Click the play button below to listen to Ron and Tom discuss getting into the hobby in Episode 3 of the RC Plane Lab podcast!

RC Planes for Beginners

Our first weekly episode of the RC Plane Lab podcast covers RC Planes for Beginners. There are so many rc planes for beginners (and experts, too!) that it gets difficult to pick one out. There’s a lot to learn if you’re just getting in to this hobby and it can seem overwhelming. Just relax, take it one step at a time, and before you know it you’ll be hooked on flying rc airplanes, just like we are!

Check out your local hobby shop!

If you have a well stocked hobby shop locally, go in and look at all of their RC Planes! For beginners, you will want to find one that is designed with a new pilot in mind. There will be a lot of boxes on the shelves with some really cool looking planes and you’ll really start to get excited! At least I know I did. This is the time to ask an employee a lot of questions. Explain that you’re new to flying and that you want something that is made for beginners. They should be able to direct you to an airplane that will be forgiving, fairly easy to repair, and quick to get in the air.

What to look for in rc planes for beginners?

RTF, BNF, PNP, ARF, kits, Simulator? What do all these terms mean?

When you’re shopping for your first airplane, you’ll see some terms on the box, or in the description if you’re looking online. The terms are important to know since it quickly tells you what to expect is included in the box. You should always check the box to find out the contents, just to be sure you already have everything you need. There’s nothing worse than getting started and realizing you forgot something, especially if you’re shopping online.

RTF

Ready to Fly

An RTF box will include everything a beginner needs to get in the air for their first flight. Ready to fly airplanes include the airframe, the radio equipment, all necessary servos and hardware, a battery, and a charger. These kits are the best way for a beginner to get into the hobby since there is nothing else that needs to be purchased to start flying. There is some assembly with RTF airplanes, but the included instruction manuals will take you step by step from assembly to your first flight.

BNF

Bind and Fly

Bind and Fly airplanes do not include a transmitter. Some come with batteries and chargers, but some do not, so check the box or description to know what’s included. A bind and fly airplane is basically an RTF airplane, minus transmitter. They are just as easy to assemble as an RTF and include all of the electronics for the airplane, including the servos and receiver.

PNP

Plug and Play

Plug and Play airplanes do not include a transmitter or receiver. Some come with batteries and chargers, but some do not, so check the box or description to know what’s included. A plug and play airplane includes everything that comes with a bind and fly airplane, except for the receiver. The nice thing about PNP airplanes is that you don’t need to worry about what type of radio system you fly. As long as you have an extra receiver that has enough channels, you are good to go. Once again, the box or the description will tell you exactly what’s included and what is needed to complete the airplane.

ARF

Almost Ready to Fly

ARFs are a bit misleading if you don’t know what you’re looking at. An ARF is a popular way to purchase an airplane because of what doesn’t come in the box. Many ARF kits can be built as either electric or glow powered, and sometimes even gas. ARFs are usually built up balsa airplanes, and not made of foam.

ARFs come with the airframe, which is already covered and ready for assembly. They also normally come with all of the necessary hardware, landing gear, and any fiberglass parts. They do not include any electronics, or power systems. An ARF will not include batteries, battery chargers, servos, motors, or anything else that is not part of the air frame. As with all other types of aircraft, look at the box and it will tell you not only what’s included, but what is still needed to make the airplane fly.

Kits

A Box of Wood!

Kits are for the builder. They include instructions, a set of plans, possibly some hardware, and a lot of wood. Kits are the most time consuming airplane to build, but with a kit you can really make it your own. You have to cut and glue the entire airframe together. Most kits come with die-cut or laser-cut parts, but some don’t. As with all other types of aircraft, look at the box and it will tell you not only what’s included, but what is still needed to make the airplane fly.

Simulator

A computer program that connects to a transmitter to help you learn to fly.

An radio controlled flight simulator is a good tool for teaching yourself to fly an rc airplane. It’s a good idea to start your rc journey with a simulator, or at least get one soon after you get your first airplane, especially if you don’t have access to someone to help teach you. I know it’s not as exciting to fly a simulator as it is to fly an actual rc airplane, but having the ability to practice and crash without having to fix an airplane can save you so much disappointment, and money. We can’t tell you how many times we have crashed on a simulator practicing new skills.

I was skeptical when I saw how expensive it was to get a simulator, but if this is a hobby you want to be a part of for the long haul, it’s actually fairly inexpensive compared to what it can save you in the long run.

There’s also no such thing as a bad day to fly on a simulator! If it’s cold outside, windy, or rainy, or if you just don’t have enough time to get your plane out, it’s easy and quick to get a couple of flights in on the sim. Any time spent in the air, either virtually or in real life, is homing your skills and making you a better pilot.

See the link at the bottom of the page for our recommendation on simulators.

In our opinion, RC Planes for beginners should not be smaller than a 24″ wing span. Smaller airplanes can fly well, but they are affected by wind a lot more than bigger airplanes, and they can also be more difficult to control due to their size. A good sized beginner airplane would be in the 42″-48″ wing span. You can go bigger if you prefer and have the room. As a general rule, bigger airplanes fly better. They will have more scale like flight characteristics since they are heavier and less effected by wind.

That being said, with the new electronic control software and active stabilization on some of the new smaller airplanes with short wingspans, they will fly very well even in moderate wind gusts.

Dihedral plays an important part in the self righting characteristics of beginner airplanes. The more dihedral an airplane has, the faster it will bring itself back to level flight. If you are looking at a trainer airplane that does not have any of the newer electronic self-righting features, a wing with dihedral will help keep you flying level.

AS3X

AS3X is a technology that helps stabilize an airplane during flight. It stands for Artificial Stabilization – 3 axis. The built in gyros dampen outside inputs on the roll, pitch, and yaw, helping to minimize the effects of wind gusts, therefore allowing your airplane to fly straight. AS3X is very useful on smaller aircraft that can be knocked around in the air by small gusts of wind.

SAFE

SAFE technology is built on the AS3X system and makes getting into the hobby simple. It takes stabilization to the next level. SAFE stands for sensor assisted flight envelope, and it uses sensors and flight software to help a new pilot get out of a bind. This is a great training aide that will help calm the fears of new pilots, resulting in more successful flights and a more enjoyable experience.

Just remember that systems designed to help you learn to fly, while a great help in training, are not meant to be used after you have become a proficient pilot. They are training aids, and should be used appropriately.

The goal should be to learn to fly and get away from these as fast as possible, and to not use them as a crutch, because doing so will make you a better pilot. You should learn how to control the airplane yourself, and not be reliant on these technologies, especially since these are not available on most airplanes in the hobby.

What should I get for my first airplane?

Personal preference plays a huge part in deciding what your first airplane should be. In our opinion, look for something that is an RTF foam trainer. There are several options, but we like the HobbyZone Carbon Cub S+ 1.3M RC Airplane. Since it’s an RTF airplane, it comes with everything you need to get started. It has a 51″ wing span which is a great size to start with, and the tundra tires roll easily on surfaces that smaller tires would get stuck in.

My first airplane was a HobbyZone Super Cub with tiny wheels. I had to replace them before I could fly because they would’t roll through grass, no matter how low I cut.

And since the HobbyZone Carbon Cub S+ 1.3M RC Airplane has all the new electronic safety features, you don’t need to worry about it’s lack of dihedral. It is a great airplane that will not only help you learn to fly, but also fly well once you turn off all the safety programs and fly the plane all by yourself. We’ve included an amazon link below. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Below is the link to our pick.

If you don’t have the room for a bigger beginner airplane, the HobbyZone Sport Cub S RC Airplane RTF with SAFE Technology is also a great airplane to start with. It’s quite a bit cheaper than the Carbon Cub, yet has nearly all of the same features. It has a 24.3 inch wing span, so it isn’t tiny. And since it also is an RTF, everything you need to get started is in the box.

I don’t think you will be disappointed by either of these airplanes, but if you don’t like either of these and want to start with something else, I hope we have given you some helpful information to make your decision easier. Good luck getting started in this hobby. We both hope it will be as exciting and fulfilling to you as it is to us!

Don’t forget the simulator!

There are a lot of simulators out there, but we’ve found the best one is Real Flight. It comes with a controller to use and the software, so it’s a great starter package for someone new wanting to learn to fly, or just for practicing so you can be a better pilot.

If you have any questions, reach out to Ron or Tom on our contact us page!

One last note:

It’s always best to reach out to your local flying club if there is one available. Our local club has their own trainer airplane and offers free introductory flights with an instructor. It is a very good way to learn more about the hobby and see how exciting it can be without spending any money. There may be some people out there that try it out and decide it’s not for them. I’ve never met one, but they may exist! My guess is, though, if you’ve made it this far and are researching good rc planes for beginners, you already know you want to get started as soon as you can!

Use this link to find a flying club near you.

https://www.modelaircraft.org/club-finder