28 model airplane videos!
Videos on ready to fly, plans built and CAD designed RC model aircraft
All the videos on this page are also shown with the page for that model airplane or construction procedure. Please follow the links below each video if you wish to further explore the various modeling subjects.
E-Fest indoor RC model airplane show
Download free CAD plans for the three channel Finch micro RC airplane
The Finch is a easy to built indoor micro RC airplane. You can download a free set of full size CAD plans for the Finch here. The Finch uses common building materials of balsa and ply, and can be completed in a weekend. The Finch uses the popular and affordable ParkZone line of electronics. The finished aircraft weighs just 1.1 ounces.
The LiddleRod is a quick building, laser cut micro RC airplane kit
The LiddleRod is a well designed, three channel micro RC airplane kit. All parts are laser cut, and the kit goes together very quickly. I built my LiddleRod airplane kit in a day. The LiddleRod flies well, and is a responsive and agile aircraft. I would recommend the LiddleRod for intermediate builders and pilots - it is certainly something different from the typical micro ARF seen at your local indoor flying area.
The Blackburn plan make an attractive scale model airplane
The Blackburn RC airplane video shows the unique wing attachment method, using balsa dowels, for this well mannered three channel RC model airplane. The CAD drawn plans for the Blackburn scale RC model have all the information needed to build this historic British aircraft, and the plans are available here. The Blackburn is straightforward to construct from the detailed plans, and is very easy to fly.
The Proto Max is an easy to fly, responsive model helicopter
The Proto Max micro helicopter is a tremendous value. For under $100, you get a true four channel RC helicopter with a 2.4 GHz transmitter, built in battery charger, and a 120 milliamp lipo battery. Everything you need to get flying is included, even the AA batteries for the transmitter. Just charge the flight battery and get airborne. The Proto Max has exceptionally smooth operation and is a ball to fly, as you can see in the RC airplane video. I give it my highest recommendation.
Sig did a superb job with the well engineered Demoiselle kit
The Demoiselle is a one of a kind kit built indoor scale RC model airplane produced by the folks at Sig Manufacturing. As you can see in the RC airplane video, the Sig Demoiselle is a thoughtfully designed model with a unique triangular fuselage that handles very well in the air. The Demoiselle is a responsive slow flyer, ideally suited for relaxing flights. Note the scale all-moving tail surface, which faithfully replicates the control scheme of the full scale Demoiselle.
ParkZone produced a lightweight winner with the Ember
The Ember is a lightweight, ready to fly three channel indoor model airplane. The Ember is perfectly designed for its lightweight RC gear, providing true three channel proportional control. The RC airplane video shows the smooth flight characteristics of the Ember. Due to its light weight, the Ember is just about impossible to damage in a crash, and is ideally suited as an indoor trainer RC model airplane.
The Chickadee is a great model for a first plans build effort
The Chickadee is a plan built RC model airplane that can be flown indoors, as well as outdoors under calm wind conditions. The Chickadee is a very smooth flyer, and the design is easy to modify with different fuselage outlines and structures. The RC airplane video shows that the Chickadee has plenty of power, and the large control surfaces provide smooth and positive control. Free plans are available here.
Revell's Piloto comes ready to fly right out of the box
The Piloto is an easy to fly, micro two channel indoor model airplane. The Piloto uses throttle and rudder control, and handles very well. The RC airplane video shows the nose high attitude common to these ready to fly indoor RC model airplanes. The Piloto is fun to fly and just about indestructible with it rear mounted prop.
The Cyclone is an unusual model airplane design that flies very well
The Cyclone is an affordable, ready to fly indoor RC micro airplane that uses infrared control. IR controllers are usually less expensive than a radio control transmitter, but have reduced range compared to the radio frequency versions. The Cyclone is one of the most unique wing shapes I have ever flown, with a triangular flying wing design patterned after a Navy test aircraft of the 1940s. The Cyclone is responsive and lots of fun to fly.
The ParkZone Cessna 210 is a popular RTF three channel micro flyer
ParkZone C-210 is the micro ready to fly RC model airplane that more or less started the revolution with indoor flying. For under $150, you got a three channel, fully proportional RC model airplane that actually flew very, very well. But don’t take my word for it, just look at the number of ParkZone Cessna 210s flying at indoor venues everywhere. You cannot go wrong with this great little model. As demonstrated in this RC airplane video, the Cessna 210 can be flown outdoors under calm wind conditions.
The Fire Strike is inexpensive three channel helicopter fun
The Fire Strike is a low cost, three channel ready to fly twin rotor micro helicopter. The IR transmitter has a charging cord for the helicopter, and flights can last up to eight minutes. The Fire Strike is a nimble flyer, and is a great trainer for someone just starting to learn the basics of helicopter flight. The RC airplane video shows that the Fire Strike can be well controlled for close in hovers.
The Razor makes very good use of two channels for helicopter flight
The Razor is another example of a low cost, easy to fly two channel RTF helicopter which is ideal as a trainer for someone new to the world of indoor radio control helicopter flight. The Razor uses twin rotors on a single mast for stability, and includes a dedicated motor on the tail rotor for turns. Due to its small size and low weight, the Razor is very resilient with the normal bumps and crashes associated with indoor flight.
The Aero Ace uses differential thrust for aircraft control
The Aero Ace is an example of one of the early ready to fly micro indoor RC airplanes. The Aero Ace distinguishes itself from almost any other radio control model airplane you have flown by having no moving control surfaces. Rather, differential thrust from the twin electric motors are used to turn the airplane, and the throttle is used to climb or dive. Check out the RC airplane video to see this great little model in flight.
The world of indoor RC model aircraft is expanding daily
With the revolution in affordable, truly micro radio control equipment available these days, there is an explosion in the number and variety of indoor radio control models available. Check out the RC airplane videos to get a sense of what is out there. Ready to fly, plans built, micro size, airplane, helicopter - everyone can find a type of indoor RC model airplane flight that suits them.
Micro RC model aircraft are ideal for learning how to fly
Learning to fly to fly a radio controlled model airplane has in the past always been a challenge. With the larger model airplanes needed for gas engine flight, an instructor was an absolute requirement for learning how to fly a model airplane. If you tried to teach yourself how to fly, the inevitable crashes would simply stop this effort. As shown in the RC airplane video, the light weight, slow flight speeds and crash damage tolerance of today’s micro radio control airplanes make teaching yourself how to fly a reality.
The Electro Aviator was my first published plan drawn with TurboCAD
The Electro Aviator is not an indoor RC model airplane. But the Electro Aviator is a great looking RC model that is easy to build and flies well. The Electro Aviator is my first published plan using TurboCAD, and the balsa and plywood parts were all laser cut for a great fit.
Watch this video for valuable insights on using TurboCAD
TurboCAD is an affordable, easy to learn and very powerful Computer Aided Design (CAD) program. Like any CAD program, there are some tricks that you need to learn in order to be proficient with TurboCAD. I have close to three hours of video instruction that will take you step by step from a clean sheet of paper to a finished RC model airplane design. These training CDs will save you months of effort, and get you started soonest with quickly drawing professional CAD RC airplane plans.
Further insights on using TurboCAD to draw model airplane plans
This TurboCAD training video will show you how TurboCAD is designed to work with various drafting processes. Once understood, TurboCAD can be used to quickly prepare professional looking RC model airplane designs.
This video details the use of TurboCAD to precisely draw a wing spar
This RC airplane video is taken right from the TurboCAD training video, and will show you step-by-step how to employ TurboCAD to draw a precise spar for an RC model airplane design. TurboCAD automates many drafting tasks that took a great deal of time when done by hand on paper plans. Using TurboCAD for the drafting of this RC model airplane wing spar will provide valuable insights as to the power of CAD programs to swiftly prepare RC model airplane plans.
TurboCAD makes drawing a model airplane fuselage easy and quick
The Snapper is a low winged version of the Yard Ace model airplane. Drawing the Snapper plan is the subject of my TurboCAD training CDs. In the course of close to three hours of TurboCAD video instruction, you will progress from a “clean sheet of paper” to a finished model airplane design of the Snapper. Along the way, you will see clearly how to usefully employ TurboCAD for drawing a wide variety of RC model airplane plans.