Scale RC Airplanes
"Radio Controlled Airplanes that look like real full-scale airplanes!"
Scale RC airplanes are modeled after Real Airplanes. RC pilots across the world are by far the friendliest bunch of people you’ll ever meet. But make no mistake about it, RC pilots are quick to tell you that the airplanes they fly are just as real as full-scale airplanes! Full-scale planes are the ones you ride in! But RC airplane are real too!
There is something about scale airplanes that sets our imagination free. Just as a child pushes his toy truck pretending to be driving the real thing, we "Big Kids" are just as fascinated by pretending to be full-scale pilots flying our favorite airplane through the air!
All scale model airplanes are miniature models of the full-scale version. An RC flyable scale airplane will fall in one of three categories based on how closely the model resembles the full-scale version. These three categories are true-scale, semi-scale, and standoff-scale.
True Scale RC Airplanes
True scale airplanes are exact replicas of a full-scale airplane, except for the size of course. The level of detail that can go into a true-scale airplane can be staggering!
The photo above is a 1/6 scale version of the
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 WW1 British fighter. This bird has a Wingspan is 53" and she weighs in at 8lb 9oz. It took the builder 2 1/2 years of patience and hard work to create this fine looking RC scale aircraft!
If you take a look at the photos below of the mind boggling detail that went into every square inch of this airplane, you will quickly understand why it took nearly three years to build!
Are those real rivets? |
Everything the pilot needs! |
Cooper Bomb Rack |
Rudder Controls |
Steve and his grandson. A proud man indeed! |
Heck, I'd be afraid to fly it. Talk about an adrenaline rush!
If you want a scale RC Airplane as detailed as the one above, you're gonna have to build it from a kit or build it from scratch using a set of scale model airplane plans. You're never going to find an ARF of and RTF RC airplane with that much detail!
Semi-Scale Airplanes
Semi-scale planes look very much like the full-scale version, but are not exactly the same. The airframe of a semi-scale RC airplane may be slightly different from the full-scale version to improve flight characteristics.
The Parkzone T-28 Trojan is a perfect example of a semi scale airplane. The airframe has been modified slightly to make it fly better as an RC airplane. But unless you are an expert, you would never be able to tell.
Are your looking for a scale airplane that flies well and don't take 2 1/2 years to build? A semi-scale (also known as sport-scale) airplane may be the right choice for you!
Find more details of Parkzone's T-28 Trojan!
Standoff Scale RC Airplanes
Without a trained eye, it is difficult to tell the difference between a scale and semi-scale model. It is pretty easy to spot a stand-off scale airplane. A Stand-Off scale plane is made to resemble the full-scale version while standing off at a distance. But if you look at it closely it is nothing like the full-scale version.
Many small electric planes, such as Parkzone's J3-cub, are considered stand-off scale airplanes.
Stand-off scale airplanes are great if you're not a stickler for detail and want a scale looking airplane that you can get in the air with minimal work.
Details of Parkzone's J-3 Cub !
Scale RC Airplane Sizes
RC scale aircraft come in all different sizes ranging from peanut scale to giant scale RC airplanes and everything in between.
Peanut Scale Airplane
Peanut scale RC airplanes are defined as model airplane with a wingspan of 13” or less. Peanut scale models have traditionally been free flight models only. A free flight airplane has no radio equipment. After it is launched, it flies freely without your control until it lands. Many are powered by a rubber band.
Companies such as Micro Invent have been pushing the envelope by producing smaller and smaller working electronic components that are allowing hobbyists to be very creative with converting free-flight peanut scale airplanes to tiny flyable scale airplanes!
Giant Scale RC Airplanes
Giant Scale RC Airplanes are quite the opposite of Peanut scale! Some of these airplanes are literally large enough to ride in. Although I wouldn't suggest trying it!
The International Miniature Aircraft Association(IMAA) sanctions Giant Scale flying events in the US. An RC aircraft must be a true quarter scale RC airplane, or have at least an 80” wing span to be considered Giant Scale by the IMAA. A bi-plane must have a minimum of 60” wing span. So the next time you see a plane advertised as IMAA legal, you'llknow what that means!
And believe it or not, there are large scale radio control airplanes even larger than that!
The above GIANT scale B-52 has a wingspread of 22 feet and weighs 265 pounds when fueled! This monster is powered by 8 turbine engines that cost nearly a couple grand a piece!
Typical Size Scale Airplanes
While Peanut-scale and Giant-scale airplanes are at the exteme ends of the spectrum, most RC scale aircraft fall somewhere in between.
It's easy to find out to what scale a particular scale airplane is built. Simply divide the wingspan of the model airplane by the wingspan of the full-scale airplane to get the ratio. You could actually use any dimension you would like, but the wing span is typically the easiest to measure.
For example, if your scale model airplane has a wingspan of 5 feet and the full-scale airplane has a wingspan of 25 feet, then the model is 1/5 scale.
Flying Scale Models
Flying Scale Models
is a bi-monthly publication geared exclusively towards scale model aviation. This includes radio control, control line, and free flight planes ranging from tiny indoor birds to gigantic ships!
This model airplane magazine will give you tips and techniques to build your very own scale version of just about any type of airplane imaginable! The fully colored pages throughout shows you crisp images of the mind-boggling detail that goes into spectacular scale airplanes!
You may also like these model airplane magazines!
Show us YOUR scale RC Airplane!
It's always a treat to see what other RC addicts are flying. If you have any type of scale RC airplane, we'd sure love to see it!
If you're gracious enough to share, your bird will be featured in the slide show on the home page!
Please try to include the following points:
- Airplane Model
- Wingspan
- Weight (with engine and radio)
- ARF, Kit or Scratch
- Engine
- Radio System
- How does it fly?
See other contributions!
What Other Visitors Have Contributed
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Great Planes "Christen Eagle II"
Finally got the plane ready to fly. Wing span is 68" and has an OS 1.60FX engine. Futaba radio system. Has not been in the air yet.
Extreme Flight 48" Edge 540
I love flying this airplane and the way that it looks! It just makes me smile!
1/12 Scale AVRO 562 'Avis' Biplane
Click Image to make larger
I built this 1/12th scale 30 inch span 1924 Avro 562 'Avis' Biplane starting out with a rather ...
PT-17 Stearman
This is a Great Planes PT-17 Stearman (ARF). Radio and Servos Futaba 6EX 2.4Ghz w/3004 servos. Engine Saito 115 4 stroke Battery Pack 6V 2200ma. This plane ...
Scratch Built Dallas X-1 Biplane
this is my scratch built biplane. I have designed and built it with no plans and its still under construction. it has a wingspan of 41" with about 512"...
Christan Eagle II
Great Planes model of Christan Eagle II which has been discontinued. I am in process of making the plane flight ready. I have installed an OS 161 FX ...
E-flite Pitts Model 12 15e ARF
The first flight of my E-Flite Pitts Model 12 15e ARF had my heart pumping just like the good ole days when I was first learning to fly!
A few weeks ...
F4U -1 Corsair Big Al, Bu # 800003
This F4U -1 Corsair was built in memory of my father, Big Al.
It is a Byron Originals kit with digital engine sound ported through a exhast cluster....
Super Kraft Monocoupe 90A
Return to the Golden Age of aviation. The Monocoupe 90A from Super Kraft is a vintage 1/4... 96 Wingspan 16.5 lbs scale model of the prettiest aircraft ...
Staudacher 300s - Carey
Staudacher 300s .60 68" wingspan aprox. 7.5 lbs with a os 91 surpass 4 stroke, kit plane , using a futaba T6X fm radio and reciever.
She has not been ...
1/4 Great Planes Gee Bee R2
Here is my Great Planes Gee Bee R2.
1/4 Scale. 68' Wingspan
12.5 lbs. Flying weight
ARF
Evolution 1.00NX
Spektrum AR500
JR ST47 Servos
Electrodynamics ...
Lancair
4 stokes OS
tri-pacer airplane
tri-pacer 100cc-- 10ft 8 inch in lenght--14 ft 6 in span -ready to fly in spring 2010 yea...tower radio and giant scale servos --scratch built..all wood ...
P-51D Mustang ARF "Susy"
Hyperion 25 scale P-51D Mustang ARF
Wing span 47.5"
Weight 3.5 lbs.
O.S. 35 AX 2 stroke 10/7 prop
Retracts
A/E/R/T 6 Channel DX-7 2.4GHZ
CAP 580 Sponge Bob
CAP 580 - with Sponge Bob in the cockpit. 12 -year old Andrew Rogers is the pilot! With a 0.61 engine this plane really roars!
F16 RC Jet from a Taiwan Kit
her name is F16
It's a kit from a Taiwan .
the body has so many problem and you have to fix it if you want she fly's well.
the nose ...
Daves A1-H Skyraider
This is a Global .60 Skyraider kit.
I just finished the covering last weekend.
Engine is an Italian Super Tigre .90 with a Bisson Pitts.
Radio gear ...
50% Yak 55
This is my 50% Yak 55, She has a wingspan of 140" (12 feet) flying weight is 70 Lbs. She is Powered by a 3W 275 26 HP engine and turns a 37x13 prop.
Radio ...
Black @ White RC Stryker with Twin Motors
This is my latest creation. I finished her today 3-4-09. A Dual brushed 480 strykerB motors 2 Electric Fly 25amp esc. A 3 cell 30C lipo Spectrum DX7 @receiver....
Parkzone t28
She has nav lights from lasertoys , landing flaps , 40amo esc, 980kv out runner , spectrum DX7@ a ar6000 rec,9x7 @ a 3blade ptop. Shes a lot dif than my ...
My Corsair tricked out with lights
Kyosho Corsair with OS .46 FX and pitts muffler, retracts, lights and even a moving pilots head with rudder.
Almost 9 full years old and hundreds of ...
Sweet 17
# Wingspan: 39 in (990mm)
# Overall Length: 32 in (813mm)
# Wing Area: 260 sq in (16.8 sq dm)
# Flying Weight: 21–26 oz
# Motor Size: 480 w/gearbox
...
Nawtee Natalie
Hangar-9 150 sized P-47. Pretty much stock except for the nose art and the yellow stripe on the bombs marking them as HE (high explosive).
The ...
Der Razor
Designed and built by Mr. Gee Bee Henry Haffke.
I have never flown this, although I tried.
Beautiful rendition of the Fokker D-VIII.
Top Flight Hot Canary
Top Flight Hot Canary old kit with new power.
Rossi .45 and Mac's muffler.Futaba guidance with Hi-Tech servos.
I named it Radio Activated. Insignias ...
40% RadioCraft Extra 330
This is a 40% RadioCraft Extra 330 with 3-8411 on each aileron, 2-8411 on each elevator half, and 2-8711 on push pull on the rudder.
I have about ...
Bob Godfrey Ultimate
This is a 30% Bob Godfrey Ultimate with 1-8411 on each aileron, 1-8411 on each elevator half, and 1-5735 on pull pull on the rudder.
I have about 25 ...
Extreme Flight Yak 54
This is a Extreme Flight Yak 54 with 1-5955 on each aileron, 1-8411 on each elevator half, and 1-8611 on pull pull on the rudder.
I have about 65 flights ...
Hanger 9 1/5th Scale P-51C
This Hanger-9 P-51 was basically an assembled ARF (all ready to fly) kit when I purchased it. It came with retracts and servos already mounted. I bought ...
Great Planes Curtis P-6E
This scale RC airplane was assembled from a discontinued Great Planes product about 12 months ago. The ARF is no longer imported into the US by Great Planes....
Giant Scale Tri-pacer on Floats
This is my giant scale tri-pacer with a 14 ft 8 in wingspan and 8 foot floats!
ParkZone T-28 Trojan
If you're looking for a fun airplane to fly without breaking the bank, you should consider the ParkZone T-28 Trojan.
I actually learned to fly with ...
F-117 Nighthawk
Here is one you won't see every day.
It's a stick built F-117 Stealth fighter.
It is covered in Ultracote Carbon Fiber covering.
Not an easy plane ...
Xtra 260
Not rated yet
Xtra 260 flies very well...has 45cc GR Pro gas engine in it. Hangar 9 kit ...changed covering to replace it with Red Bull colours.
Cessna 182
Not rated yet
Wingspan: 47 in. Weight, hmm, don't know, a little heavy.
ARF from Hobbyking, no longer available there. Has a brushless power system with a 2450 Mah ...
Phoenix Models Extra 300s "Red Ryder"
Not rated yet
Phoenix Models Extra 300s 46 size
57" ws
6 lbs or so might go on diet.
ARF
Magnum .52 four stroke 12x6 master airscrew prop
airtronics rds8000 airtronics ...
2009 Extra 300s
Not rated yet
Built this one back in Septenber 2009. Has a 0.91 Saito 4 stroke engine under the hood.
Fairchild PT-23 Cornell - Miss Micky
Not rated yet
Fairchild PT-23 Cornell- This is a model in 1/5 scale whit vsp 208cm of Miss Micky, who is flying in Commemorative Air Force, USA. Saito 170R3 engine, digitale ...
25% Dave Patrick Extra 330
Not rated yet
This is a 25% Dave Patrick Extra 330 with 1-5945 on each aileron, 1-5945 on each elevator half, and 1-59981 on pull pull on the rudder.
I have about ...
46% Ultimate
Not rated yet
This is a Hanger 9 46% Ultimate with 1-5955 on each aileron, 1-5955 on each elevator half, and 2-8711 in push pull on the rudder.
I have about 15 ...
Cap 232
Not rated yet
This is a Hanger 9 Cap 232 with 1-7955 on each alieron, 1-5955 on each elevator half, and 1-5955 in push pull on the rudder.
I have about 50 flights ...
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