Remote Control Planes for Beginners

Buying your first plane

• For a beginner, choose a plane with simple assembly, such as snap-in parts, and a radio controller that is already configured. Professional RC models require a radio channel setup that takes time, patience and a lot of practice. The "aerobird" style of aircraft make a great beginner's plane because of the simple assembly, one-piece wing and custom transmitter. Its stability and sturdiness allow for the occasional rough landing, and it has a great system for aerial acrobatics.

Learning to fly

• Your plane will crash. Always keep this in mind when you're starting out, and be prepared for it. Before launching the plane, take time to become familiar with the controls. Experiment to see which sticks make the plane pitch or roll; do this with the plane powered on so you can actually see the pieces responsible for the movement in action. This will come in handy when you're diagnosing trouble areas later on. Every plane has its own method for getting out of dangerous situations, such as nose dives, and these should be detailed in your instructions. Never, under any circumstances, try to catch a falling plane; it is far better to replace a propeller, wing or even fuselage than risk serious injury.

Making contact

• Once you have a plane and some flight experience, seek out like-minded remote-control devotees. Your local hobby store or Tamiya shop will likely have meetings or groups posted on a bulletin board inside. The employees should be able to point you to more advanced products and techniques as your skill levels and resources improve. Sharing your experiences and learning from others will be key to your development as a pilot and remote-control mechanic.