Building and flying model airplanes has been an enjoyable pastime for many people over the years. Early model airplanes flew as free flight aircraft. With the development of practical radio control systems in the 1960s, the popularity of remotely piloting your radio control plane from the ground literally took off. However, until quite recently, all flying model radio control planes had to be built by the owner, and the size of the electronic radio control plane systems dictated larger, gas engine powered models flown at outdoor fields.
A revolution in radio control planes has occurred over the past two years. Due to remarkable advances in technology, the radio control systems in the model planes have shrunk dramatically in size, weight and cost. In addition, model airplane manufacturing methods have allowed for the first time mass production of extremely lightweight ready to fly models. These miniature radio control planes are typically made of foam, and come with all radio control equipment installed in the model. Additional support equipment, usually a transmitter and battery charger, are included in the radio control plane box as well. As a final inducement to the aspiring model radio control plane pilot, these remarkable aircraft are available at a wide variety of hobby and toy stores, and the costs are usually under for everything needed to fly that afternoon.
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These ready to fly, foam model radio control planes are powered by tiny electric motors, using innovative propeller gearing arrangements to provide plenty of thrust for their flights. The key to success of this new generation of airplane models is their light weight, required to provide pleasing flight characteristics. These models fly at slow, controllable airspeeds. Combined with the durability of their foam construction and responsive radio control plane systems, these aircraft are ideally suited to flying indoors.
One would have been met with looks of disbelief if you mentioned the idea of indoor radio control plane flight just a few years ago. Today, it is an everyday occurrence. The innovation of indoor radio control plane flight allows for flying year round. With outdoor, gas powered radio control planes, it takes a hardy soul to brave a flight in the middle of a northern winter. With the advent of practical indoor model flight, weather related limitations are gone forever. As a final inducement to try out this new area of radio control plane modeling, consider that you no longer have to carefully check the weather before heading out to your flying site. Old worries on the amount of wind or a forecast of rain - major impacts on outdoor model flight - are simply not a consideration.
Perhaps one of the most positive developments of this revolution regarding indoor radio control plane flight is the fact that the ready to fly aircraft provide personal time to both the new and seasoned model pilot. In earlier days of radio control plane flight, pilots had to be builders. The typical model builder/pilot spent the winter constructing two or three radio control planes for the summer flying season. People lead busier lives these days, and many simply do not have the time available to put together these intricate, complicated models. The concept of simply buying a complete model, ready to fly right out of the box, opens up the radio control plane hobby to a much wider audience. In addition, it is not at all uncommon to see model aviators bring multiple radio control planes to the indoor flying sites. This is simply not possible when you have to construct every model on your own workbench.
On my website (address at the end of this article), you can find a wide range of information on ready to fly indoor radio control planes, to include flight reviews and video demonstrations. This wonderful hobby is open to all, due to the wide availability of superb flying radio control models and the incredibly inexpensive prices. Give one of these remarkable aircraft a try, you simply cannot go wrong.