Trainer RC Airplanes If this is your first time choosing a conventional rc airplane then don't get over ambitious. A scale model of a world war fighter like a Mustang P51D or an earlier biplane may look the part but you'll need an rc airplane that flies slow and is strong enough to withstand those bumpy first landings. Ideally your first rc airplane will be a trainer which will fly really slowly - it has a very low stall speed and if a trainer does eventually stall, it can be recovered and flown safely by a beginner with little danger of damage. Trainers are naturally stable in the air and will virtually fly themselves - this gives you, the pilot more time to think and less chance of crashing your rc airplane. Trainers fly nice and slow, and most won't do aerobatics so a new pilot doesn't get over confident Lots of trainers you can buy are Ready-to-Fly (RTF) which means they can sometimes be in the air within half an hour of opening up the kit. Sure, there will be a few parts to put together to make the finished airplane but it's as easy as it gets! Some RTF models are a little heavy but they are a great way to get started. Or you may go for Almost Ready to Fly (ARF) which might need a day's work to finish off, but will come with all the major parts finished, just needing assembly and the installation of a few internal components and control mechanisms. The third option is Ready-to -Cover (RTC) which will take a bit more work than ARF but gives you the chance to finish the main structure in colours of your choice making your rc airplane truly unique. Whether you choose RTF, ARF or RTC is really down to your practical skills, and how quickly you want to get in the air. Whatever you choose, you'll still be thrilled when you see your rc airplane flying under your control. Of course there is still the option of a kit of hundreds of parts for you to assemble. These used to only contain the wooden parts but now often include all the metal parts and other bits and pieces. Not many tools are needed but lots of patience. You'll enjoy the satisfaction of flying an airplane you built from scratch but it's soul destroying for the beginner if the plane is wrecked on its first flight. Click here for more information about learning to fly your first model rc airplane Sport Airplanes It's difficult to define "sport airplanes" as the term is used so much by radio controlled airplane enthusiasts. Most are airplanes intended to be flown by pilots with some assembly and flying experience. They will usually perform basic aerobatics but can be flown slowly for landings. Whereas trainers have high mounted wings with the fuselage "hanging" from the wing, most sport airplanes have low mounted wings with the fuselage sitting on top of the wing. This makes the airplane less stable in the air but many can still be flown by beginners with lots of patience. Scale Model Airplanes These are for the real enthusiast who wants to build a perfect scale model of a real plane. No compromises are made meaning the airplane may be difficult to build and fly but it will be a perfect scale model. Not for the beginner! What About Engines? When the airplane kit says it needs a 40 size or 60 size engine it's referring to the displacement of the engine in hundredths of a cubic inch (in the Imperial system). Other countries may work in metric. Not surprisingly trainers tend to use the smallest engines and high performance models the biggest for maximum performance. Glow plug engines are most common. This is a bit like a tiny diesel engine with a plug to get things started but after that the compression lone causes the engine to fire. A small carburetor controls the air-fuel mixture which has to be right to make sure not only that the engines run smoothly but sufficient lubricant is carried with the fuel to ensure long engine life. Fuel is methanol based with nitromethane added for performance and about 20% oil for lubrication. Care must be taken to make sure the mixture is not too lean i.e. too little fuel, or the engine life may be surprisingly short. But of course, there's always the option for electric rc airplanes. | 
