RC Model Airplane Kits for Indoor Flight
Add to your fleet of RC flyers with model airplane kits
Starting in 2005, there has been a steady introduction of practical and affordable ready to fly remote control model aircraft for indoor flight. The demands for a successful indoor flyer are such that very small and lightweight control gear is required before any RC model airplane can successfully operate in an indoor flight facility. RC model airplane kits of these specialized indoor aircraft essentially did not exist.
Piloto RTF two channel RC model airplane
The ready availability of miniature RC control systems (both infrared and radio frequency) combined with powerful electric motors and rechargeable batteries set the stage for the introduction of these indoor flying models. The vast majority of these ready to fly aircraft are made of foam for low cost and a lightweight structure. All of these indoor aircraft used some sort of rechargeable battery, and included a transmitter with a built in charger. Examples of these early models include the Piloto, Aero Ace and Havoc Cyclone. Note that all of these basic models employed two channel control and are available for under $50.
The Cyclone is a unique RC model airplane
The requirement for a very lightweight airframe structure and radio gear that could be installed by the average modeler held back the introduction of RC model airplane kits for this new wave of indoor models, but not for long.
ParkZone Cessna 210
The first glimmer of hope for indoor RC kits came with the 2007 introduction of the ParkZone Cessna 210. The C-210 was truly a remarkable aircraft. Weighing just 18 grams (0.6 ounces), the C-210 had proportional three channel control with a 2.4 GHz radio transmitter. And best of all, the Cessna 210 truly flew well. The airplane was responsive, light on the controls, and provided anyone who flew it with a very pleasant flight experience.
The ParkZone Cessna 210 provides three channel flying fun
Efforts to migrate the Cessna 210 radio gear into an indoor RC model airplane kit typically did not meet with success. The Cessna’s tiny motor just did not provide enough power for the extra weight usually needed for a home hobbyist to complete a typical kit.
The good news is that ParkZone power and radio equipment advanced with the P-51 Mustang ready for fly foam model. The P-51 had a motor with enough thrust to power a kit build indoor RC model. Stevens Aeromodel came out with the LiddleRod, designed expressly for the radio and motor of the ParkZone P-51. The LiddleRod is a very well designed model airplane kit and can be completed in a day.
Kits for indoor RC planes
There have not been a large number of RC model airplane kits produced for indoor flight, primarily because of the availability of affordable RTF aircraft. However, look to see more kits being introduced as modelers seek an airplane that is different from the numerous RTF models at your typical indoor flying location.
In the meantime, there are an increasing number of plans that produce satisfying indoor RC model planes. The Finch is a free full size plan download that uses the P-51 flight hardware. The Robin is an easy to build profile model designed for the four channel E-Flite 4-Site micro biplane electronics and motor.
Piper Supercruiser over detailed construction plans
There are hundreds of older free flight model airplane plans that make great indoor RC model aircraft. When these free flight models were originally designed radio gear was large and heavy, suitable only for gas powered outdoor flight. With the micro-sized RC gear available today, any number of the plans can easily be converted to radio control flight. The entire control/power package from the 4-Site biplane (electric motor, electronic speed control, receiver, four servos and a 150 milliamp lipo battery) weighs an ounce. Keep in mind any aircraft originally designed for free flight has inherently good flight characteristics. Thus, these models make for a very satisfying indoor RC conversion.
Guillow's kits can be converted to RC indoor flight
Guillow model conversions
A final note on RC model airplane kits for indoor flight rests with the line of Guillow’s kits. Just about every modeler at some point has constructed a model plane from a Guillow’s kit. The kits produced attractive models that suited the building skills and budget of young modelers.
The challenge, always, with building a Guillow’s model was making the thing fly. The kits looked great and employed an easily understood method of construction. However, the balsa was a lot heavier than required for these small aircraft, and excess weight is lethal to the flying qualities of indoor model aircraft.
Happily, modelers have risen to the challenge. There are now numerous examples of successful conversions of a Guillow’s kit to an RC model airplane. The 4-Site’s radio gear would be ideal for the average Guillow’s model. The key is to replace the kit’s wood with contest grade lightweight balsa in just about the entire model to keep the finished flight weight low. With this technique in hand, a wide range of interesting model airplane kits is now available for indoor RC flight.