RC Planes for Beginners: Everything That You Should Know

For those of you who are not familiar with the concept, an RC plane is a simple, small flying object which is basically controlled in the air using a hand-held transmitter operated from the ground base. Since they are quite easy to pilot and don’t require too much fuss on mounting, new RC planes for beginners show up on the market every day.

Flying these remote controlled planes is on the rise now, especially as a hobby for enthusiasts. More and more people are taking to the idea of flying such devices either as a toy just for the fun of it, or for learning how to fly a device using a remote controller.

For this reason, the market is filled with various models. These include trainer airplanes, sport aircraft, aerobatic planes, war birds, vintage RC aircraft, float planes and the likes.

If you are an amateur flyer or a very beginner, it is most advised to opt for trainer airplanes. These have a very simple and conventional design that offers stability where the weight of the device is concentrated under the wing. Besides, these can be powered by either electrically or by a different combustion engine.

Now that we’ve introduced you to the world of RC planes, let’s see a bit more about some of the best models you could find as a beginner.

The best RC planes in the market: Top 5 models to consider

Wltoys F949 3Ch RC Airplane

If there is one product that can be considered extraordinary, then it has to be the Wltoys F949 3CH RC Airplane. With impeccable specifications, this product won the heart of RC plane lovers. So, what makes this device so special?

The most important part of an RC plane is its design and, when it comes to this particular product, there is no doubt that it scores really high. It is this particular feature where Wltoys has given a lot of thought and designed this RC plane in the shape of the Cessna-182, which has made it an instant hit.

It has not only given a much cooler look to the plane but has also assured that the pilot will actually get the feel of flying a real airplane.

In any plane or vehicle, the motor is an integral part of the product and this is the same for any device including this one. In order to provide better driving power, the manufacturer installed a combination of 3 coreless motors. This gave the plane a much more consistent performance, as far as the driving power is considered.

The controller used here is more than capable of controlling the plane at a distance of 200 m. Moreover, the material used, provides high flexibility and durability which makes the product sturdy and easy to fly.  If you are a newbie or learning the ropes of RC planes, then this is the product for you.

Like this amazing product? Then you can check its price here.

Hobbyzone Sport Cub S RTF RC Airplane

If there is one RC planes manufacturer which is primarily known for making a bunch of safety provisions to your plane, then it has to be Hobbyzone. Therefore it is imperative we mention the new and improved Hobbyzone Sport Cub S RTF RC Airplane.

One of the most popular features which set it apart from any other similar devices has to be the SAFE technology which is provided by the manufacturer. This particular system is there to protect the plane from the elements and helps with the overall flight which is much needed for people who are starting off in the world of RC planes.

This system is known to help you fly during unfavorable and windy conditions and also helps the pilot to develop their skills by assisting them to fly it in different modes.

Another huge positive for this device is the steerable tail wheel. This feature surely boosts the ground control of the RC plane and assists the pilot to maneuver it as per the requirement.

Also, there is a unique feature that the manufacturer added to the product: the Panic recovery mode. It won’t be wrong to say that the SAFE technology does play some part in putting it in place. Thanks to this feature, the plane can be recovered with a simple tap of a button.

As far as the control of the plane is considered, a special proportional 4 channel control is set up in the aircraft which comes with an elevator, throttle, aileron, and rudder.

If you like this product you can find and check its price on Amazon.

Revell B17G Flying Fortress

As kids, we were all, at some point, fascinated with war planes and this is the exact feel that you will get flying the Revell B17G Flying Fortress. The design of the plane is truly immaculate as it captures the essence of a war plane that was famous for its fighting prowess during the World War II.

If it were to break up this plane piece by piece, you will find that there are 148 different parts which are colored black and silver. The icing on the cake, as far as the design of the product is concerned, has to be the raised panel lines which are essential for this model.

If you turn your focus to the bomb bay, then you will be able to see how carefully it has been constructed with the bombs, bomb racks, and the likes placed strategically. Similarly, if you look at the cockpit of the plane, you will find that all equipment present in the original plane can be found in the RC plane inducing control panels, seats, etc.

As far as the engine of the plane and the gun turret positioning on this RC plane are considered, they are almost perfect in their own right. It must be said some of this interior details may not come into view of the pilot once the fuselage input in place.

Like this amazing product? Then you can buy it from Amazon.

HobbyZone Duet RTF Airplane HBZ5300

The next product in our list is another Hobbyzone product and, like other notable RC planes from this house, it doesn’t fail to impress us. The first thing that excites the users about HobbyZone Duet RTF Airplane HBZ5300 is the fact that this device comes in a ready to fly kit with batteries required by the transmitter.

Since we are talking about the transmitter, this RC plane uses a 2.4GHz transmitter with a built in charger. Moreover, this transmitter is completely free of any interference which allows the pilots to fly the plane smoothly.

Next, we come to the design of the plane and this is one area the manufacturers have left no stones unturned. They have spent a lot of time behind it to incorporate materials which not only make the RC plane lightweight but also make it durable.

As a result, you will see that the plane could be flown with ease and even if it crashes, the product hardly sustains any damages. This feature makes it perfect for beginners who are prone to crashes and collisions while learning how to fly an RC plane.

One feature which makes this device stand out from the rest is the Virtual Instructor Technology installed in it. This feature assists you in flying the plane which is something required by first-time flyers. In addition, this technology is also known to counter any kind of turbulence caused by the wind.

Also, the power systems used by this model are rather quiet which allow the pilot to fly the plane smoothly without causing any noise problems for the neighbors.

If you think that this product could be useful for you, then you can buy it from Amazon.

RC Plane 4CH French AirBUS plane A380 Aieliner

It goes without saying that replicating any plane is not easy, and when it comes to a French AirBus A380 Aieliner the task becomes that much difficult. But this is exactly what you get when you see this amazing RC plane. With great frame-to-frame design, this device is completely different from the standard products.

Starting with dimensions like 142x152x30cm, you can understand why this RC plane is a perfect replica of the original A380. One thing which this product needed was durability which is amply provided by the materials used in the construction of the plane. This is what makes this product completely shatterproof, something which will be music to the ears of RC plane enthusiasts.

A big concern for these types of planes is good control features and here as well the manufacturer seems to deliver well. Firstly, you will find two distinct control modes on the controller which you can use as per your convenience. Moreover, the distance it allows you to control the RC plane is something between the ranges of 500 and 1000 m.

The usual functions you get on the controller include moving the RC plane backward, forward, turning right, turning left, etc. Last but not least, you would be happy to know that this controller comes with 4 control channels for you to work on.

Now let us concentrate on the batteries. First and foremost, you would need to charge them for no less than 3-4 hrs. This might seem a bit long. However, you can be assured of at least 10-30 minutes of flight time which is more than what most RC planes in the market manage to put up.

Like this amazing product? Then you can buy it on Amazon.

Buying guide: features to consider

When you decide on getting yourself an RC plane, there are a number of factors to consider. You would be greeted with plenty of choices in the market and choosing the right one will help you learn the art of flying a device controlled from the ground better. But what do you actually look for in the ideal RC plane? Here are some factors to focus on.

Design

As beginners, we are often tempted to get a device that looks good and flies fast. But this is one of the most dangerous mistakes! The word we have to look for here is stability. Yes, the first few flights will have to be absolutely stable in order to get your hands set.

For starters, you would need a plane with a high wing trainer. This means that the wing actually is placed over the fuselage giving you extremely stable flights. When the weight of the device is on the wing, the plane flies with stability.

Another point is that the dihedral or the angle made between the two wings should be as high as possible in order to obtain maximum stability. These are the conventional RC plan designs and help you fly the device; take those swift turns and the likes.

Power

This is the next important aspect to be considered here. RC planes can be powered by two different types of sources: an engine or an electric motor. Each of these two types has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Firstly, let us start with the electrically powered devices. These are the most ideal for beginners as they are cheap and easy to fly around. Also, they will make use of very few accessories reducing your possible expenditure even more. To top it off, the electrically powered RC planes can actually be flown easily in public since they do not create much noise or disturb the local population. For those who are not ready to rob a bank for their first model, we suggest checking out our article about cheap RC planes.

On the other hand, the engine powered RC plane has a lot more expenditures associated with it. For instance, maintenance of the engine would itself be a costly affair which would include fuel costs. Since they are usually bigger in size, they create more noise.

However, these tend to give you better and smoother flights. If you are considering to get a beginner one, it would still be advisable to stick to the electrically powered RC planes. Also, if you are interested in getting more familiar with some of the best models, we suggest checking out our article about the best RC planes on the market.

Number of channels

When it comes to the channels, you will again have a number of options to choose from. For instance, you could opt for a single channel RC aircraft. But this is mainly suited for toys and small time flyers and would not meet your requirements if you want to give flying a serious thought.

On the other hand, a two channel device will give you very limited options with respect to what you can actually do with your aircraft. It would do well for some time only.

A three channel RC plane might be a little expensive to begin with, but would be best suited to your purpose. This comes with 3 components of control to the motor, elevator, and a rudder. These devices are known to be faster in speed and can make swift and acrobatic movements in the air.

You could also opt for a 4 channel RC plane. But the operation and mechanics are a little complicated in this regard and it isn’t easy to be learned by a beginner. These planes can be tried out once you have gained significant experience in the field.

Kit readiness

Another aspect to consider is how you want your kit to be: whether you want to make the plane from scratch yourself with just the parts of do you want a ready aircraft.

A kit would include the pre-cut pieces which you would have to put together in order to have the plane working. This would be a satisfying experience, but one would need sufficient knowledge about the procedures. If you, nevertheless, still want to go down that path, we suggest that you read our how to make an RC plane guide.

On the other hand, you could opt for an Almost-Ready-to-Fly kit which will have 90% of the installations done and just the motor and the ESCs would need to be attached. However, the best option here would be opting for a ready-to-fly kit that would be assembled and you can get to flying as soon as you take the device out of the box. For a beginner, the last option would be the best one.

Availability of spare parts

If you want to be a flyer of an RC plane, crashing it now and then would be a common phenomenon. So, you need to be prepared for such accidents.

Getting a plane that has a lot of spare parts available would be advisable in this regard. If you get a plane that doesn’t come with spare parts, then it would turn out to be a useless expenditure. So, ensure that you are clear about this aspect when you make a choice of the best RC plane for yourself.

Overview

RC planes can be used by a wide range of people. These are fun to use and usually don’t disturb the people around. Besides, they give the adequate practice of flying and controlling a device in mid-air. If you select the correct RC plane for yourself, you could be in luck and have some of the best flying experiences.

Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages we managed to identify while doing these reviews:

Pros:

• These devices can be used by anyone, irrespective of the age group.
• Sometimes, these planes can actually work as great stress relievers letting you steam out some work related stress at the end of the day.
• More often than not, these planes do not interfere with the activities in the locality. Moreover, the electrically powered RC planes are actually pretty close to being noiseless and thus, do not cause much of a problem.

Cons:

• Being remote controlled devices, these planes can sometimes be hard to control even though they look pretty easy.
• Some planes might tend to become a little too pricey.

In conclusion, RC planes are a rather interesting option to get some flying experiences. These planes might look very easy to fly around, but even the most enthusiastic hobbyists will agree that it gets really difficult to control them when they are in a mid-air flight.

So, it needs some practice before you can master the art of flying such a device. However, if you choose the right device, a lot of your work gets solved there. For beginners, it is best to focus on the trainer type of RC planes. These will help you get very stable flights up front that should be enough experience for your flying skills for further flights.