| Why Choose A Radio Controlled Electric Airplane?: | | | | models. |
| Radio controlled airplanes are a unique and fun hobby | | | | 2. Consistency. |
| enjoyed by all types of people. If you have an RC | | | | Electric motors when supplied with a set amount of |
| airplane, there are many local RC flight clubs you can | | | | electric current will produce very stable output results. |
| join, filled with friendly, helpful people. Electric radio | | | | Air pressure, air temperature and relative humidity |
| controlled airplanes are an easy and affordable way | | | | have more effect on (IC) engine settings. |
| to learn to fly, and can be much less expensive than | | | | 3. Reliability. |
| comparable gas airplanes. | | | | This attribute relates to most of the other advantages |
| How Do Airplanes Fly?: | | | | listed here. Simply put, it means if you apply an electric |
| An airplane relies on the airfoil properties of its wing to | | | | current to an electric motor 10,000 different times, it will, |
| create lift when moving forward. Thrust is required to | | | | with great probability, operate each time. |
| move the airplane through the air, overcoming drag. | | | | 4. Maintenance. |
| When lift and thrust are greater than gravity and drag, | | | | Electric motors have very few moving parts. There |
| the airplane will fly. | | | | are only minimal contact points to produce friction so |
| What Is RTF and ARF?: | | | | lubrication is not a major concern. An (IC) engine must |
| RTF stands for Ready To Fly and means the airplane | | | | be lubricated at all times of operation. The lubricant for |
| is complete. Typically, this type of airplane will require | | | | model (IC) engines is mixed into the fuel and expelled |
| no tools or glue, and all you will need to do is plug a | | | | after the fuel is burned which can cause an oily mess. |
| few parts together and charge the battery. ARF | | | | 5. Vibration. |
| stands for Almost Ready to Fly, and means the | | | | Because electric motors have only a few moving |
| airplane can be completed with very little work. This | | | | parts and rotate along the same axis as the direction |
| would include things like mounting the electronics and | | | | of flight very little vibration is produced. Internal |
| gluing parts together. | | | | combustion engines use a piston pushed by explosions, |
| Spare Parts: | | | | which changes direction (180 degrees) every rotation |
| For beginners, it is important to choose an airplane with | | | | of the crankshaft and at a 90-degree angle to the |
| replaceable parts that are readily available. Learning to | | | | direction of flight. These forces create vibrations as a |
| fly may entail crashing once in a while, and some parts | | | | by-product. Models have to be constructed to |
| like the main wing, propeller, or tail assembly may need | | | | withstand the vibrations. This usually means more |
| to be replaced. Beginner planes are designed with this | | | | designing, building and materials are required. |
| in mind, with each part held on by elastics or screws, | | | | 6. Efficiency. |
| so that they may be removed and replaced when | | | | If efficiency is measured by how much potential |
| damaged. | | | | energy is input into a motor and how much is |
| Technical Information: | | | | produced by the motor afterwards, then electric |
| Wing location is one of the factors determining how a | | | | motors easily win the contest. Internal combustion |
| plane handles. An airplane with a high wing design will | | | | engines operate at typical efficiencies of 55% the rest |
| have more weight below the wing, making it stable. A | | | | of the energy is used to create heat. Electric motors |
| low wing design will place more weight above the | | | | with carbon brushes operate at efficiencies of 67% |
| wing, allowing more rapid changes in direction. | | | | and electric brush-less motors operate at 90% |
| Top Reasons To Fly Electric | | | | efficiency. |
| What are the advantages of electrically powered | | | | 7. Versatility. |
| model aircraft compared to Internal Combustion (IC) | | | | Without very much modification electric motors can be |
| engine powered model aircraft? | | | | used in different flying model applications such as: sport |
| 1. Noise. | | | | flying, aerobatics, racing, helicopters, ducted fan jets, |
| The leading reason why model flying clubs lose their | | | | scale, float planes and micro size aircraft. |
| flying facilities is complaints about noise pollution. Internal | | | | 8. Miscellaneous notes. |
| combustion means controlled explosions are rapidly | | | | Electric motors can be easily geared to swing large |
| occurring within an engine and muffling the explosions | | | | propellers. (IC) engines are more difficult to gear and |
| is very difficult to achieve without affecting engine | | | | require more specialized materials and clutch systems. |
| performance. Electric motors create very little noise | | | | Because electricity maybe obtained from different |
| even at maximum revolutions. Small electric model RC | | | | sources such as your electric utility, gas generators, |
| aircraft may be flown in urban parks and in | | | | solar cells, wind generators and the emerging field of |
| gymnasiums without causing a disturbance due to | | | | fuel cell generators, it is less restricted in distribution and |
| noise. The same cannot be said for (IC) powered | | | | can be generated from renewable sources. |