Radio Controlled Airplanes

Whether you are building them yourself or buying them already built, the materials used to construct model radio controlled airplanes include many types of wood, plastic, and foam. This partial list -- especially the plastic/foam list -- is a confusing array of poly- this and that. This is intended only as an introduction to the many materials that can be used in constructing RC plane bodies. Some materials are used primarily for the framework, some for coverings.

The best size for any RC plane depends, in part, on where you want to fly. Larger planes naturally require larger spaces. Radio controlled airplanes with a wingspan of more than 30 or so inches are generally not good candidates for indoor flight. They are simply too big to control in a confined space and their turning radius (the amount of space it takes to make a turn) is too much for a lot of indoor venues. Discover what size works best for different indoor flying venues.

Trimming or making trim adjustments means tweaking the control surfaces so the airplane flies correctly. Most RC plane transmitters have some type of trim adjustment features. There is usually a little trim lever, one for each control surface that you can adjust. Discover three ways to trim radio controlled airplanes on the transmitter. There are some inexpensive, basic RC airplane toys that have no trim controls. If these planes don't fly straight you can sometimes make physical adjustments to the wings or tail to compensate.

There are no set rules. Micro is usually smaller than mini... but not always. Find out the general guidelines for classifying radio controlled airplanes as mini or micro in size.

Depending on the size and characteristics of the indoor RC plane you could fly it in spaces as small as your living room or as large as an indoor sports arena. Some indoor radio controlled airplanes are also outdoor planes so that vastly increases the your flying options on non-windy days.

Slow flyers are typically indoor flyers and as the name suggests, these RC planes don't go real fast. Discover how fast (or slow) they go.

Although available for some RC surface vehicles, this crystal-free technology is heavily used with RC planes. DSM or "Digital Spectrum Modulation" is a relatively new radio technology adapted to the RC vehicles world and being increasingly found as an option in RC airplanes, helicopters, cars, and trucks.

Bind-N-Fly^TM or BNF is an Horizon Hobby trademark for a specific kind of Ready-to-Fly (RTF) RC aircraft that uses crystal-free DSM radio technology. Learn how it works and what aircraft currently use Bind-N-Fly.