INTRODUCTION

Building and flying a radio control airplanes is perhaps one of the most rewarding and exhilerating hobbies. Whether you enjoy flying lazy circles around the flying field, performing competition aerobatics, flying a World War II fighter or you are simply addicted to speed, there is a branch of RC aviation for you.

There is a great deal of pride and pleasure in constructing an airplane from scratch or from a kit and watching it take to the air for the first time. For most RC aviators, the thrill of flight never dies. Of course you don't need to be a builder to enjoy the thrill of radio control flight. There are several almost ready to fly kits (ARFs) that will help you to get in the air quickly.

HOW DO I GET STARTED?

Learn about the hobby: Make sure that you know what you're getting into. RC Aircraft take time to build and to learn to fly. If you come to the store we can direct you to a local flying field and even arrange for a test flight. We also carry a large selection of books and videos that can give you a better idea of what it takes to become an RC pilot and the adventure that awaits once you are a pilot.

Learning to fly - Find an instructor - Find a club: In our opinion it is absolutely essential to have an instructor teach you to fly. Would you climb into a "full scale" aircraft and attempt to fly it without instruction? Of course not. The basics of RC flying can be just as complex as the basics of full scale flying. The chance of your succeeding without instruction is slim. With an instructor, you'll learn faster and with less frustration, than you can on your own. The ideal instructor is experienced (make sure he or she has successfully taught others to fly), patient and knowledgeable. One successful technique many instructors use is the "buddy-box" system. This system allows both the student and the instructor to hold a transmitter and gives the instructor the ability to take control quickly when the student gets in trouble.

Choosing an airplane: Let's face it, we all want to tackle that completely scale World War II replica, that huge competition aerobatic Extra or Sukhoi or that 200 mile per hour jet as our first project. Resist the urge. Your flying skills, and often your building skills need much honing before you tackle a complex building project with demanding flight characteristics. Don't get discouraged though, even training airplanes are capable of basic aerobatics like rolls, loops and snap rolls. It is entirely possible to move on to a more complex aircraft in a few months of flying provided that you devote time and energy to acquiring the skills needed to build and fly the more advanced plane.

For your first airplane we recommend a high wing trainer airplane with tricyclye gear (nose wheel and two main wheels), a .40 size engine and a four control functions - elevator, ailerons, rudder and throttle (see diagram below).

Practice: The only way to get better, as with anything else, is with practice. Fly as often as you can. Join a club. It all pays off when you do your first landing, your first loop or, dare we say it, your first lomcevak. Soon you will be looking back on your learning to fly with fond memories -- as you buzz inverted down the field in your Extra 300.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

How much does it cost?

The average cost for a complete beginner's package (completed plane, engine, radio equipment, fuel and starter) costs from $250- $400.

How fast does a model go?

Trainers usually cruise at 25-30 mph and can land at speeds as slow as 12-15 mph. However, there are also airplanes that can fly at speeds over 200 mph!

How far can a model fly?

The rule of thumb is "as far as you can see it." To be more specific though, the range for a modern RC system is approximately a mile. Believe us when we say that a plane with an average wingspan of 5 feet looks pretty small a mile away.

What happens if I run out of fuel in flight?

Contrary to popular belief, you have control even if your engine stops running. You just glide your plane in for a "dead stick" landing. The radio system has its own batteries for power.

GENERAL CATEGORIES OF AIRPLANES

High Wing Trainers:
Designed for easy building and flying, trainers allow first-time pilots to learn the basics of controlling an airplane in a relatively stable environment. Construction is typically simple with flat-bottom airfoils that provide high lift and stability, generous dihedral (the "v" shape of the wings when viewed from straight ahead of the plane), wide-stance tricycle landing gear for stable ground handling and high-wing positioning. All of these features combine to produce a gentle, slow-flying craft that offer generous amounts of reaction time and "elbow room" to learn from mistakes.

Low Wing Trainers:
Often students find it easier to transition from their high wing trainer to a low wing aircraft with more performance, but that still has forgiving flight characteristics. These planes extend the students capabilities into the world of more complex aerobatics and higher speeds.

Biplanes:
Nothing beats a biplane for classic appearance. With the two wings stacked one on top of the other and the fuselage in between, they take us back to the days of early aviation when Sopwith Camels and Spads duelled in the skies over Europe. Modern biplane models can also recreate the high performace aircraft seen at airshows around the country. The Pitts Special and Ultimate are just two high performance modern designs that bring classic appearance with gut wrenching performance.

Indestructibles:
Designed for durability over everything else, these planes - crashed into trees, cars, other planes and
the ground - show a remarkable ability to survive and fly again. Of course you sacrifice aesthetics for survivability with these designs. Typically they look like sticks with wings, tail and an engine.

Warbirds:
Typically this term refers to models of World War II era aircraft. High performance fighters and behemoth bombers of the "war to end all wars" are favorite subjects of model aviation. Many good kits are available of aircraft from this era including the P-51 "Mustang," the Messerschmidt "ME"-109, the Focke Wulf 190, the Mitsubishi "Zero" or the P-47 "Thunderbolt." Ed has built a beautiful replica of the P-47 "Bonnie" and pictures are available in his biography.

Jets:
This exciting aspect of radio control allows experienced modelers to fly replicas of the highest performance aircraft currently flying. Model jets generally have one of three propulsion systems -- real miniature turbine engines, ducted fans with piston engines or high performance electric motors. Jet models can fly from 30 to over 200 miles per hour. Jets are only recommended for those pilots who have a good amount of both flying and building experience.

Gliders:
Enjoy the thrill and challenge of "quiet flight" -- flight without an engine. As a model glider pilot you will learn the skill of "finding lift." "Full scale" glider pilots must master this skill in order to stay aloft without an engine.

Sport:
Sport airplanes are generally built either to vaguely resemble an airplane that actually existed, or simply designed to fly well. Generally sport airplanes are where we all start in the hobby.

Scale:
Scale modeling is that avenue of the hobby in which builders try to recreate in reduced size an actual aircraft that existed or that exists. Scale modeling can be as simple as building an aircraft that from a distance looks like an aircraft that actually existed or that exists (stand-off scale), or as sophisticated as producing a model that in every detail down to rivets, panel lines, retracts, gear doors, etc. is an exact duplicate of the real aircraft.

FLYING BASICS - CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS:

Aerodynamics: To fly, an airplane's wing has to overcome gravity by developing lift greater than the weight of the plane. Since it can't do that standing still, airplanes use thrust in the form of an engine and propeller or a jet to drive the wing forward through the air and generate lift. However, thrust has its own opposition to overcome in the form of drag - the resistance of the air to a body moving through it. If lift and thrust are greater than gravity and drag, the potential for flight is there.

Wing Location: Wing placement, for the most part, falls into two major categories: high wing and low wing. In a high wing design, the weight of the model is suspended below the wing. When the model tilts, the model's weight tends to try to return the model to a level position. As a result, high-wing models tend to be more stable, easier to fly - and natural choices as trainers for beginner pilots. A low-wing model is generally the opposite: with its weight above the wing, it tends to be less stable - excellent for advanced fliers who want to perform rolls, loops and other aerobatic maneuvers.

Wing Shape - Airfoil: If you face the wingtip of the plane and cut it from front to back, the cross section exposed would be the wing's airfoil. There are three major categories of airfoil. The Flat-Bottom Airfoil will develop the most lift at low speeds. This is ideal for trainers and first-time pilots. A symmetrical airfoil's top and bottom have the same shape allowing it to produce lift equally when right-side up or upside down and transition between the two smoothly. Lastly, is a semi-symmetrical airfoil which is a combination of the other two and favored by intermediate and sport pilots.

Wing Area/Wing Loading: Wing area is the amount of wing surface available to create lift. Wing loading is the weight that a given area of the wing has to lift and is usually measured in ounces per square foot. Generally, a light wing loading is best for beginners; the plane will perform better and be easier to control.

Dihedral: Dihedral is the upward angle of the wings from the fuselage. Dihedral increases stability and decreases aerobatic ability.

Wing Thickness: Wing thickness - measured from top of the wing to the bottom - determines how much drag is created. A thick wing creates more drag, causing slower speeds and gentler stalls. A thin wing permits higher speeds and sudden stalls - desirable for certain aerobatic maneuvers.