a little bit more involved if you know nothing about R/C Airplanes, but hopefully this page will give some ideas of where to start with this fun hobby.
Ready To Fly beginner R/C Airplane examples shown below are just a few examples that are suitable as first-time models that you might like to consider.
What defines a beginner radio control airplane? There are no set rules but essentially an R/C Airplane that's slower flying, stable and relatively simple to operate is considered a beginner category aircraft. As for construction a 'Ready To Fly', or RTF as they're more commonly known, R/C Airplane is your best choice if you just want to get flying without having to do any building work first.
The design of the airplane is very important for beginners, when learning to fly a radio controlled airplane you need something with stable and forgiving flight characteristics - a "High-Wing" Trainer configuration is best for this although, there are a few other options available.
What Types Of Power Selections Are Available???
The Power Plant is also an important thing to consider and these days the majority of beginner R/C Airplanes are electric powered as opposed to glow fuel (gas) powered airframes. Electric Power means convenience, clean operation, "Go Green Operation", and much lower costs, this is always good news for a beginner.
A great example of a good beginner R/C Airplane is the famous Hobby Zone Super Cub LP and its smaller cousin the Micro Champ, both of these airplanes are from Horizon Hobby. Some Dudes has sold over 600+ of the Super Cub, since it's inception 4 years ago.
These R/C Airplanes are popular choices for beginners and offer great self-teach learning opportunities without too many complications. The HobbyZone Super Cub LP is still one of the best sellers for newcomers to the hobby and is a great package to go for whilst the more recently released Champ makes self-teaching very straight forward and can be flown in a smaller area than the Super Cub LP.
There's no doubt that electric is more popular for beginners because it's cheaper, cleaner and quieter and electric planes can be flown in public places where a glow/gas powered R/C Airplane is limited to a club field.
Things to Consider When Starting With a Gas/Glow Powered Aircraft....
Some newcomers to the hobby will know that they want to fly a glow/gas R/C Airplane and there is a great selection of such beginner planes available, these are shown further down the page.
R/C Flying Club instruction IS A MUST!!!!!! More accessories are required and a higher level of maintenance is needed because of the engine.
A glow/gas powered trainer will typically be a 4 channel setup - Throttle, Aileron, Elevator, and Rudder control and self-teaching IS NOT AN OPTION!!!
Glow/gas powered R/C Aircraft weigh in at @6 lb's Plus, and generally fly at high rates of speed. Lack of control can result in property and bodily injury!!!!
What "Other" Types Trainer Aircraft Are Available???
There are alternatives to the classic high wing style trainer that suits beginners, and that's the Electric Powered Glider such as the Parkzone Radian, details of this aircraft are shown down below.
Powered Gliders like the Radian are generally very stable and forgiving, giving you plenty of time to react to your control inputs. The (usually) larger size makes them easier to see at a distance but of course this larger size isn't as convenient for transportation purposes. As far as flying one goes, such a model will give you a gentle introduction to the hobby and many newcomers are choosing this type of aircraft for a beginner's R/C Airplane.
R/C Aircraft Construction Materials???
Something else to consider when choosing a beginner plane is the availability of spare parts, as well as the construction of the airplane.i.e. how robust and durable it is. For example, a foam R/C Airplane can take more knocks than a traditional balsa wood constructed one and suffer less damage and, generally speaking, is much easier to repair.
Spare parts availability is important because your airplane will suffer some degree of damage sooner or later, and being able to replace a part that's broken beyond reasonable repair is important to safe flying. Some Dudes carries all the spare parts for HobbyZone, ParkZone, and E-Flite.
What Are Channels???
The Number of channels (controllable functions) that a beginner R/C Airplane has will vary from model to model, but to get a true taste of proper radio control flying you should look for planes with three or four channels. A two channel powered rc airplane is much simpler to fly, such planes have simple motor on/off and rudder left/right control which, although easy to master, does limit the plane's flying abilities. You will learn the basics with such a plane, but you might get bored quickly!
RTF vs. Building From A Box Of Sticks.
So, what's RTF and why are such planes so popular? It stands for Ready To Fly and means that the model needs virtually no work done to it apart from some very basic final assembly, such as attaching the wing. In fact, in the case of smaller beginner rc airplanes even this job might not be necessary because the wing may be an integral part of the airplane.
RTFs are so popular because many folks don't like the idea of building a radio control model plane, they only want to fly one. A Ready To Fly R/C Airplane sorts out this issue very well indeed - there's a lot to be said for RTF ease and convenience!
This page may be a bit of a generalization and the reality is a little bit more involved if you know nothing about R/C Airplanes, but hopefully this page will give some ideas of where to start with this fun hobby.
Ready To Fly beginner R/C Airplane examples shown below are just a few examples that are suitable as first-time models that you might like to consider.
HOBBYZONE CHAMP "READY TO FLY"
Teach yourself to fly RC airplanes in style with this exciting recreation of Aeronca’s beloved tail wheel airplane. Its small size and lightweight, durable construction let you fly with confidence in spaces as small as your own backyard without having to worry too much about crash damage. And it’s so easy to control you could be flying it like a pro in no time even if you’ve never flown an RC airplane before.
The HobbyZone® Champ is also equipped with the Spektrum 2.4GHz DSM2™ advantage: The Champ’s radio system uses the same Spektrum 2.4GHz DSM2 technology that is trusted by experienced RC pilots all around the world. With DSM2 technology you will enjoy complete freedom from signal interference whenever you fly. And after you teach yourself to fly, you can use the Champ’s transmitter to fly some of the Bind-N-Fly ultra micro aircraft from ParkZone and Blade. Visit bindnfly.com to see which ones.
Everything is included in the box!!!!!
The HobbyZone® Champ is also equipped with the Spektrum 2.4GHz DSM2™ advantage: The Champ’s radio system uses the same Spektrum 2.4GHz DSM2 technology that is trusted by experienced RC pilots all around the world. With DSM2 technology you will enjoy complete freedom from signal interference whenever you fly. And after you teach yourself to fly, you can use the Champ’s transmitter to fly some of the Bind-N-Fly ultra micro aircraft from ParkZone and Blade. Visit bindnfly.com to see which ones.
Everything is included in the box!!!!!
HOBBYZONE SUPER CUB LP "READY TO FLY"
Teach yourself to fly RC by mastering the basics of throttle, steering and pitch control with the HobbyZone® Super Cub LP. The Super Cub LP brings together great scale looks and gentle flying characteristics in this classic Cub trainer.
Beyond being a great way to teach yourself to fly, the HobbyZone Super Cub LP also offers you exciting options that you simply won’t find in any other RC plane like it. Options like HobbyZone’s exclusive X-Port™ technology that lets you add remotely controlled functions like parachute drops (requires Aerial Drop Module™ - sold separately). There’s also an optional float kit (sold separately) that lets you turn any lake or pond into a back country, bush-flying adventure. As with all HobbyZone airplanes, the Super Cub LP comes with everything you need to get flying in this box and can be flight-ready in as little time as it takes you to charge the battery pack.
HobbyZone’s Innovative Anti-Crash Technology
Anti-Crash Technology (ACT™) makes teaching yourself to fly easier and safer than ever before. With ACT, anyone can fly.
Here’s how it works: HobbyZone’s exclusive Anti-Crash Technology (ACT™) ensures your first flights are smooth and stable by using special optical sensors and software that analyze your flight path. If ACT “sees” you are losing control and entering a steep dive, it reacts quickly to help prevent a crash by actually helping you regain control. After you’ve mastered the basics, you can flip the switch on the transmitter, even while in flight, and turn Anti-Crash Technology off. With ACT off, your Super Cub LP will be capable of more advanced maneuvers such as steep turns and loops.
Beyond being a great way to teach yourself to fly, the HobbyZone Super Cub LP also offers you exciting options that you simply won’t find in any other RC plane like it. Options like HobbyZone’s exclusive X-Port™ technology that lets you add remotely controlled functions like parachute drops (requires Aerial Drop Module™ - sold separately). There’s also an optional float kit (sold separately) that lets you turn any lake or pond into a back country, bush-flying adventure. As with all HobbyZone airplanes, the Super Cub LP comes with everything you need to get flying in this box and can be flight-ready in as little time as it takes you to charge the battery pack.
HobbyZone’s Innovative Anti-Crash Technology
Anti-Crash Technology (ACT™) makes teaching yourself to fly easier and safer than ever before. With ACT, anyone can fly.
Here’s how it works: HobbyZone’s exclusive Anti-Crash Technology (ACT™) ensures your first flights are smooth and stable by using special optical sensors and software that analyze your flight path. If ACT “sees” you are losing control and entering a steep dive, it reacts quickly to help prevent a crash by actually helping you regain control. After you’ve mastered the basics, you can flip the switch on the transmitter, even while in flight, and turn Anti-Crash Technology off. With ACT off, your Super Cub LP will be capable of more advanced maneuvers such as steep turns and loops.
E-FLITE APPRENTICE 15E / WITH SPEKTRUM DX5e "READY TO FLY"
Looking to learn to fly? With the assistance of a club instructor, the E-flite®
Apprentice™ 15e RTF is the perfect trainer for learning the basics and beyond. The Apprentice is a 15-size high-wing trainer that comes with everything you need to go from buy to fly. This one-box purchase includes the full range DX5e Spektrum radio with the 2.4GHz interference-free technology, AR500 receiver, and a 3S 3200mAh 15C Li-Po battery and charger. There is no building required—just charge and install the included battery, mount the wing and tail, and fly.
The Apprentice is powered with a 15-size brushless outrunner providing excellent power and performance. This trainer has a flat-bottom wing and produces gentle flight characteristics. The Apprentice is made from durable, lightweight Z-Foam™, making it great for training and sport flying. Every beginner pilot experiences their share of bumps and bruises, so the Apprentice's durable build and easily repairable construction ensures more opportunities for success. The Apprentice is the perfect training aircraft thanks to its gentle flight characteristics. This model is equipped with tricycle landing gear allowing better ground handling over tail-dragger aircraft. This landing gear setup is durable and will also allow takeoffs and landings on maintained grass runways. This is a high quality trainer with an excellent setup, taking the pilot from beginner to basic aerobatics all from this one-box purchase. Go from buy to fly with the Apprentice.
Apprentice™ 15e RTF is the perfect trainer for learning the basics and beyond. The Apprentice is a 15-size high-wing trainer that comes with everything you need to go from buy to fly. This one-box purchase includes the full range DX5e Spektrum radio with the 2.4GHz interference-free technology, AR500 receiver, and a 3S 3200mAh 15C Li-Po battery and charger. There is no building required—just charge and install the included battery, mount the wing and tail, and fly.
The Apprentice is powered with a 15-size brushless outrunner providing excellent power and performance. This trainer has a flat-bottom wing and produces gentle flight characteristics. The Apprentice is made from durable, lightweight Z-Foam™, making it great for training and sport flying. Every beginner pilot experiences their share of bumps and bruises, so the Apprentice's durable build and easily repairable construction ensures more opportunities for success. The Apprentice is the perfect training aircraft thanks to its gentle flight characteristics. This model is equipped with tricycle landing gear allowing better ground handling over tail-dragger aircraft. This landing gear setup is durable and will also allow takeoffs and landings on maintained grass runways. This is a high quality trainer with an excellent setup, taking the pilot from beginner to basic aerobatics all from this one-box purchase. Go from buy to fly with the Apprentice.
HANGAR 9 ALPHA 40 TRAINER / WITH SPEKTRUM DX5e "READY TO FLY"
Thousands of pilots have earned their wings with the Hangar 9® Alpha™ trainer. Now, Hangar 9 introduces an updated version of this ever-popular traditional high-wing trainer with the added benefit of DSM2™ technology that provides freedom from frequency restrictions and interference. And, this Alpha has a completely modernized look that makes it a great-flying and great-looking aircraft.
The Alpha 40 DSM2 RTF is the first glow trainer to come equipped with Spektrum’s advanced DX5e 2.4GHz DSM2 5-channel full range aircraft system. Besides providing freedom from frequency restrictions and interference, the DX5e’s DSM2 technology offers superior performance with a secure link for glitch-free performance. The system also includes the Spektrum AR500 receiver.
The DX5e is not only perfectly suited for the Alpha 40—it can also be used to fly just about any type of model where 5 channels are appropriate due to its full range capabilities.
With the ready-to-fly Alpha trainer from Hangar 9, success is all but assured, thanks to its gentle, beginner-friendly flight characteristics and the ingenious, hassle-free Evolution Trainer Power System that makes the Alpha the easiest-starting, smoothest-running trainer available. With the engine and radio gear installed, the Alpha 40 is ready to fly in just minutes.
Needed to Complete: Glow Plug Wrench / Glow Plug Igniter with Charger / Glow Plug / Manual Fuel Pump / Thin CA glue / 30-minute epoxy / Fuel (10%–15% nitro content).
The Alpha 40 DSM2 RTF is the first glow trainer to come equipped with Spektrum’s advanced DX5e 2.4GHz DSM2 5-channel full range aircraft system. Besides providing freedom from frequency restrictions and interference, the DX5e’s DSM2 technology offers superior performance with a secure link for glitch-free performance. The system also includes the Spektrum AR500 receiver.
The DX5e is not only perfectly suited for the Alpha 40—it can also be used to fly just about any type of model where 5 channels are appropriate due to its full range capabilities.
With the ready-to-fly Alpha trainer from Hangar 9, success is all but assured, thanks to its gentle, beginner-friendly flight characteristics and the ingenious, hassle-free Evolution Trainer Power System that makes the Alpha the easiest-starting, smoothest-running trainer available. With the engine and radio gear installed, the Alpha 40 is ready to fly in just minutes.
Needed to Complete: Glow Plug Wrench / Glow Plug Igniter with Charger / Glow Plug / Manual Fuel Pump / Thin CA glue / 30-minute epoxy / Fuel (10%–15% nitro content).
PARKZONE RADIAN WITH SPEKTRUM DX5e "READY TO FLY"
Equipped with 3-channel control and Spektrum 2.4GHz radio technology, the Radian can be flown without the worry or risk of interference. Although a powerful 480 brushless motor enables initial launch, the propeller soon folds back to reduce drag, freeing the plane to utilize thermals of air to remain aloft, instead of batteries. That means flight times for this quiet and eco-friendly alternative are much longer than they are with traditional electric aircraft, making a relaxing day in the great outdoors even better.
Like all of ParkZone’s innovative and high-quality aircraft, the Radian looks great right out of the box and provides pilots with the control and reliability they seek in a park flyer. The plane’s large 2-meter wingspan and elliptical dihedral design improve flight performance and visibility from the ground, while plug-in wings provide for easy transportation and storage.
Not only does the Radian’s lightweight Z-Foam™ construction offer the perfect balance of weight and durability, it also makes repairs simple and quick. Since everything needed to get the Radian airborne is included inside, you are only minutes away from the ultimate soaring adventure.
Like all of ParkZone’s innovative and high-quality aircraft, the Radian looks great right out of the box and provides pilots with the control and reliability they seek in a park flyer. The plane’s large 2-meter wingspan and elliptical dihedral design improve flight performance and visibility from the ground, while plug-in wings provide for easy transportation and storage.
Not only does the Radian’s lightweight Z-Foam™ construction offer the perfect balance of weight and durability, it also makes repairs simple and quick. Since everything needed to get the Radian airborne is included inside, you are only minutes away from the ultimate soaring adventure.