RC Airplanes for Beginners
So you’ve seen those radio control airplanes performing incredible stunts and wondered how to get into the radio control hobby but be aware you are unlikely to succeed by just splashing out and spending your money on the latest, fastest aircraft you can find.
Flying a radio controlled airplane and performing aerobatic stunts takes some practice and plenty of it. You might be better served with a less advanced airplane to start with so you can start to understand how much concentration needs to go into controlling your airplane, then you can think about moving on to more complicated models.
Buying and flying your first radio control airplane should be a good experience that encourages you into the hobby. It is often recommended that beginners learn to fly with a high-wing trainer. What is it? A high-wing airplane is one with the wing placed on top of the fuselage, a build which allows for slower and gentler flights and which tends to be more forgiving of errors, making them great for beginner pilots.
High-wing training airplanes are a great way to learn the basic skills before moving on to low-wing type models which demand skill and experience to fly safely. You can buy trainer airplanes in an almost ready to fly kit, requiring a little assembly to get going, or as fully assembled airplanes that just need their batteries charged.
Look for trainers built for durability and which can be easily repaired because as a beginner you will certainly have a share of low quality landings! An easily repaired airplane means you are back in the skies in no time to try again. Airplanes with tricycle style landing gear are easier to control on the ground than those with low tails (sometimes known as tail-draggers) so bear that in mind when making your purchase too.
Don’t worry too much about the power and electronics of RC for now. There are any number of combinations of power units and radio controllers possible but your first airplane will have that side of things all matched up for you. Hobby store staff will be able to advise you further if you have any questions.
Getting some expert advice is a must. Visit a radio control flying area and check out the aircraft and pick a good time (between flights) to ask questions, though you’ll notice the RC hobbyists, like most other hobbyists, are more than happy to chat and answer questions from newbies. Then you’re ready to get into a good hobby store and talk with the guys there. They are always eager to help you make the right choice and they genuinely like to see new people join their world, the world of radio control airplanes.