Frequently asked questions about R/C Airplanes

Adam's Park Flyer
R/C Airplanes

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any organizations or clubs that I can join with my R/C Airplane?

Your local hobby shop is the best place to ask about clubs near you. This is a good way to meet other pilots and find an instructor if you so wish. Most pilots will more than glad to help you out as well. If you join a club with the intention of finding an instructor, choose one who looks relaxed and is very smooth with his/her flying, and remember, the best pilots may not always be the best instructors! For U.S. residents, an organization well worth joining is the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA). They have close ties with the FAA, the FCC, and Congress. They are also an affiliate of the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and are the US aero modeling representative of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI). Membership in the AMA also gets you $1,000,000 of liability insurance, without which most fields will not allow you to fly. You also need to be an AMA member to participate in contests.

What is a "1991" system?

A "1991" system is so named because in 1991 the radio control frequency regulations changed, which effectively made the "old-style" radios unusable. The "old-style" radios have a 40 kHz separation between channels. Today, a separation of 10 kHz is needed, even though R/C channels will still be 20 kHz apart. This is due to the FCC's decision to designate channels for pagers and other devices between the R/C channels.

Should I build my own plane from a kit or buy a ready to fly model?

If you are reading this then you are most likely a beginner. As such, it may be wise to learn how to fly on an inexpensive ready made plane, rather than one that you have poured your heart and soul into. There is definitely something satisfying about creating something with your own two hands, but you will probably want to keep it for some time. The kits that are available today are inexpensive, easy to assemble, and fly quite well.

Is electric better than gas?

Ah yes, this is an age old argument that has been debated since the beginning of R/C Airplanes. Both methods have their pro's and con's. Most people who fly gas prefer gas, and of course most people who fly electric prefer electric. It really comes down to what you like and are looking for in the experience. Certainly gas powered engines can provide more power, but there comes a point at which that power becomes excessive. I personally witnessed a beautiful gas powered scale model of an F-16 that was supposedly capable of 200+ MPH flight. That looks great on paper, but it's pilot was only able to fly it in a fairly tight circle around the airfield that we were at in order to avoid stalling. Some people obviously like this sort of thing, but battery powered pilots tend to enjoy performing tricks and stunts, as opposed to straight flying. This is not to say that there aren't gas powered planes capable of the tricks that battery powered machines can perform, but if the only difference between the two is the "fuel" I would prefer the clean, non-polluting, quiet, efficient, economical power of electricity. But that's just me!