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Radio-controlled aircraft (abbreviated RC aircraft or RC plane) is a model aircraft that is controlled remotely via controller. It is typically controlled with a hand-held transmitter and a receiver within the craft. more...

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The receiver controls the corresponding servos that move the control surfaces based on the position of joysticks on the transmitter, which in turn move the plane.

RC aeroplanes as a hobby have been internationally growing due to the availability of smaller, relatively inexpensive parts and advancing technologies. A variety of models and styles are available to suit any preference or budget. Due to the availability and advances in high performance electric batteries and motors, a growing number of hobbyists are flying electric powered craft instead of fuel (most often methanol or gasoline based but also diesel) powered craft, because of their ease of construction, lower noise levels, and the absence of fuel mess and fuss. High performance gasoline engines are becoming very popular for the larger size aircraft (generally about 20cc and larger) due to their low operating cost (gasoline in the USA at $3.00/gallon vs glow fuel at $16-$32/gallon), lower initial cost (compared to electric), high power output, and reliability with little or no fuel mess on the aircraft.

Scientific, government and military organizations are also utilizing RC aircraft for experiments, gathering weather readings, aerodynamic modeling and testing, and even use them as drones or spy planes.

History

The earliest examples of electronically guided model aircraft were hydrogen-filled model airships of the late 19th century. They were flown as a music hall act around theater auditoriums using a basic form of spark-emitted radio signal. In 1920s, the Royal Aircraft Establishment of Britain built and tested the Larynx, a monoplane with a 100-mile (160 km) range powered by a Lynx engine. It was not until the 1930s that British came up with the Queen Bee, a modified de Havilland Tiger Moth, and similar target aircraft.

Types

There are many types of radio-controlled aircraft. For beginning hobbyists, there are park flyers and trainers. For more advanced pilots there are glow plug engine, electric powered and sailplane aircraft. For expert flyers, jets, pylon racers, helicopters, autogyros, 3D aircraft, and other high end competition aircraft provide adequate challenge. You can also build scale models of manned aircraft. Some models are made to look and operate like a bird instead. Other sport aircraft are designated for scale-like flying referred to as "scale". Scale is a very demanding but very rewarding aspect of the hobby.

Sailplanes and gliders

Gliders are planes that do not typically have any type of propulsion, as a general rule. Because most gliders are unpowered, flight must be sustained through exploitation of the natural lift produced from thermals and wind hitting a slope. Dynamic soaring is another popular way of providing propulsion to gliders and is commonly employed today.

Read more at Wikipedia.org