The first use of RC Planes-Remote Controlled Plane-wasn't a hobby at all. No, the first RC planes were used to impress and rouse crowds at theater productions in the later 1800s. Then, of course, radio signals weren't used but spark-emitting radios signaled to the hydrogen-filled airships, causing them to "move" on command from a remote. Later, in the 1930s and on, RC planes became more advanced and started getting "hobbyist." If today you are interested in becoming an RC Plane enthusiast, then here are some important concepts to get you flying high.



Most serious rc plane hobbyists judge aircraft under three categories. That said, you'll find rc enthusiasts speaking like so: "That non-scale sure reminds me of that Swiss ARF Jet, but the scale airplane sure looks like the real thing," and so on. Such language will become your lingo once you learn what these guys are talking about. The terminology is really quite easy to understand.

The gasoline engine, on the other hand, can use a two-stroke engine and crankshaft for more power. You can mount either a bushing engine or a ball-bearing engine. The ball-bearing engine not only gives you a little more power, but it also extends the life of the engine. If, God forbid, you should crash your RC plane, this engine could be salvaged and mounted into another plane body. Though this engine costs about two to three times as much as the bushing equipped style, you'll save money in the long run if you'd like to keep a good engine for a long time.

If a two-stroke engine sounds a little too much like the neighbors Weed Eater Strimmer, then you can also get the four-stroke variety. Though these are less powerful in number, they render more torque. More torque means that you'll be able to fly a slightly bigger plane, turning bigger propellers or props. Plus, with the price of gas seemingly always on the rise, you'll burn less fuel, get more efficiency and, most of all, sound more like a plane in true flight.

If you'd like to try an rc plane that uses only the Earth's natural elements, then you might want to buy a glider. You'll not only spend the least amount of money, but these are probably the easiest to put together right out of the box. By using wind and the natural thermals bouncing off the earth's undulating slopes, you'll be able to keep the airplane airborne longer.

Once you've gotten an idea of what kind of plane and engine you'd like to start off with, it may be wise to decide how much speed you can handle. The slowest a RC plane can go is about 20 to 30 mph (the landing speed is about half this). On the other end of the spectrum, you can buy planes that exceed 200 mph. As a rule, the better you become, the faster you can go.

We've all looked up into the sky and seen that tiny jet flying 37,000 feet above us. The jet probably has 600 people and weighs thousands of tons but looks about the size of a small Barn Swallow. Likewise, even if you have a model plane with an eight-foot wingspan, it will look a lot smaller at a distance. It's important, then, to learn the range of your remote control. No matter the price, most systems have about a mile or mile and a half range.

These next rc planes are reserved for hobbyist with the most experience. As such, once you get good, you can try the float plane-a plane that lands on water! Or, try flying a UFO-able to fly up and down and sometimes sideways with engines turned vertically-or the blimp-filled with real helium. Moreover, once you've got the hand-eye coordination down, you can try flying a jet, using genuine gas turbines. When you've got plenty of time and more money, you can find a whole entrapping world of rc plane hobbying.