RC Model Airplanes - Indoor Model Flight Revolution
Practical ready to fly indoor RC model airplanes are available today!
Early single channel RC airplane from the 1930s
The early RC model airplanes were large, gas powered free flight aircraft that used a single radio control channel operating the rudder to try and have the model recover somewhere near the ground launch point. The early pioneers of RC model airplane flight worked wonders with the electronics technology of the day. Heavy batteries, home made radio gear and large, cumbersome models made every flight a challenge.
First practical RC sets
As RC model airplane technology advanced, the first practical radio control sets became available in the early 1960s. RC pilots were still restricted to larger, gas powered aircraft flown outdoors. It would still be a period of time before RC model airplane electronics shrunk down in size to be a practical consideration for every day indoor RC model flight.
Happily, that day has now arrived. For an RC indoor model airplane you can purchase ParkZone’s combination receiver, electronic speed control with two servos for the incredible price of $60. I can recall a time, not that long ago, when a single large servo could cost $50. ParkZone’s geared electric motor is available for $16, and a 120 mAh lipo battery can be purchased for $13. The combined total weight of this RC model airplane electronic control package is a mere half an ounce. This is an ideal power/electronics package for indoor RC model airplane flight. I use these remarkable components in the LiddleRod kit and my Finch plans built RC aircraft, and they perform flawlessly. Additional easy to build indoor RC airplane plan designs to follow on this website!
Spektrum's remarkable DX6i transmitter
Spektrum DX6i can be used with 10 models
You can save even more money, as multiple aircraft using these advanced indoor RC model airplane flight electronics can be bound to single transmitter, such as Spektrum’s DX6i model. One DX6i transmitter can be used to control up to ten different RC models. This provides a huge cost savings as you do not have to purchase a separate transmitter for each of your RC model aircraft.
You have essentially two choices for micro indoor RC model airplanes. You can either purchase a ready to fly model, such as the ParkZone Ember or Cessna 210, or your can build one yourself. ParkZone has, in my opinion, the widest range of high quality indoor RTF radio control model aircraft. Starting with the Cessna 210 in around 2007, ParkZone has led the way with affordable, well flying micro RTF indoor model airplanes. You cannot go wrong purchasing and flying one of these models.
ParkZone Cessna 210 3 channel micro indoor RC airplane
ParkZone has evolved over just the past few years with more powerful and capable indoor RC aircraft. The Cessna 210 had a small electric motor, but flew well due to a light weight of 18 grams (just over half an ounce) combined with a well engineered foam design. ParkZone advanced with more powerful motor combinations, such as the P-51. E-Flite’s remarkable 4-Site also falls into this newer category of high powered, RTF indoor micro RC aircraft.
ParkZone micro gear in own design aircraft
The more potent motor and electronics combination found in the ParkZone P-51 for the first time allow the home builder to design and construct their own indoor RC model airplane. I used the LiddleRod as a baseline. The electronics (ParkZone receiver brick, 120 mAh lipo battery and geared electric motor) weigh half an ounce. The LiddleRod aircraft, with covering, weighed about 0.6 ounces. Thus, the total aircraft should weigh somewhere around 1.1 ounces.
44" wingspan Chickadee is the basis for the 20" Finch micro flyer
I used the Chickadee as a start on my design for use on the ParkZone electronics in an indoor RC plane. TurboCAD allowed me to take the Chickadee plan and quickly resize to a smaller 20 inch wingspan version, which I call the Finch. Using normal building and covering materials (no carbon reinforcement, etc.), the Finch has plenty of power and flies very well.
Normally, micro indoor RC model airplanes can be a challenge to build, as the tolerances for weight, wing incidence and construction methods can be exacting. But with the incredible light weight and high power of the ParkZone flight electronics, you can for the first time design and build practical indoor micro model RC aircraft. The Robin is an example of a micro flyer from plans using the 4-Site electronics.
20" wingspan Finch uses ParkZone micro RC gear
Your first plans built micro RC plane
The Finch is a perfect start for follow on designs. Keep the same overall dimensions for wingspan, tail and nose moments and wing incidence. It is very easy to expand upon the Finch’s design by such simple actions as changing the tail and rudder shape or adding some fuselage structure to create your own original RC model aircraft design.
The Finch will be on this website as a FREE full size plan download. I am in the finishing stages of the TurboCAD plans, and will have them posted by the end of November 2010.