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