Get your moment of zen today with this video taken by an RC plane flying over a scenic town in Germany. It’s another great example of RC’ers using inexpensive equipment to bring their hobby to new heights!
When Rick Michelena decided to turn a common ARF into something special, he started with a Great Planes Giant Big Stik and spent less than a week giving it a facelift. Here’s his story. I needed a good sport airplane, but I still wanted the looks of something different than the run of the mill [...]
One great thing about this hobby is that there’s almost always a better and quicker way to make the process easier on the modeler, pilot or builder. We asked some pros in the industry and our contributors for their advice on easier approaches to building or flying. Here are the top 20 tips (listed in [...]
From Lexington, KY, P.J. Ash is entering a rather different plane this year. It is called a Martin Baker MB.5 and it was the last aircraft the Martin Baker Company produced before building and introducing the ejection seat. P.J. built his impressive aircraft using from scale 3-views. It spans 97 inches and the fuselage length is 102 [...]
They don’t get much bigger than this! Check out this huge, 13.5-foot-span Airbus at a European airshow. The 92.5-pound RC model uses four Hacker motors producting 6000 watts and has two radio systems with 18 total servos. Build time was 6 years. Watch the entire video and you’ll see an in-flight view of the parachute release, and the landing [...]
Each year, Model Airplane News gives its readers and web visitors a sneak peek at some of the amazing airplanes that will be competing at the annual Top Gun Scale Invitational. Hosted each year by it creator, Frank Tiano, the 2012 Top Gun event will again be held at the Paradise Field near Lakeland Linder [...]
The knife-edge spin is one of the most impressive extreme aerobatic maneuvers. It’s very demanding for the pilot and the airframe. First, I’ll describe the maneuver. In traditional knife-edge, the aircraft is rolled approximately 90 degrees from upright level flight. Then altitude is sustained by using ìtopî rudder. When the maneuver is complete, the pilot [...]
Without smooth, non-binding control-surface movements, our planes would be nearly impossible to direct. Linkage systems, including the servo, servo arm, pushrod and control horn, are often overlooked, but they are the keys to smooth, strong, equal control-surface deflections. Take the time to install the linkages properly and securely to guarantee control surfaces that work properly [...]
This USA Today story has more information on the legislatation that pass the House and Senate and would require the FAA to ensure ways for drones to safely share airspace with piloted aircraft. This, of course, also affects RC airplanes and helicopters. Within a few years, that flying object overhead might not be a bird or [...]
Here it is the Hangar 9 P-47D Thunderbolt 30cc ARF completed and ready for photos in 6 days, from start to finish. This build included the optional air retracts (including tailwheel) from Robart, the optional cockpit kit from Hangar 9 and the Evolution 40GX gas engine. The assembly went along very well due to the [...]
Picture this: a nano quadcopter that’s fast and agile. Then multiply it by 20, and imagine this tiny squadron flying in formation, performing tasks and doing aerobatic maneuvers–together. In a video from the GRASP Lab of the University of Pennsylvania, air vehicles developed by KMel Robotics put on an amazing show. I promise that this [...]
The latest in E-flite’s Platinum Series, this built-up WW I fighter will definitely be a knockout on any flightline. Intended for an electric 25 to 52 motor, the Albatros comes with shock absorbing landing gear with scale wheels, top and bottom plug-in wings with carbon fiber wing tube, molded dummy engine and machine gun, wire rigging and [...]
With a two-piece wing with removeable, premounted struts, the 112-inch-span Bravata is easy to take to the field. It comes with hinged control surfaces, a mounted cowl, wheel pants and front windshield, and is even available with floats installed! Add your 28 to 35cc gas engine and you can be flight-ready in less than 10 [...]
With electric motors now being used more frequently in scale models, we have new possibilities for enhancing the model’s appearance. Because they’re virtually vibration free and run cleanly, they allow any dummy engine and motor mount to be constructed around them and all from readily available home workshop materials. I needed such a dummy engine for my [...]
