Best hobby rc airplanes according to redditors

https://www.amazon.com/Tiean-Airplane-Fighter-Foam-Glider/dp/B01N6NEEOW


Though based off the 2 bad reviews it has, its worth considering if you're willing to take the risk

Here's a similar beginner stunt plane, they're awesome to take out to a big open field and fly.

This one must have some internal fan mounted inside that bottom port.

> The thing about model airplanes is you cant just open a box, throw in some batteries and go. A model plane, usually has at least some construction that invloves CA Glue and some nails/screws at the very least even for the RTF models.

Not true. Even 15 years ago when I first got into the hobby I could got to a store, buy an RTF model, slap the batteries in the controller, plug the plane's battery in on my way to the park, attach the wings to the frame with the provided elastics, and be flying within 20 min. They even still sell the model. RC helicopters were even easier, with a 5 min setup time, but a bitch to try and fly.

The only thing that quadcopters (I hate calling them drones) have done to the hobby is make it more accessible. And like any technology that suddenly becomes accessible it invites the assholes as well. And now the assholes are no longer confined to the ground, like they were with RC cars.

I've flown it many times, upwards of 20 or so flights. In my experience, the battery actually lasts upwards of 10 minutes (only claims 5 minutes on the box).

It was (and is still) $30 at Radio Shack.

It's a simple 2 channel RF, just throttle and temporary push button switch steering. I believe that to steer, actuating for example the Right button cuts power to the left engine for as long as the push button is pressed. For elevation, simply throttling up climbs, and throttling back glides or drops. (So no control surfaces. Actually pretty innovative.)

Throttle by the way isn't fully dynamic, there are 8 distinct levels.

I have tons of fun flying it. It's cheap, easy, and virtually indestructible.

-----------

I wrote a full review and submitted it on Amazon. Here are the contents:

I purchased this plane in a Radio Shack store and was, at first, somewhat weary. The construction of both the plane and the controller does not look high quality, but after having now flown this plane several times (10+ flights), I am frankly shocked by how well it performs, how durable it is, and how much fun it is to fly.

• While the instructions only claim around a 5 minute flight time, in my experience the plane's battery has lasted upwards of ten minutes.
  
  
• I have not attempted to fly the plane anywhere but my home (which only has grass), but it looks as though if it were given a wide open smooth hard surface (like a parking lot), it could actually land and take off thanks to the landing gear.
  
  
• Speaking of the landing gear - the front wheels can be removed and the plane remains balanced in flight (in my experience).
  
  
• As with all small scale RC aircraft (planes and helicopters alike), there is a learning curve associated with becoming proficient in controlling the Twin Turbine RC. I recommend practicing in a wide open area without roofs or trees until you get the hang of controlling the plane. (I got it stuck on a roof the within the first fifteen seconds of flying it, and had to wait days for the wind to finally blow it down. Still worked great! Not to mention, the Radio Shack employee who sold me the plane said they got one stuck on the roof of the mall in which the Radio Shack was contained, and left it up there all winter. When they finally retrieved it, it still worked - after a charge, of course.)
  
  
• This plane uses radio for remote control instead of infrared like other RC aircraft manufacturers. This means the Twin Turbine RC has easily twice the range of infrared controlled aircraft. I once had it very high up in the air (not by choice - updrafts) and maintained control.
  
  
• The plane and controller seem to indicate that there are both an "A" channel and "B" channel model of the aircraft, so two Twin Turbine RCs may be flown together. I happen to have an A channel version, and regrettably the channel is not (to my knowledge) displayed anywhere on the box. I am not sure if the "B" model is a different color, as all I have seen are the Black model as pictured above.
  
  
• The only real caveat I have is nothing to do with the plane, really. Due to its size and very low weight, it is quite severely affected by winds. If your area experiences sustained winds of more than about 5mph (with up to 10-12mph gusts), you may have difficulty controlling the aircraft. This is, however, a problem with all aircraft of this size and weight, but nevertheless is something you should be aware of when considering purchasing one.
  
  Overall I am extremely happy with this plane, especially considering my surprise at the durability, range, and battery life. I highly recommend it!
  
  

Here's a Freewing F-16C

and a FMS 70mm F16 it cost nothing to maintain.
If your new to RC I would go with a T28 as it's very easy to fly.

Its a Flitetest Versawing, scratchbuilt-not kit. (about $7 including candy)

with the bargain 30a combo set from amazon. - $26

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XBZWIHE/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

camera and 600mw transmitter set - $32

https://www.amazon.com/AKK-800TVL-Switchable-Camera-Transmitter/dp/B01N48QUIP/ref=sr_1_7?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1487748017&sr=1-7&keywords=fpv+camera

5/8.99 - 9g servos.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CCZ2CRA/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

cost including the FPV gear was under $70, add radio, battery & goggles to that.

The Revell P-47 Thunderbolt was a really nice, clean and easy build, because of that I really recommend it for anyone who is getting into modelling, or who hasnt modeled in a while.

Quick, clean, came together really nicely and didnt require a lot of maintenance.

I cant say its my favorite of all time, but its one I would recommend.

nah dude, its all RTF out of the box now and has been for the last 8 years or more. most planes are full EPO foam and fly on electric ducted fans. even the trainers are RTF and use props with lazer guidance to keep you from crashing. theyre only like 100 bucks. look up "hobbyzone supercub trainer"

edit: heres the trainer i learned on years ago: https://www.amazon.com/Hobbyzone-Super-Cub-SAFE-Airplane/dp/B00WIRRO5W

Cool.

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B077LQYNCF

The Champ S+ RTF

Just make sure you fly it in indoor mode (GPS off), or it may fly away.

There's also the Apprentice, which is pretty much the same thing, only larger. Larger has the benefit of being able to handle more wind, but also the downside of more spectacular crashes.

Personally I learned on a Sport Cub S, but now that the Champ S+ with 2S power and a brushless motor is available, I'd go with that instead.

All these have SAFE mode, which will keep you from crashing unless you point the plane into the ground or other obstacles. If you feel out of control, simply let go of the sticks, and the plane will right itself and keep flying. Switch into advanced mode, and you're in full control, and if you crash, you can only blame yourself. :)

That is a super cool quad, I saw it on /r/technology the other day! Coolest thing since sliced bread!

If you want planes, then amazon has a lot of cheap beginner planes!

HobbyZone Duet

Or

The Champ!

They're both relatively cheap, have great reviews, and are a low maintenance cost alternative to Hobby grade planes!

https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Trainer-Instructional-Airplane-Model/dp/B0153SOGDA

Here are some ideas:

• very reasonable watch
  
• iPad/device battery backup
  
• RC Plane sure he is an adult, but he'll love it.
  
  
  
  
  

Actually, since you never mentioned a budget, I'd definitely recommend as an excelent trainer aircraft is a Hangar 9 Alpha .40 Trainer.

I actually started off my flying with the much larger alpha .60 trainer(Proof, because I can. :3), but I loved every minute of flying those things. There's a reason why RC flying clubs keep a few on hand for the purpose of buddy boxing with new flyers! (An example of what a buddy box is if anyone doesn't know.)

It may not be electric, but that means there's no batteries to charge often, just one to charge overnight hooked up to the receiver to run the servos. Maintainence on it or god forbid crash repair, will gain one very valuable experience when it comes to advancing in the hobby of airplane modeling.

On top of that, it flyes very, very well. Once you get experience flying it, you can just change the prop size out for something that will make it fly much faster, allowing for some fast flying, making it a fun plane to fly until you accidentally destroy it beyond repair, or never do that and keep it for the rest of your life.

LAST THING!

Buy a good RC flight simulator that works with an actual transmitter, like realflight 7.5.You can put in anything you would ever want to fly and get used to flying it and build up skill that will help a whole lot when you head out and fly the real thing. That includes 3D helicopters you can play with and destroy until you figure out an advanced maneuver you want to try in real life. It worth the money in aircraft crashes and really gives you a chance to actually practice very risky maneuvers with planes without having to crash and repair several times.

TL:DR; Just thought i'd add my two cents, I may not be one of the biggest experts out there or anything, but I have been flying for a month shy of seven years!

Edit: I love how I'm getting downvoted because I'm not talking about cheap foam planes or quadcopters with FPV in mind. This is /r/radiocontrol, Not /r/fpvquad.

• Turnigy 9X
  
• transmitter pack
  
• backlight kit
  
• USBasp
  
• Extra reciever
  
• servos
  
• Gorilla Glue
  
• lipo checker
  
• motor/esc combo
  
• lipo charger
  
• airplane lipo
  
  You'll also need some Dollar tree foam, some music wire, clear tape, razor blades, ect. That setup will get you started with tons of room to grow. The one transmitter will handle 8 planes at least.

I personally wouldn’t give this one to a someone that young. I suggest the Sport Cub since it is smaller AND it has the same SAFE feature as this airplane.

The safe feature truly saved me a couple of times, but I would still recommend parental supervision while they play with it as it is very easy to crash the plane and destroy it.

TobyRich SmartPlane FPV (app-controlled first-person-view racing/stunt planes)

I have 10 coupon codes with 25% discount for all 3 of my company's products. They're available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&me=AQRF0X6KSAEEF&merchant=AQRF0X6KSAEEF&redirect=true

Or on our website: https://shop.tobyrich.com (use coupon code BlackFriday25off at checkout for 25% off)

The flagship FPV version is this: https://www.amazon.com/SmartPlane-Pro-FPV-Smartphone-crash-proof/dp/B0753L6XLB/ref=sr_1_3?m=AQRF0X6KSAEEF&s=merchant-items&ie=UTF8&qid=1511526230&sr=1-3

Details on the products are on http://www.tobyrich.com, you can of course ask here too.

Codes for Amazon.com:

• BJSF-V2LX6G-S9MYZT
  
• BJ8K-9Q7Z44-U359Z9
  
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  Please comment if you've used a code so I can cross it out. If all the codes are used up and you still wanna buy, feel free to message me.

The only link I have for my parts is https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XBZWIHE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_QmK3xb4NRYGE2

For the motor/esc combo. Otherwise, hobbyking is where it's at for cheap functional stuff. The transmitter is called the "TGY-I6 6ch receiver combo" and the charger is called turnigy balance 2s-3s charger. The battery is a turnigy 3s 2300 mah from Amazon. The servos are standard 9g servos, but I'll upgrade to metal gear when these ones go out. I'll add a link to the YouTube video. The guy who made it includes measurements and two different recommended parts lists, one for slow flight and one for combat.

Here is the mobile version of your link

What about planes like this:

VOLANTEXRC RC Airplane 2.4Ghz 4-CH with Aileron Sport Cub 500 Parkflyer Remote Control Aircraft Plane Ready to Fly with Xpilot Stabilization System, One-Key U-Turn Perfect for Beginner (761-4 RTF) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N5X2RB3/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_4FD1DbYCZ5608

Was thinking about an RTF to get started on.

More pics: https://imgur.com/a/aR4rXKk

One day my friend's pen broke and we decided to take it apart. Once seeing the electronics, I thought I could do better. This mod has three settings 5v, 5.5v, and 6v. The five is good for most carts but for carts with a resistance of 2 ohms plus you can step it up a little. This mod has a maximum power rating of 60w. If this gets enough interest I'll post the stl files for the print. Right now you have to charge it off of a lipo charger but Il probably at a usb charger inside when I get a chance. I would really only recommend this project for someone with a decent amount of electronics experience since you are soldering directly to the battery cells.   Here are the parts I used:

510 connector- https://www.ebay.com/itm/1x-Lot-EVOD1-Vape1Pen-1100mAh-Battery-MT3-Tank-W-USB-e-Atomizer1-USA/323685572877?hash=item4b5d29e10d:m:mKJW4oFY8IqPaDUXjzsNH6w:sc:USPSFirstClass!07079!US!-1:rk:7:pf:0

voltage regulator-https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071CHGWRM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

led button- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017KPM0S2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1   18650

battery- https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-18650-Samsung-25R-2500mAh-35A-Rechargeable-Battery-for-Vape-Mods-Free-Case/111840099041?hash=item1a0a307ae1:g:fLUAAOSwZKlcG95I:sc:USPSFirstClass!07079!US!-1:rk:3:pf:1&frcectupt=true

xt30 connectors- https://www.amazon.com/Finware-Upgrade-Female-Connectors-Battery/dp/B074S7NH3H/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=xt30&qid=1550341561&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1   servo connectors- https://www.amazon.com/DIYmall-10PCS-

Servo-Extension-Cable/dp/B016RJ8S42/ref=sr_1_16?crid=2496NE6TU30PG&keywords=servo+connector&qid=1550341588&s=gateway&sprefix=servo+con%2Caps%2C139&sr=8-16

Thanks!

Am I correct in thinking that the transmitter that comes with an RTF plane is really only just good enough for that plane?

I was looking at the Sport Cub S BNF version with this transmitter, thinking that if I like the hobby, I can upgrade planes without buying a new Tx.

>small, unarmed hand-held type of the sort that can be purchased commercially

So.. something like This with a go pro attached?

sport cub s http://www.amazon.com/Horizon-Hobby-HobbyZone-Sport-Cub/dp/B00LOC0BSE

Smaller starter airplanes could be fun. My grandpa is a retired air traffic controller, he loves flying his “little” (some of them are still very large) airplanes around.

My husband has done some flight lessons but only flown a handful of times due to expense. But he enjoys those as a hobby too.

Through my research and grandpa’s experience, the Sport Cub seems to be one of the cheaper, most recommended ones.

https://www.horizonhobby.com/HBZ4480?KPID=HBZ4480&CAWELAID=320011980000149457&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=37462622311&CATCI=pla-519098177744&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgPzD5_-F4gIVybXACh312ghPEAQYASABEgJotvD_BwE

HobbyZone Sport Cub S RTF RC Airplane with Safe Technology (6-CH 2.4GHz Transmitter Included), HBZ4400 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LOC0BSE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_A86ZCbYF9K2SN

this was it but it was all orange and was more kidzy id say probably mid 2000s. Tbh it would be a hobby i could get back into as an adult

Have a look at the duet

I'd suggest you find your local hobby shops, find out what they carry for brands (so you can get parts on short notice when they break, and they will break constantly with newbies using them) and then go in that direction.

I sell these things everyday, and the marketing of every brand will tell you that their stuff is indestructible. They all lie. I can and have seen everything break. Especially those who trumpet their indestructibility the most..

That being said...

For drones, this thing https://www.amazon.com/WLToys-Quadcopter-Battle-Onboard-Channel/dp/B00AZEALUK is nearly indestructible. I've sold this under another brands name at my shop and it was the best product in our 40+ year history. I would let people I didn't know the ability of use it in our back room and fly with no worries, we could not kill it. This has about a 12" span from motor to motor that helps it stabilize while people are using it. The tiny quads are definitely fun, but tend to be too twitchy for newbies.

Airplanes, the Hobbyzone Champ is nearly bombproof. Its light and made of good foam that can handle a lot of crashes. If it ever does break, just tape it back together with some scotch tape and toothpicks. It's a fantastically simple plane to fly. Just throttle, rudder and elevator. All ya need to fly. It's got a smaller controller with it which is perfect for kids to use. Heartily recommended. https://www.amazon.com/HobbyZone-HBZ4900-Champ-RTF-Airplane/dp/B003DZ35GK/ref=sr_1_2?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1525570176&sr=1-2&keywords=hobbyzone+champ+rtf That price is silly, at our shop we sell them at 89.99.

Cars, the ECX Brand cars seem fairly durable from a new driver perspective. And Redcat Racing cars seem pretty well built as well. Stick with cars that are slower, slower cars have less potential to break. They will still break, but less often than faster, sexier cars. Traxxas stuff can be good as well, but I'd suggest stocking up on their replacement motors for their brushed trucks. Their recent batch of motors have been weak and not as good as they should be. I would definitely suggest crawlers instead of fast cars. Crawlers, especially within a camp setting, would be AWESOME fun! https://www.amazon.com/Redcat-Racing-Everest-10-Waterproof-Electronics/dp/B00O9MSR78 We sell this one and have had awesome luck with it.

Stock up on the batteries and definitely invest in a charger for them other than the slow-poke one that comes with it. If you are going to be looking to maximise the runtime, you aught to check out lipo batteries. They get a bad reputation, but if you set the cars up right and charge them up properly, there are rarely issues with them. (Always charge them in a lipo bag, and store them in some sort of protective container. I'd suggest real terra cotta pots as they can handle the fire if they decide to go up.)

Boats, don't even try. They are the most needy of r/C equipment. We have neared the time when selling boats at our shop is a thing. Nobody's boats last worth a damn anymore.

I wish I knew what area you were in, I'd love to work with you and get you guys going!

Good luck! if you have any questions don't hesitate to contact me. I've been at this for `over 18 years and would love to help out however I can!

I love this little guy, I have a bunch of ducted fan jets and still like to fly this one around.

https://www.amazon.com/HobbyZone-HBZ4900-Champ-RTF-Airplane/dp/B003DZ35GK/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=hobbyzone&qid=1573855022&sr=8-4

I had bought a HobbyZone Champ RTF (https://www.amazon.com/HobbyZone-HBZ4900-Champ-RTF-Airplane/dp/B003DZ35GK/ref=sr_1_5) as a starter plane that was cheap and easy to get started with. It was pretty easy to get going and i've made some minor repairs.

However, now that I've trashed this (flying in too windy conditions and in a bad environment), I'm considering next steps to get into this hobby more. I want something more robust but not sure how much money I want to sink into it.

I did not end up getting it, found a different gift.

Another option I forgot to mention is a quadcopter - depending on how you fly them and the level of electronics, they can be easier than a plane, or about the same as a fixed-pitch (simple) helicopter. The micro ones are really cheap (~$50) and fun to play with, though I find them a little boring compared to helis.

I don't know much about boats but yea I did see the self-righting feature of the barbwire. Personally I would hate to have my boat flip over and have to go out into the water to get it. Depends how convenient it is to go into the water though. It's all about your situation. If you're standing on dry land in normal clothes and your boat flips over or somehow dies, I guess you just have to be prepared with a long stick or rope or something to get it out. That's what turns me away from the idea of boats. But if you're in a swimsuit and planning on going into the water anyway, then I guess it wouldn't be a problem.

I guess one more thing I'll say is, what are you looking for in terms of fun? Do you know what you will find amusing? Everyone has their own underlying reasons; I personally fly helis because of the big challenge of controlling them, keeping their orientation in your head and avoiding the ground. Some people like the act of building and the joy of seeing something you built actually work (or not), thus the other comments here about building your own foamie plane. R/C car guys are often into racing others around a track or crawling over rocks, which sounds like it can be challenging.

In terms of helicopters, the starter ones are usually the mCX 2 and the mSR X (wow that's cheap! must be about to announce a new one). Good starter planes are called "trainers", they usually have a high wing and only 3 channels (throttle/elevator/rudder, no aileron), popular two are Champ and Super Cub. For quadcopters, you simply start with a full-featured but micro one, the Syma X1 is most commonly recommended and very cheap. I don't know enough about the cars to recommend. But notice all of these are cheaper than the boats... Granted, they're all smaller than a boat, but when it comes to something flying through the air, smaller and lighter means less likely to break in a crash. Only once you have your orientations down and can keep the micro size in the air, should you graduate to full size. That's not a fact but a commonly accepted opinion. On the other hand, for boats and cars, you basically can't break them unless you try (slam it into a wall, drop it off a cliff, make it go over a huge jump) or of course if something just goes bad on its own, so you can start with the biggest boat or car you can find and be just fine. If you're looking for size from the start, cars and boats are the way to go.