RC Airplanes – How to Buy Build and Fly Your Own Radio Controlled Model Plane

This hub is meant for those fun loving RC flying maniacs who are interested in buying, building, and flying their own RC airplanes with pre-assembled radio controlled plane kits because gone are the days, when people used to simply buy an RC plane and fly without knowing the whole process of how an RC plane is built. Building and flying an RC plane is much more fun than simply buying one and flying. In this hub, you will learn the core fundamentals of building RC planes. This will also answer some common questions like determining your budget, cost, top speed of your aircraft, aerodynamics including which engine to choose, wing, size, position, and thickness and airfoil, so read on.....

How to determine the budget for building my first RC plane?

Determining the budget is very important for building any RC plane. Depending on your choice for buying the basic equipment, you can spend less than 100 to a 1000 of dollars. You must keep in mind that on an average a complete beginner model plane with radio control and engine costs less than 300 or 400 dollars.

After buying my RC plane kit and building my RC plane, what will be the top speed my RC plane will reach?

The model aircraft trainer (trainer is ideal for beginners) has a cruising speed of about 35 to 45 kilometers per hour and lands at about 15 to 20 kilometers per hour. There are a variety of model planes available, which can fly up to 200 kilometers per hour.

How far I will be able to fly a RC model plane?

A modern radio controlled plane can fly up to 1500 meters. However, in order to control your model safely, it must be close enough to your eyes to be allowed to see it clearly. Even the larger models with a wingspan of 2 meters or more become almost invisible dots to 600 or 700 meters away of human eyes.

What will happen if the fuel will end up, as the model aircraft is flying?

Contrary to what a person might suppose, the pilot of an RC plane has to maintain complete control over his/her model plane even when the engine turns off. If fuel ends up in middle of the flight, the transmitter continues to operate, thanks to the battery power available.

Fundamental cores of RC Flights

Now let us have a look at the core of RC flights. When you will be finished reading this part, you will be able know enough to choose the type of model plane you want to start or buy. After putting into practice the fundamentals and having achieved a bit of experience with the trainer models, I bet that you will probably wish to try other types of RC aircrafts, either your will buy one or build on your own.

Learn the Art of Aerodynamics for RC planes

To support your aircraft in flight, the main wing has to overcome the force of gravity, generating a lift greater than the weight of the aircraft. Since this result cannot be achieved by standing still, some RC planes can be turned back using a push to advance the wing through the air and generate lift. However, the thrust must overcome opposing forces, namely the frictions encountered: In particular, the resistance opposes the air to a body moving through it. If lift and thrust are greater than gravity and resistance, then you will have sufficient potential to fly and have great fun.

Choosing the type of engine

Traditionally, aircrafts are driven by an RC two-stroke engine, which gets fuel from a special mixture consisting of nitromethane, methanol, and oil, but there are other options also available such as four-stroke engines and silent and clean electric motors.

How to set wing position of my RC planes?

In most cases, the wings can be placed in 2 locations, i.e., above or below the fuselage (central body of an aircraft). Traditionally, there are two types of wings which are used for RC aircrafts and they are high-wing or parasol and low wing. In a high-wing airplane, the weight of the model is such that it suspends the wing itself. When the model rolls (that raises and lowers one wing first and then the other), the weight of the model tends to bring back the wings leveled with the ground. A high wing model is more stable and easy to drive: This configuration is therefore the most common choice for any trainer. A low﷓wing model is totally opposite to high-wing model. A low-wing model has the weight above the wing and it tends to be less stable. Though low-wing models are not recommended for a beginner RC plane, but this an excellent feature for advanced models where your RC aircraft will be able to perform aerobatic maneuvers of many kinds, for example Cobra maneuver.

How to set an airfoil for an RC plane?

Put an airfoil in front of wing tip and cut it off. A flat bottom airfoil develops maximum lift at low speeds and helps to turn the aircraft in leveled flight. This feature is ideal for trainers or beginner model planes and is for those who are getting into aeromodelling for the first time. The other one is a symmetric profile and in this profile, the top and bottom have the same curvature, so the lift generated is thus the same both in the air flying backward and straight and in this profile, transitioning from one to another position of flight is very soft. This profile is recommended for more advanced RC plane flyers. Finally, there is also a profile, which is called semi-symmetrical which is a combination of the two types, which we discussed previously. This profile is much appreciated by highly experienced RC pilots. Size and wing loading of your RC aircraft

The surface area of the wingspan is available to generate lift. Wing loading is the weight in which a particular area of the wing must be raised. Generally, with regard to model aircrafts, it is measured in grams per square centimeter (g/cm2). Usually, a model with a low-wing loading is ideal for beginners, as this type of model flies better and is easier to handle and manage.

Dihedral angle

The dihedral is the angle at which the wings intersect the fuselage. A positive dihedral increases stability and aerobatics.

Wing thickness for your radio controlled planes

A thick wing, measured from top to bottom, determines the resistance in the air. Thick wing creates more resistance, resulting in slower speeds and softer features ideal for beginners. Thin wing permits higher speeds and sudden stalls: This feature is suitable for model RC racer planes to be able to perform some aerobatic maneuvers.

Undercarriage carts

The cart includes a nose wheel tricycle and two wheels (main landing gear) beneath the wings. With this type of cart, takeoffs and landings are easier. The truck tricycle is ideal for beginners.