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Learning to fly in a plane is a dream that many people would like to indulge, however airplanes are extremely expensive to purchase and maintain. Many would be pilots turn to something a bit smaller, the RC plane. It doesn't cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and you can learn right away how to fly your new RC plane. The skills are very similar and many RC plane enthusiasts can fly their plane in graceful acrobatics just like those done in air shows.
RC planes are a bit harder to learn how to operate than other RC vehicles. Luckily there are special RC planes called trainers that are made for beginners. They are very forgiving of mistakes and super easy to learn to fly. If you are a beginner then this is the type of plane you need to purchase. You may be tempted to buy a fancier plane, but because RC planes can be difficult to fly, you may end up becoming frustrated or wreck your plane. Be sure to purchase a plane that is made for beginners so you will enjoy your new hobby of flying RC planes.
Trainer RC planes have simple designs that are easy to repair and are often built to protect delicate parts like propellers from hard landings which are common when learning. Look for a trainer that doesn't have lots of excess parts, because these will be easier to fix if you should break one. Wooden and foam types are easily repaired with simple school glue. You will also want to be sure that you can order new parts for the model you choose. That way, if a part of your trainer plane gets broken beyond repair you can simply purchase a new part to replace it, instead of purchasing a whole new plane.
The controls should be simple primary control types which will give you the full range of learning and maneuvering your new RC trainer plane. Some models come with very rudimentary controls and some advanced designs may have more complex controls. For a beginner a good primary control trainer plane is ideal. You will have control over the rudder, throttle and elevator but it will still be simple enough for a beginner to learn and enjoy.
You will also want to know how easy the RC plane flies. Some models are easier than others to fly and thus will give you a better experience and will be more enjoyable. Talk to other RC plane enthusiasts to find out what models they like, and what model they used to learn with. When purchasing the plane look for a larger wing dihedral angle of five or more degrees. Dihedral is the shallow v made by the wings when you look at the plane from the front. This makes the plane easy to fly. You will also want a longer tail which will make the plane easier to control and learn with. These features will provide the smoothest and most stable flight so it will be easier to learn with.
Make sure that everything you need in included with your RC plane. It is often cheaper to purchase a kit with everything together then to try and buy things separately. Kits usually are available in three types, ready to fly, almost ready to fly, and builder's kits. Ready to fly kits require very little assembly, and almost ready to fly kits will require some assembly. Builder's kits are the bare bones and must be completely built once you purchase the kit. You may also need to purchase other parts separately such as radio gear and the power system.
Trainer RC planes are designed for beginners and are easy to learn with. If you start with one of these stable planes you will have a great time, and you can buy a fancier plane later when you know how to control it properly. Trainer RC planes are best for learning because they are more stable, and you will enjoy learning because it will be fun instead of frustrating.
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BUILDING BETTER MODELS
