RC Airplane Guide blog
Reviews, build logs, and fixes for better flights.
Every article is built around a practical decision: which airplane to buy, which build to trust, which setting to change, or which crash to learn from.
RC Plane Crashes: Common Causes and How to Fix Them
Why RC plane crashes happen and how to fix each root cause: signal loss, wrong CG, motor cuts, reversed controls, battery sag and pilot error, step by step.
HobbyZone RC Planes: Complete Brand Guide & Model Lineup (2026)
HobbyZone's 2026 lineup explained: the AeroScout S 2, Carbon Cub S 2, Apprentice STOL S 700 and the micro trainers, plus which legacy models are discontinued.
E-flite RC Planes: Complete Brand Guide & Model Lineup (2026)
The real 2026 E-flite lineup, sorted by skill level and airframe: trainers, UMX jets, warbirds, Timber and Carbon-Z, plus BNF vs PNP and legacy models.
RC Plane LiPo Charger Guide: Balance Chargers Explained and Best Picks (2026)
Balance chargers for RC planes explained, plus the current picks for 3S park flyers, 6S EDFs and 8S giant-scale packs, with the AC power math that matters.
HobbyZone AeroScout S 2 1.1m Review (2026): Pusher-Prop Trainer
AeroScout S 2 review: the 1.1m pusher-prop trainer from HobbyZone. What each box includes, current specs, nose-gear durability and who should buy it in 2026.
RC Plane Buddy Box and Trainer Cord Guide: How to Train with an Instructor
A buddy box lets an instructor retake control the instant a student gets into trouble. Here's how trainer cords, wireless links and radio setup work.
Advanced RC Aerobatics: Hovering, Torque Rolls and Harriers Explained
Learn how to hover an RC plane, hold a torque roll and fly a clean harrier, with the exact control corrections and setup that make each one repeatable.
E-flite Timber X 1.2m Review: STOL Meets 3D
E-flite's Timber X 1.2m blends bush-plane STOL hardware with genuine 3D control authority. Here's how the BNF, PNP and Night versions really compare in 2026.
RC Gas Engine Won't Start: A Fuel, Spark and Compression Checklist
A gas engine that turns over but will not fire is short of fuel, flooded, missing spark, or has a mechanical problem. Here is how to tell which, and in what order.
RC Plane Won't Climb or Feels Underpowered: A Test-First Fix Guide
A plane that will not climb is rarely just a weak motor. Work through battery, radio, propeller and balance in order, with a test before every replacement.
E-flite Valiant 1.3m: A Foam Taildragger Bridge to Giant Scale
The Valiant 1.3m is a 53-inch foam taildragger with flaps, built as a downsized Hangar 9 Valiant. It is discontinued now, so here is what to know before buying one used.
VolantexRC Sport Cub 500: What to Know Before You Buy
The Sport Cub 500 is a 500 mm, four-channel EPP trainer with a 6-axis gyro. Here is what the maker says, how the model numbers differ, and what to check before you order.
E-flite Extra 300 3D 1.3m: Used-Market Guide and Its Successor
The Extra 300 3D 1.3m is discontinued, so this guide covers the versions, the manual's set-up values, what to inspect on a used one, and the Extra 330 SC that replaced it.
How to Trim an RC Plane: Straight and Level Without Guesswork
Most crooked-flying planes are untrimmed, not broken. Here is a bench-then-field routine based on E-flite manuals and AMA Flight School, with a symptom guide.
RC Plane Foam Types Explained: EPS vs EPO vs EPP
EPS, EPO and EPP are three different foams with three different ways of failing. This guide explains how each behaves, how to glue and paint them, and which real models use which.
HobbyZone Sport Cub S 2: Which Version to Buy and What to Expect
The Sport Cub S 2 is a 617 mm indoor-capable SAFE trainer sold in more than one version. Here is how the versions differ and what the manual says about flying it.
RC Glow Plug and Glow Driver Guide: Ignition for Nitro Engines
A glow plug is a consumable heater that keeps a nitro engine firing. Here is how it works, how O.S. names its plugs, and what to carry in your field box.
RC Plane Dual Rates and Expo: Where to Set Them on Your Radio
Dual rates change how far a surface moves, expo changes how the stick feels near center. Here is where each radio hides them and which manual values make sensible starting points.
RC LiPo Battery Checkers and Alarms: Catch a Weak Pack Early
A LiPo checker reads every cell, a balancer evens them out, and an alarm warns you in the air. Here is how the main tools compare, based on maker specs.
Hangar 9 RC Planes: A Buyer's Guide to the ARF and PNP Lineup
Hangar 9 sells built-up balsa ARFs and a few PNP models, not foam trainers. Here is what each current model includes, what you still have to buy, and who it suits.
VolantexRC RC Planes: A Buyer's Guide to the Lineup
VolantexRC sells pocket trainers, 400 mm warbirds, 500 mm brushless models and big PNP gliders. Here is how the lines differ and which one fits which pilot.
Swollen LiPo Batteries: Warning Signs and What to Do
A swollen LiPo is a safety problem, not a cosmetic one. This researched guide follows manufacturer, AMA and recycler guidance on what to do right away, how to dispose of a damaged pack and how to keep packs from puffing in the first place.
RC Nitro Engine Won't Start: A Troubleshooting Order
An ordered, manual-backed checklist for an RC glow engine that will not start: the four conditions O.S. says an engine needs, how to clear flooding without bending a rod, plug and driver checks, fuel delivery, needles and cold starts.
RC Pattern and Aerobatic Planes: Precision Beyond 3D
Pattern is judged on geometry, not hovering. This researched guide covers how people start in pattern, the FAI F3A size and weight box, and the airframes on the ladder, with a candid note on what is actually available.
RC Plane Painting Guide: Foam and Balsa Finishing
A researched guide to finishing foam and balsa RC planes: how to test paint on scrap, which products makers say suit foam, how to mask and spray in thin coats, and when covering film beats paint.
How to Fly an RC Plane in Wind
A researched guide to windy-day RC flying: the wind limits makers actually publish, how gusts change the picture, what to adjust in your setup, and how to approach, turn and land when the air is moving.
How to Take Off and Land an RC Plane
A researched walkthrough of RC takeoffs and landings built from trainer manuals, the FAA handbook and the AMA's intro-pilot program: wind limits, hand launches, the approach and flare, and what to do about bounces and crosswinds.
Basic RC Aerobatics: Loops, Rolls and Stall Turns
A researched guide to the three maneuvers that unlock sport aerobatics, with stick sequences, symptom-to-fix tables and the airplane setup that makes them safer to learn.
RC Plane Hinge Guide: CA, Tape and Pinned Hinges
Foam, balsa or giant scale, the hinge method follows the airframe. A researched guide to CA, tape, silicone, pinned and pin-point hinges, with maker-documented install tips and the failure modes that matter.
How to Repair a Crashed Foam RC Plane
A post-crash routine for foam RC planes: battery first, then glue and tape choices backed by maker documents, field versus bench repairs, and the powertrain checks that prevent a second crash.
RC Plane Failsafe Not Working: How to Set It Up Correctly
When you switch the transmitter off and nothing happens, the receiver is usually doing exactly what it was told. This guide walks through what five radio brands do by default, how each one is set, and how to test it safely.
RC Plane Servo Flutter: Causes and Fixes
Flutter only shows up in the air, at speed. A researched guide to what causes it, how to tell it from bench jitter, what to do if you hear it, and how to cure it with tighter linkages, better servos and mass balancing.
Flite Test RC Planes: Foam Board Kit Guide for Builders
Flite Test sells airframes you glue together, plus matched power packs. This guide maps the lineup from EZ planes to Master Series warbirds and explains what you still have to buy.
FMS RC Planes: Brand Guide and Current Model Lineup
FMS makes foam trainers, warbirds, EDF jets and scale civil planes, mostly sold as PNP. This guide goes through the models a US distributor lists, what each one needs, and what Reflex V3 is.
Best RC Biplanes: From Micro Waco to Giant-Scale Pitts
Two wings look gentle and fly like a handful. This guide groups current and recent RC biplanes by size and lays out what the manuals say about power, balance, skill level and what you still need to buy.
RC Plane Not Responding? Bench and In-Flight Fix Guide
A plane that ignores its transmitter is either a bench problem or an in-flight problem, and the two have almost nothing in common. This guide splits them and works each in order using the makers' own documentation.
RC Plane Crash Diagnosis: Causes and Prevention
A symptom-first guide to RC crash causes: setup mistakes, center of gravity, brownouts and ESC protections, flutter, vibration and wind, with the checks to run before you blame the radio.
RC Plane Motor Cutting Out Mid-Flight: Causes and Fixes
The most useful clue after a motor cutout is whether the control surfaces kept working. This guide follows that fork through ESC protections, battery sag, connections and settings, using what the maker manuals actually say.
RC Plane Won't Arm? Troubleshooting Signal and Bind Issues
A plane that refuses to arm is usually doing what it was designed to do. This guide separates bind problems from arming problems and walks through the checks the maker manuals actually publish.
E-flite Apprentice STOL: What It Is and Which Apprentice to Buy
Searching for an E-flite Apprentice STOL leads to two different Horizon Hobby trainers. This guide sorts out the names, the specs, the manual limits and which one fits which pilot.
RC Planes for Intermediate Pilots: Step Up After Your Trainer
The planes between a trainer and a warbird each take away one kind of forgiveness. This researched ladder shows what each step asks of you, with maker specs, manual setup numbers and current availability.
Best Foam Board RC Planes for New Builders
A foam board kit is an airframe you glue together, and the electronics are a separate shopping list. This guide lays out what each popular kit needs, how long it takes to build and which power pack fits.
Best RC STOL Bush Planes: Big Tires for Rough Fields
STOL bush planes are built to leave and land in short spaces. This guide groups the current Timber, Cub and other bush models by size and lays out what the manuals actually say about flaps, balance, batteries and flying sites.
RC Plane Yak-54 and Yak-55: Foam, Balsa and Giant-Scale Models
Yak-54 and Yak-55 are names used across foam park flyers, balsa ARFs and giant-scale gas models. This guide explains the real aircraft behind them and compares the RC versions by documented specs.
3D Printed RC Planes: Files, Materials and What to Expect
A printed RC plane comes out of your printer one thin layer at a time. This guide covers the main design families, what the designers say about materials and settings, and what to expect in terms of weight, heat and repairs.
RC Plane 3D Aerobatics: Models, Setup and a Learning Path
3D flying needs a different airplane and a different way of learning. This guide covers the power guidelines, the learning order pilots recommend, and verified specs for eight 3D models from indoor foamies to balsa precision and giant-scale.
RC Plane Dogfight Guide: Combat Formats, IR Systems and Gear
Searches for an RC plane dogfight turn up several different hobbies. This guide sorts out streamer combat, contact games, IR laser tag for FPV and payload drops, with the AMA and FAA rules that apply to each.
RC Plane Long-Range Flying: Antennas, Telemetry and Legal Limits
Range on an RC plane is a link budget problem, then a failsafe problem, then a legal one. This guide walks through antennas, the main control links, return-to-home basics and the US rules that cap what you can do.
RC Airplane License and Registration: What the FAA Requires
The FAA does not issue a recreational RC pilot license, yet three separate obligations still apply to fixed-wing flyers: registration, the TRUST test and Remote ID. This guide explains each one and where the exemptions come from.
Rage RC Micro Warbirds: Buyer's Guide for New Pilots
Rage RC sells 400mm RTF micro warbirds with PASS stabilization and a 500mm brushless step-up. This guide uses Rage's own manual and published specs to show what is in the box, how PASS works and what to budget for.
RC Plane Glue Guide: Adhesives for Foam, Balsa and Carbon
Foam, balsa, carbon and plastic each want a different adhesive. This guide matches glues to materials using airplane manuals, maker catalogs and a safety data sheet, then covers accelerators, debonders and safe habits.
Giant-Scale Ground Handling: Racks, Stands and Transport
Big models are heavy and awkward long before they fly. This guide covers racks, stands, field boxes, wing bags and a documented trailer rack, using maker specifications and Model Aviation articles.
Foam vs Balsa RC Planes: Which Material Suits You?
Foam and balsa are two different ways into the hobby. This guide compares them on repair, assembly time, covering and what each box leaves for you to buy, using manufacturer manuals and specifications.
RC Cub Planes: J-3, Carbon Cub and Cessna Options
Cubs and Cessnas are the classic high-wing trainers and bush planes. This buyer's guide sorts what is in stock now by size, using maker specifications and manuals.
Micro RC Planes: Indoor and Park Flyer Options
Micro RC planes range from a 25 g indoor slow flyer to a 639 g park trainer. This guide sorts them by flying space using manufacturer specifications, radio requirements and stock.
RC Plane vs Drone: How to Choose Your First Aircraft
RC plane or drone? We compare learning curve, space, crash repairs, community and FAA rules, and point each type of beginner to the right starting aircraft.
Buying and Selling Used RC Planes: Swap Meet Guide
Used RC planes can save money, but only if the radio, battery and airframe check out. This guide covers inspection, compatibility, scam red flags, legal basics and shipping limits, drawn from maker manuals and official sources.
RC Plane Manufacturers Guide: Major Brands and Their Lineups
Brand names on the shelf do not map to companies. This researched guide sorts who owns and makes what, what each lineup is for, and how much of each catalog is actually available now.
Major US RC Plane Events: Fly-Ins, Nats and Swap Meets
The biggest US RC events each serve a different kind of modeler. This guide sets out what Joe Nall, Ace of Aces, the Nats, the swap meets and the jet and warbird rallies offer, based on organizer and AMA documentation.
Twin-Engine RC Planes: Prop and EDF Twins Compared
Twins add scale presence and new things to manage. This buyer's guide covers prop and EDF twins in stock now, using maker specs and manuals, plus what engine-out means and what the manuals actually say.
Vintage Balsa RC Kits You Can Still Build Today
Foam got a lot of people flying, but some pilots miss the smell of wood glue and the plan table. This guide covers classic balsa RC kits that makers still list, with their published specs, and how to pick one.
RC Plane Wing Bags and Storage: Protect Your Planes Between Flights
Most damage to an RC plane happens between flights, not during them. Here is how wing bags, stands, racks and DIY mounts compare, and how to match them to what you fly.
E-flite ICON A5 1.3m: Specs, Status and Alternatives
The E-flite ICON A5 1.3m is discontinued at Horizon. This guide gives the maker's specifications, water-flying cautions from Horizon manuals and the float-capable airplanes that are still in stock.
RC Plane CG Balancer Guide: Tools, MAC and Setup
Center of gravity is the cheapest performance upgrade in the hobby, because it costs a few grams of weight and some patience. This researched guide covers where the number comes from, how to measure it, and which balancer fits which model.
RC Plane Lights and Smoke Systems Explained
Lighting an RC plane covers navigation lights, scale effects and smoke, and each has different power needs. This guide uses maker specs and AMA documents to explain what to buy and how to power it.
RC Plane Wiring Guide: Connections, Order and Checks
There is no single wiring diagram for every RC plane, but the same few connections repeat on every electric build. This guide walks through them using maker manuals and datasheets.
RC Plane Propellers: Size, Pitch and How to Choose
Swapping a prop changes the whole airplane. This guide explains diameter, pitch, APC prop codes and RPM limits, and uses maker bench data to show how a prop change loads a motor and ESC.
RC Plane Fuel Guide: Glow Nitro, Gas Mix and Storage
Glow and gasoline engines need different fuel, plumbing and care. This guide sets out what the engine makers' manuals say about nitro, oil, octane, mix ratios, filters, storage and safety.
RC Plane Glow and Gas Engines: Sizes, Fuel and Break-In
Glow and gas engines ignite differently, burn different fuel and break in differently. This guide compares current O.S., Saito and Desert Aircraft engines using maker specs and manuals.
RC Plane Covering Guide: Applying MonoKote and UltraCote Film
Covering is the step that separates a clean airframe from a wrinkled one. This guide uses Horizon Hobby's MonoKote and UltraCote documentation for temperatures, sequence, trim and repairs.
Gas vs Electric RC Planes: Choosing the Right Power System
Electric, glow and gasoline are three different power systems, not two. This guide compares them using manufacturer manuals, AMA noise guidance and Department of Energy fuel data, then matches each to the pilot it suits.
RC Floatplane Guide: Setup, Technique and Rules
Flying off water has its own sequence: displacement, hump, step and lift-off. This guide covers setup, waterproofing, technique and the rules that apply, using maker manuals and the FAA seaplane handbook.
RC Plane Clubs Near Me: How to Find and Join a Local Club
A local club gives you a legal place to fly, instructors and a buddy box. Here is how to find one, what to ask on a first visit, and how FAA rules and insurance fit in.
RC Plane Flying Fields Near Me: How to Find a Legal Flying Spot (2026)
Find legal RC plane flying fields near you: AMA Club Finder, FRIA map, B4UFLY apps, FAA rules, and what to bring to your first club visit. Current US guide.
RC Plane Simulators: Free and Paid Picks, Plus Radio Setup
A researched guide to RC plane simulators, sorted by computer and payment style, with steps for connecting a real transmitter and a list of beginner planes that ship with a sim.
RC Plane Stands: Types, Sizing and Picks
A stand that fits the job protects covering, canopies and tail feathers. This guide sorts bench, field and storage stands by fuselage fit and capacity, using maker specifications and magazine reviews.
RC Turbine Engines: Models, AMA Rules and the Path to a First Jet
A real RC turbine changes how a jet sounds and flies, and how much homework it requires. This guide covers current JetCat and other engines from maker data, the AMA turbine waiver rules and the safer path in.
RC Plane Servos Guide: Types, Sizing and Linkage Setup
A servo's torque rating only matters if the linkage delivers it to the hinge line. This researched guide covers maker-listed servo specs, the torque math, and the horns, pushrods and hinges that carry the load.
RC Plane ESC Guide: Ratings, BECs and Setup
An ESC is the least glamorous part of an RC plane's power system and the easiest to get wrong. This guide uses maker manuals to explain current ratings, BECs, cutoff settings and setup.
Beginner RC Plane Kits: What Is in the Box and What You Still Need
A beginner kit is rarely a complete plane. This guide separates foam, balsa and ARF kits, lists what is usually missing from the box, and compares real kits using the makers' own specifications.
Balsa RC Plane Kits: How to Choose, Build and Power One
Balsa kits are the slow, satisfying road into RC flying. This guide explains kit types, how to read wing loading, compares the SIG kits that are currently listed, and walks through the build stages.
RC F-22 Raptor Planes: Every Model Compared
A researched buyer's guide to RC F-22 Raptors, from a 27 in twin-fan jet to the 90 mm flagship and the toy gliders that only look the part, with availability as of 8 October 2026.
RC A-10 Warthog Planes: Every Model and Kit Compared
A researched buyer's guide to every RC A-10 Thunderbolt II, from a 562 mm micro to a 1.7 m twin-80mm foam jet, sorted by skill level, size and availability as of 8 October 2026.
Best Giant-Scale RC Planes: Electric, Gas and Kit Picks
Giant-scale planes reward planning more than any other part of the hobby. This researched guide sorts the models that are in stock from those that are backordered or gone, with the maker specs, power options and rules that matter.
Best FPV RC Planes: A Fixed-Wing Buyer's Guide
A researched buyer's guide to fixed-wing FPV: what the plane, video link, radio and flight controller each need to do, which models were actually on sale on 8 October 2026, and the FAA and FCC rules that apply.
Best RC Warbirds: Micro, 1.2m and Large-Scale Picks
WW2 warbirds range from 62-gram micros to giant balsa ARFs. This buyer's guide sorts what is actually in stock by size and skill, using maker specifications and manuals.
RC Plane Motors Guide: Kv, Power, Sizing and Real Examples
Pick the wrong brushless motor and the plane barely climbs or the motor cooks. This guide explains Kv, motor codes and ESC matching, then checks real motors against maker specifications.
Best RC Planes for Beginners: What to Buy for Where You Fly
The right first RC plane depends on your wind, your space and whether a club is nearby. Here are the current options by situation, what each box contains, and the US rules every recreational flyer needs to know.
RC Plane LiPo Battery Guide: Cells, C-Ratings and Safe Charging
A LiPo pack decides how long an RC plane flies and how safely the day ends. This researched guide covers label math, connectors, charging and storage rules from maker and safety documents, charger recalls, and which packs are listed in stock.
How to Fly an RC Plane: A Beginner's Guide From Simulator to Solo
The path from a boxed trainer to a clean landing is full of avoidable mistakes. This guide walks through simulator practice, finding an instructor, choosing a SAFE trainer, pre-flight checks, takeoffs, landings and US rules.
RC EDF Jets: How They Work and Which to Buy by Skill Level
A plain-English look at how RC ducted-fan jets make thrust, what 64 to 90 mm fans and 4S to 6S packs mean, and which current EDF jets suit each skill level. Built from manufacturer specs, not our own flying.
RC Plane Flight Controllers: Gyros, iNav and ArduPilot Explained
A gyro keeps a plane steady. An autopilot knows where it is. This guide separates the two, checks current Spektrum, FrSky, Matek and Holybro hardware, and explains iNav and ArduPilot modes from their official docs.
RC Glider Guide: Thermal Soaring and Discus Launch Gliders
RC soaring is the quiet corner of the hobby where reading the sky matters as much as flying. This guide explains thermals, glider types and DLG launching, and checks three gliders against maker specs.
VTOL RC Planes: Tilt-Rotor, Tail-Sitter and Quadplane Options
VTOL RC planes hover, then pitch into forward flight. This guide explains the three architectures, checks every E-flite VTOL against Horizon's listings, and covers the HEEWING and ArduPilot route.
RC Plane Landing Gear Guide: Fixed, Tailwheel and Retracts
Landing gear decides how an RC plane behaves on the ground, and retracts add a layer of complexity most builders underestimate. This researched guide covers gear types, hardware that is actually in stock, and what the retract maker manuals specify.
Best RC Trainer Planes: A Researched Buyer's Guide
Picking a first RC plane is mostly about space, support and stability tech. This guide compares real trainers using maker specifications, explains SAFE modes and build states, and flags what is in stock.
Best RC Gliders: Powered, Slope and Hand-Launch Picks
RC gliders range from 45-gram indoor floaters to 2.6 m scale sailplanes. This researched guide sorts what is in stock now from what has quietly left the catalog, and matches each model to a launch style and skill level.
RC Plane FPV Guide: Cameras, VTX, Goggles and Rules
Adding FPV to a fixed-wing is a four-part system plus rules. This guide covers analog and digital hardware from maker specifications, heat and power pitfalls, and what AMA and FAA documents require.
RC Plane Transmitter and Receiver Guide: Choosing a Radio System
A researched buyer's guide to RC plane radio systems: which ecosystem to join, which protocols pair with which receivers, how failsafe works, and which transmitters are worth a look. Built from manufacturer specs and documentation as of 8 October 2026.
RC Plane ARF vs RTF vs PNP Explained: Which Build Level Fits You
The same RC acronym can mean two different boxes depending on who made the plane. Here are the makers' own definitions, real in-box and needed-to-complete lists, and how to pick the build level that fits you.
Best Entry-Level RC Planes for First-Time Pilots
Entry-level RC planes range from true first trainers to low-wing warbirds. This guide compares four ready-to-fly Volantex models using the maker's own specs and explains what to check before you buy.
Best RC Jets: EDF and Turbine Picks by Skill Level
RC jets split into electric ducted-fan models and turbines. This guide sorts what is in stock by fan size and skill level, using maker specifications, manuals and AMA turbine rules.
RC Airliner Models: Scale EDF Airliners You Can Actually Buy
Searching for an RC 747 or A380 turns up plenty of toys and half-remembered specs. This guide sticks to scale airliners with confirmed maker documentation, and tells you what to fly before you try one.
RC Warbird Guide: WW2 Scale Planes That Are In Stock
Foam warbirds are second or third airplanes, and the catalog has changed a lot. This researched guide sorts the E-flite, Dynam and FMS warbirds that are available now from those that are discontinued, with maker specs and setup notes.
How to Build an RC Plane From Scratch: Foam, Balsa or 3D Print
Building your own RC plane is realistic for a first-timer if you pick the right method and a proven design. This guide compares foam board, balsa and 3D printing and walks through build, setup and first-flight checks.
Where to Buy RC Planes: Best Online Stores, Amazon and Local Shops (2026)
Amazon, specialist retailers, eBay, local hobby shops — honest channel-by-channel breakdown so you buy the right RC plane from the right place, with parts and support.