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Article #3: Radio Controlled Electric Airplanes

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






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