Free Sample
The Complete Guide to RC Airplane Flying
The honest beginner's guide to costs, gear, clubs, and your first flights - before you spend a dime
by Alumigogo Books
Chapter 1: What Is RC Airplane Flying and Why People Love It
Picture a Saturday morning, dew still on the grass, and a patch of sky above you that is clear and endless. There is a small plane in your hands, maybe two feet from wingtip to wingtip, made of foam that feels almost toy-like but is tougher than it looks. You set it down on the mown grass of a park or a dedicated flying field, you walk back a few paces, and you hold a transmitter - a radio controller with two joysticks that feels like a video game controller, but heavier, more purposeful. You push the throttle stick forward slowly, and the motor spools up with a sound that is somewhere between a giant bee and a tiny chainsaw. The plane starts rolling, picking up speed, bouncing slightly on the grass, and then - it lifts. It is in the air, and it is yours to command.
That moment never quite gets old. But let me rewind a little, because if you've never flown RC airplanes before, you might be picturing something either too complicated or too simple. Let me tell you what this hobby actually is, day to day, what it costs in effort and attention, and why people like me keep doing it for years.
At its core, RC airplane flying is the art and skill of piloting a small aircraft from the ground, using a radio link. The plane is a miniature version of