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Beginner RC Planes – A Guide to Choosing Your First Radio Control Airplane

Choosing your first RC airplane can be so much fun, but can also be fraught with disaster if not taken seriously.

Most get so excited about embarking on their new hobby that they throw caution to the wind and buy the first plane that they can get their hands on, because choosing a plane, after all, is the easy part – right?. No. Not by a long shot.

It’s important that you’re realistic about your level of skill. If you’ve never no much as touched an RC Plane before then you need to choose a basic, beginner-oriented plane, because anything more complicated is going try your patience and your first flying experience will ultimately end in frustration.

We all want to fly really good looking planes that can do all sorts of wonderful tricks and manoeuvres, and by all means don’t give up the dream, just think a little smaller when you’re starting out and you’ll be well on your way.

Things to look for in a Beginner RC Airplane:

Ready to Fly Models – RTF Kits

RTF Model Kits are pretty much ready to go straight out of the box, you will likely have to attach the wings and tail, but aside from that, nothing overly technical is required.  The other option is an ARF Kit, but unless you’re really keen on physically building the plane or adding your own components to it, it’s probably a safer bet to buy an RTF kit instead.

Electric Powered

Firstly, Electric powered planes are much cheaper than gas powered ones. It’s usually just a matter of charging up the batteries, turning it on and you are all set to go. Gas rc airplanes obviously require a special type of fuel, and it’s a lot more mucking around than just flipping a switch, which is why electric planes are a sound choice for beginners.

Slow Speed

RC Planes that travel at slower speeds are far easier to correct in flight as you don’t have to be frightened that your plane is going to veer off and crash into something as it gives you more time to think and remember which control does what.

2 or 3 channels of control

Less really is more in respect to the number of channels you should be considering in your first airplane kit. Basically each channel controls a certain directional movement of the plane. 2 channels allows you to control altitude (up and down) as well as turning to either side. 3 channels includes the first to but also allow control of the throttle, which controls the speed your plane is travelling.

RC Planes also come with 4 channels, but buying a 4 channel airplane is not advisable for a beginner, 3 channels should be more than enough to keep you busy.

Anti-Crash Technology

This is a wonderful HobbyZone invention that beeps when it’s sensors detect that the plane is diving dangerously or out of control. It then takes control and adjusts the plane’s altitude, which in-turn gives you time to regain control and avoid disaster. It’s a welcome feature when you’re new to rc flying and you reaction time isn’t so great, and anything that can help prevent a crash gets a big thumbs up from me.

One last thing to consider, or perhaps it should have been the first, is your budget. Your first plane needn’t be all that expensive, and you might also want to look into how much replacement parts for certain models will cost. It’s inevitable that you’ll experience a crash or two and a few hard landings as well, so it makes sense to buy an affordable plane that is designed for beginners.  Once you’ve gained more experience, then you can start shopping for an upgrade. But that’s another article altogether.

Good luck on your new-found RC Airplane adventure – I wish you many years of fun in the skies.

Paula HB is an Internet Marketer, Web Designer and keen RC Airplane enthusiast.

For more information on Beginner RC Planes or Airplane Kits in general, feel free to visit us at http://www.rc-airplane-kits.com/.