Hobbies And Interests
Alphonse Penaud
In 1871, Alphonse Penaud, known as "the Father of Flying Models," gave life to a fascination when he launched the "Planophere" at the Tuileries in Paris. Although Penaud had originally worked on model helicopters, he designed the Planophere as a model airplane powered by a wound up rubber band. The design also included the first cruciform tail, the usual design today where the tail looks like a cross when viewed from the back. On its maiden flight, the Planophere flew 131 feet and inspired many to believe that powered flight (both model and full-size) had potential.
Music Hall Blimps
The other part of RC airplane technology, the remote controlled aspect, first made its appearance in the form of model airships during the late 1800s. Controllers manipulated these blimps with a spark-emitted radio signal and flew them during music halls to dazzle and entrance audience members.
Military Technology
The armed forces of Europe and the United States began to explore the combination of radio controlled power and flight during the early 20th century as World War II loomed on the horizon. The Royal Aircraft Establishment of Britain developed the Larynx, the first successful monoplane, and clocked it at a top speed of 200 mph. England went on to develop the Queen Bee and, during World War II, both the United States and Germany put rudimentary remote controlled planes into action. As the technology improved, the airplane designs became smaller, lighter weight, and less expensive. This opened up the potential of RC flight for hobbyists.
Homemade Models
RC hobbyists built the first remote controlled airplane models by hand using materials such as balsa wood. The process required extensive patience and time, and there was little room for the builders to be very creative since there were no customizable parts. Each aircraft they produced, however, had a certain originality because it was homemade.
Kits
As producers began to put interchangeable parts on the market, kits became popular. Anyone who could follow detailed instructions could now built an RC airplane and the hobby began to dramatically expand. However, these kit RC airplanes were powered by gas engine, wound rubber band, or launched in the air using a winch and the necessary elbow grease and field tromping continued to limit the hobby.
Electric Models
The early 1970s saw a rise in the production of cheap, rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries which caused a revolution in RC airplanes. Cheap, quiet, convenient motors that could run on a rechargeable battery supplied power to electric RC airplanes. Combined with other new materials such as plastic, foam and fiber glass resin, these new motors led to the marketing of the ready-to-fly and almost ready-to-fly planes sold today.