If you have been at it for quite some time, then you are probably already comfortable flying your RC airplane. Now that you have mastered your basic flying skills, it is time to learn some basic aerobatic maneuvers. Before we get right to it, let us talk about RC airplane aerobatics first.

Define RC airplane aerobatics?

Aerobatics is the performance of simple or complicated stunts using a remote controlled aircraft. These stunts are beyond the normal function of an airplane. Not all RC airplanes are able to do this but most trainers and airplanes are able to perform these stunts.

Basic RC airplane aerobatics (in alphabetic order)

3D Flight

It is any maneuver where the wing is not producing any lift and most of the effort is being exerted by the engine. A perfect example is the hover. In this maneuver, the airplane hovers like a helicopter with the nose pointing upwards. This is accomplished through skillful manipulation of the airplane’s controls.

Barrel roll

Here, the airplane is making a rotation on its axis while maintaining a spiral path.

Immelmann turn

Although named after Max Immelmann, it is not the same as the original maneuver made famous by Immelmann.

Inside loops

The inside loop is one of the simplest of the basic aerobatic maneuvers. In fact, it is usually the first stunt that an RC hobbyist learns. It is accomplished by getting the airplane to make an upward loop and then continuing the loop downwards until the airplane makes a complete circle. Enough power must be applied so that the airplane would not lose its momentum.

Inverted flight

This maneuver has the airplane flying upside down on a level flight.

Inverted spin

This is similar to a spin expect that the airplane is upside down.

Outside loops

An outside loop is similar to the inside loop wherein the plane completes a circle except that the cockpit is facing outwards.

Pattern flight

It is when an airplane executes precise aerobatic maneuvers under a set of rules.

Roll

The roll is an aerobatic maneuver wherein the airplane rolls on its axis on level flight.

Snap roll

This is done by having the airplane execute a sudden or unexpected roll.

Spin

In this maneuver, the airplane is rotating vertically while stalling the wing.

These are just some of the maneuvers you can do with an RC airplane. You have to master the basics first before you can move on to the more advanced aerobatics. Remember, if you don’t get it right the first time, don’t worry. Just keep on practicing and your skills will eventually improve.

You’ve probably seen hobbyists playing with these remote controlled airplanes somewhere which got you interested. You watch them do impressive acrobatic stunts with their airplanes and wonder if you can ever get the chance to do those things. You want to get into the hobby of flying remote controlled airplanes but it seems too complicated. You ask around and find out that there’s more to it than just flying. There are so many models to choose from and you don’t know where to start. For those of you who are in a similar situation, there is a solution to your problem.

There are remote controlled airplanes that are designed for beginners. These are called the ready-to-fly remote controlled airplanes or RTF RC airplanes for short. It is perfect for the beginner because it doesn’t require any technical expertise or experience to put it together and fly it. All you will need are the proper tools, the user manual and some common sense. Some models are sold pre-built which means there is absolutely nothing to assemble while others require a little bit of assembling but either way,  it is something a beginner can handle. Some people try to avoid the assembling part but in my experience, it is where the fun begins. Most of the airplane parts of the RTF kit are already assembled for you anyway. You will also have to choose if you want an electric powered or gasoline powered airplane. It is highly recommended for beginners to start with electric powered airplanes since these airplanes do not require much preparation and are safer to use overall. The only disadvantage with these electric powered airplanes is that they are slower.

Please check-out the video below to see for yourself how easy it is to assemble an RTF RC airplane.

Assembling the RTF easystar

Next check this video to see how much fun it is to fly one of these RTF airplanes.

 F-117 Stealth Fighter ready2fly

All you have to do is take that first step. Getting better at it is inevitable. With much practice you will be able to execute difficult maneuvers like the ones seen in the video below.

rc airplane

Getting into this hobby doesn’t have to be complicated. Thanks to the advancement of technology, your first RC airplane doesn’t have to be a nightmare to put together and to master. There is quite a selection of RTF RC airplanes to choose from. Be sure to check out review sites to see which one is best for you.

I came across an intriguing find on a few different RC related websites: attaching a camera to your rc airplane. The idea of taking a few aerial snapshots caught my attention and I decided to pry into the topic further.

Attaching a low-cost digital camera to the rc plane seems to be the most popular way to get flight photos. One option is the Pentax Optio S4 which can be triggered to take a picture with an infrared remote. You can order something called a PRISM switch from HExpertSystems.com that take advantage of the shutter function and plug straight into the receiver. The great thing about the Pentax Optio S4 is that it weighs roughly 4 ozs. Most of the reviews I’ve found online claim this is a very rugged camera able to withstand the occasional crash landing.

The second option I’ve seen is to actually attach a video camera to your bird. This is the topic for another post, but if you can pull it off the payoff is worth it, just make sure your airplane is large enough to support the added weight.

How To Mount The RC’s Camera

You will need some way of mounting the camera to the airplane. Below is a camera mount made of leftover wood from a deck project. The joints are secured with epoxy, as this frame needs to be strong. The tilted platform carries the camera, which is attached to the mount by a large bolt that fits in the hole intended for the camera tripod. Be sure to use a chain to attach the camera to the airframe. This way if the bolt fails, you don’t have an expensive camera ship. (Consider a parachute for the camera as well.) On the mount below, the platform can be tilted by unscrewing the nut on the bottom right side, then re-tightening. This rc schematics feature is useful for aiming for getting those breathtaking photographs.

These tips should help take your RC photographs to the next level. What techniques have you used to attach a camera to your RC?

Last week A Main Hobbies introduced their portable RC protective solution called the ProTek R/C P-8 1/8 Scale Buggy Super Hauler. Ok, so technically this product was intended to protect RC cars, but it could be used to store small-scale RC airplanes as well. The bag has space under the top cover to store tools and extra batteries while the insulated plastic lining defends your investment anywhere your flight takes you.

What do you use to protect your RC airplanes on the go?

The choice between gas or electric power rc planes is one of the most common decisions an rc pilot will make. If you’re living in a suburban area an electric model might be the right choice for you. It will create less noise and no gas odors. On the other hand, gas models can generally fly further, faster, and longer than the electric alternative. In this post we will examine the pros and cons of the classic gas vs electric decision.

Electric RC Airplanes

There used to be very short flight times associated with electric rc airplanes. Since the 90s, however, this is no longer the case. As a result of the improvements and lowered cost, these planes have experienced increasing popularity. Many new electric airplanes also come ready to fly out of the box, which results in more interest from novice pilots.

There are two main different motor types used in electric model aircraft:
The brushed and the brushless.

A brushed motor consists mainly of a cylindrical metal case containing a stator and a rotor.
The rotor is part of the motor shaft, which rotates inside the stator. The rotor has several coils (poles) that may either have an iron core or are coreless. The stator consists usually of two permanent magnets mounted close to the metal case.

Brushless motors are little more expensive but are considerably more efficient. Often between 80 to 90%. Since they have no brushes, there is less friction and virtually no parts to wear, apart from the bearings. Usually, this is a better investment.

Unlike the DC brushed motor, the stator of the brushless motor has coils while the rotor consists normally of permanent magnets. The stator of a conventional brushless motor is part of its outer case, while the rotor rotates inside it. The metal case acts as a heat-sink, radiating the heat generated by the stator coils, thereby keeping the permanent magnets at lower temperature.

Personally, I prefer electric powered rc airplanes. Feel free to discuss your personal favorites in the comments section.

Development kits are a great alternative to building an rc from scratch. In fact, I’d suggest starting out with a kit. It will save you a lot of headaches your first time around and provide some invaluable information on how rc aviation works. With that in mind, the NexSTAR Select EP is ready to fly straight out of the box. This airplane is a good choice for beginners learning to operate and build an rc aircraft. All you need to get started are battery packs, a charger and screwdriver. Recreation Aviation gave this rc a test run and here’s what we found out:

Hobbico is the manufacturer of this aircraft that’s sells for about $400 from most retailers I     found. As you can see almost everything element of this aircraft is provided.

The NextSTAR Select EP is controlled with a 6 channel Futaba radio. This package includes       the servos, receiver, and battery pack that are preinstalled.

In The Air

The NextSTAR Select EP was designed as a trainer, but it is capable of basic aerobatics. Even with the speed brakes installed it would loop and roll fine. Once the speed brakes are removed performance should improve even more and basic aerobatics should be no problem. The stock power system is more than adequate. In most cases, there should be no reason to change the propeller.

To help limit the speed for beginners, a pair of removable speed brakes are included. These parts attach to the bottom of the wing with 6 screws. Factory drilled and marked holes make this a simple task. After they are installed, you can put away your screwdriver. These speed brakes allow the NexSTAR to safely fly at slower speeds to reduce landing approaches and prevent excessive speeds. As pilots learn and gain experience, they can be removed. Do take care to align them evenly left to right so you don’t cause an unwanted yaw condition.

What The Development Kit Comes With:

- Airframe

- Aluminum and wire landing gear

- Factory installed radio system

- Futaba 6 channel radio and charger

- Factory installed RimFire brushless outrunner motor and 50A ESC

- Factory installed PA-2 Pilot Assist Link electronic stabilizing system

- Speed Brakes

What You’ll Need:

- 2 x 8 cell NiCad or 5S 3200 mAh LiPo battery pack

- Suitable charger for battery packs

- Philips screwdriver

• Covering iron

How To Put It Together:

The first order of business was to charge the transmitter and receiver batteries. The receiver pack rides under the power pack and is accessed via the front hatch. The hatch is nicely built and is held securely in place with a pair of magnets. The receiver pack is easily removed from the fuselage and plugs into the supplied charger while you work on the rest of the assembly.

The airframe features built up balsa and plywood construction. The NexSTAR Select EP is not your typical slab-sided boxy trainer. From the cowl to tail, and from the wing mount to the landing gear the NexSTAR is one sexy plane with curves everywhere. The built up structure is very well designed, and I could not find a carved out block of wood anywhere. The airframe is factory covered with white Monocote and is smartly trimmed out with stripes and cockpit windows. A few bubbles and wrinkles are to be expected of any ARF, and the NexSTAR only needed a quick pass with a covering iron to smooth things out. I was impressed with the quality of the covering job, and it was solidly attached at all seams. Do be cautious around the trim colors since they appear to be either stickers or a low temp iron-on material. I started on the tail with a hot iron and one of the blue stripes started to pull away a bit before I noticed it. CA type hinges were used all around and all were securely glued in place.

The Bottom Line: The NextStar Select EP is an exceptional choice for beginner to intermediate pilots. You’ll be able to learn basic flight techniques and when you get more experience take off the brakes for more flexibility.

Spend your money on new rc airplane components–not the schematics. We’ve got a new page directing you to a variety of free sources for rc airplane plans. And you can find it here.

These links will guide you to free, downloadable schematics. There links to well over 50 designs. My personal favorite is the Boeing 747 replica.

If you know of more sources, leave a link to it in the comments. I’m going to be continually updating the page with high-quality links. So if you’ve got some sources you like, let me know!

McBrett

There are a few reasons to consider adding a low-cost rc airplane to your collection, even if you’re not a beginner.  1.) In my experience it’s always nice to have a spare airplane around to thrash. I’m not going to try a new flight technique without experimenting on one of my lesser models first. Having an economic alternative allows me to test away without worry. 2.) Maybe you want to get the little guy into rc’s. Purchasing a budget model will allow him to be in the sky minutes after opening. 3.) The damn recession!

When it comes to rc planes in the $100 range, keep your expectations low… very low in most cases. But if you’re going to go the cheap route anyway, you can still score something decent.

1.) Our affiliate HobbyTron.com has a good selection of rc planes at around $100. Recreation Aviation blog readers have the opportunity to take advantage of free shipping just for reading so be sure to check out their selection.  Right now you’ll find the Stunt King by Silverlit marked down from $179.95 to just $85.00. This battery-powered aircraft has a top speed of 22 mph and estimated flight time of about 15 minutes.

2.) If you’re really strapped for cash the Aero Ace by Air Dogs is the best option. This flight-ready airplane is available for just $45.99 and available at most Wal-Mart and Target stores. Flight is simple with this aircraft, but don’t fly it in the wind.  The plane’s light weight prohibits its operation with any gusts. There is also a thriving online community across the United States and Europe devoted to the Aero Ace so you’ll have help if you need it.

3.) A little further down on the recommendation list is the Picoo Z Micro Helicopter. This mini chopper is a steal at around $30 US.  Benefits of this aircraft include an exceptional selection of paint jobs and up to 30 minutes of flight when the rechargeable battery is full. You’ll still need to get some AA batteries for the controller and charger, however.

4.) eBay, Craigslist, rummage sales: These are all good ways to locate cheap rc planes. It’s no secret that we’re in a recession and you may be able to find some exceptional deals on a decent aircraft.


There are many other options for affordable aircrafts online, but these are the only ones I’d recommend so far. If anyone has experience building an rc plane for under $100, let me know. I’d like to write a post on this in the future.

Don’t take your new bird to the sky without going through this checklist first. Yes, I know how hard it’s going to be to postpone your maiden voyage by another 30 minutes. But trust me, it will be well worth your time when the aircraft returns home in one piece. So lets get checking:

Fuel:

Are your batteries fully charged? Gas tank full? This should include a check of your radio controller as well.

Weight:

Is your bird too heavy for flight?

Equilibrium:

Is your airplane balanced correctly. The weight of the aircraft should be in the center. A little to the left or right is no good for safe flight.

Check landing gear/wings/rudder:

Make sure all are secure and undamaged.

Radio Control:

- batteries
- confirm that all channels are working properly
- receiver antenna extended
- complete a full-range check

Known problem areas:

If some aspect of your remote control airplane has caused a problem in the past, be sure to check on that as well.

Follow these simple steps every time to protect your investment.


Is there anything we missed? What steps do you take to ensure the safety of your RC plane pre-flight?