Electric Radio Controlled Aircraft
Getting into the World of Radio Control?
The radio control hobbyists world ranges from the beauty and grace of a yacht to the down and dirty action of an off-road monster truck to quite large aircraft. The common factor being they are all controlled from a handheld transmitter.
Radio control models have been around since the 1950′s and getting better all the time with advances in circuit technology and battery technology allowing more dependability and control. With the miniaturisation of electronics it’s been possible to do more with less power. Modern RC models use 2.4 ghz systems making them less likely to suffer interference from other sources.
Before commiting to a purchase however there are some things to take into account and obviously these depend on the particular form of RC you are smitten with. The idea of getting airborne fast is an attractive one but without the right preparation and training it could well prove to be a short and expensive flight. It really is best to learn to fly with someone else, better still with an instructor who can start you off with a simulator before moving on to a buddy box system, which is really a dual control system, one for you the student and one for the instructor to get you out of trouble.
Same thing goes with radio controlled cars – where are you going to use them without crashing? There really is no point in getting a screaming drift car without somewhere suitable like a basketball court to use it. On the other hand such a surface would be useless to a monster truck which really needs some rough ground to shine.
Then you need to think about whether the gas or electric models are going to be right for you. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Remember that gas models tend to be more powerful and noisier but need tuning. It’s not really a big deal but a little chore to be aware of. Electric models are quiet and lighter but batteries can be expensive, even allowing for the re-use you get with rechargeables.
Don’t forget, you will need to be able to get spares too as you will have little accidents no matter how careful you are!
Talk to other hobbyists before you make your choice and talk to your local hobby shop. The guys there are always looking to talk about their hobby because they’re keen hobbyists themselves and they want to promote their hobby by bringing newcomers into their hobby, the wonderful world of radio control.
Australians might like to check out the radio controlled cars or radio control planes at Hobby Heroes in Sydney, run by a dedicated RC hobbyist who likes nothing better than to help newcomers to the fold!
About the Author
Aussies – Check out the RC Planes or the RC Cars at Hobby Heroes.
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