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Radio-controlled aircraft (also called RC aircraft) are small aircraft that can
be controlled remotely. There are many different types, ranging from small park
flyers to large jets and mid-sized aerobatic models. The aircraft use many
different methods of propulsion, ranging from brushed or brushless electric
motors, to internal combustion engines, to the most expensive gas turbines.
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,
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
Some kits can be mostly foam or plastic, or may be all balsa wood.
Flying models have to be designed according to the same principles as full-sized
aircraft, and therefore their construction can be very different from most
static models. RC planes often borrow construction techniques from vintage
full-sized aircraft (although they rarely use metal structures).
Ready To Fly (or RTF) planes come as pre-assembled kits that usually only
require wing attachment or other basic assembly. Typically, everything that is
needed is already in the kit.
Almost Ready to Fly (or ARF or ARTF) kits are similar to RTF kits; however
usually require more assembly and sometimes basic construction.
Amateur hobbyists have more recently developed a range of new model designs
utilizing the corrugated plastic or "Coroplast" material. These models are
collectively called "SPADs" which stands for Simple Plastic Aircraft Design.
Brands associated with these types of aircraft
include Great Planes, Hobbico, E-Flite, Hangar 9, Grand Wing Servo-Tech,
HobbyZone, Airhogs and ParkZone.
Lanier RC is typically hailed
as the first ARF manufacturer. Other brands associated with this type of
aircraft are Carl Goldberg Products, Great Planes, Sig Manufacturing, and Mugi.
Aerotrend Products , Align Corporation Limited , Alliance Rubber ,
Astro Flight , B&B Specialities, Inc. , Bell, Bisson Mufflers , Bob Violett
Models ,
Cajun R/C Specialties, Castle Creations, Cyclon Electronic Model ,
Daron , Dave Brown Products , Discovery Channel, Dubro Products , Dumas ,
E-flite , Eagle Tree , Ernst Manufacturing , Evolution Engines , Expert
Electronics ,
Fliton , Fourmost Products ,Fox Engines , Fults Tooling ,Grand Wing System
U.S.A. ,
Guillow , Hangar 9 , Harry Higley , Hayes - Custom Injection Molding ,
Hitec RCD Inc., Hobbico, Hobbyzone , Hot Bodies ,House of Balsa ,
Integy , Jakks Pacific , JR, K&S, Kid Galaxy, KO Propo America, Landing Products
,
Lanier , Macs Products , Major Decals , Mamo Models , Master Airscrew/windsor
Propeller , Mattel , McDaniel R/C Electronics, Megatech
Megatech International , MGA Enterprises, Midwest Products Co., Model Products
Corporation , Morgan Enterprises ,Multiplex Modelsport USA ,NHP ,
Ohio Superstar Products, Inc. , Overbreak , ParkZone , Perry Pumps -
Conley Precision ,
Radio Controlled Models, Inc. , Radio South Inc. , Revolution,
Robart Manufacturing , Rod-n-bobbs , Saito Engines , Seagull , Sky &
Technology ,
Solarfilm, Sonic Tronics, Inc. , Spektrum, SpinMaster, Sullivan Products ,
Team Orion USA , Tejera Microsystems Eng., Inc. , Thunder Power Batteries,
Tru Turn , Venom Group International , Webra , WingTote , Wingtote LLC ,
World Tex , YS Parts and Service , Zenoah, Zinger . |
