How To Build Your Own Radio Controlled Airplane
Building radio controlled planes is a sought-after hobby throughout the world. People tend to spend hours and hours on building these kind of radio controlled planes. It seems to be a persuasive hobby and you will find die-hard enthusiasts anywhere you travel. These enthusiasts work on it day in and day out and devote time in creating the best radio controlled planes. Some of them get about their work in a hurry without taking into consideration the amount of work that will be needed to be put in to get the plane finished. You should know exactly what it takes to make a radio controlled plane before starting on it. Some of them might give up easily as it doesn't have much in return even after so much hard work; some continue to pursue their work for the passion of it.
Building a model of the project is the toughest and the important part of the whole process. Though the model is a mere bunch of wood and glue in the shape of a plane, it is very essential. Models can play a huge part in the outcome of the whole project. How much time and hard work you will have to put in will depend on the type of plane you want to achieve. Do you want to watch something that will just get off the ground? In that case, the style of the plane won't matter much. But hobbyists, generally, like creating real-like representations of airplanes. This involves a lot of creativity and these hobbyists use balsa wood for their airframes as it is incredibly light. The sides of the planes are covered up with any kind of plastic material. The model of the plane is the basis of this construction and they are usually scale representations.
On the basis of the model created by the hobbyist, he will move on by installing the radio and other motor components. They are fixed in such a way that they are easily removable. Everything is fit into place and is compared with the model created earlier. Usually, one buys all the radio and motor equipments as one set and by following a basic procedure, everything gets fixed together. After installation, you should ensure everything is perfect and take it all out. Make minute changes and get the finer details right. Adding decorative materials or even painting it would give it a rich look.
Your plane wouldn't be ready now, unless you have followed every page of the guide methodically and diligently. All you can do is probably take it outdoors and attempt a take-off to check out how good it has come out. Sometimes you might even be lucky to have got it perfectly in the first attempt but for others, they shouldn't panic. However perfect it could have been, it might need some fine-tuning so that there could be no flaws at the end of it all. But this isn't easy. You will have to figure out where the mistake lies and finding it takes time. It might be a problem with aerodynamics or the radio and motor equipments could be faulty. If you find it hard to sort out the problem, consulting an expert in this arena wouldn't be such a bad idea.
It is evident that this process of making an airplane takes a lot of effort and time. But one should realize that it could be worthy and give immense satisfaction at the end of it all. The take-off of the airplane would be a sight to behold as it is the result of a lot of hard work and involvement that has gone through the making. Enjoy the work with a lot more plane enthusiasts around. Discuss issues related to it and get the dose of what is in stall in the future.
Showing posts with label Airplane. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Airplane. Show all posts
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Friday, May 18, 2012
Model Airplane Kits - Where to Look For the Vintage Plastic Kits
Model Airplane Kits - Where to Look For the Vintage Plastic Kits
Model airplane kit building as a hobby is enjoyed by those very young to those more advanced in years. Over the last number of years even young girls have picked up the hobby of building plastic model airplane kits. But if the truth be told with what is going on in the world today a young girl or boy with a room full of built model airplane kits that they built in their spare time instead of the mall is a very healthy thing.
So on to the story where to find the vintage plastic kits? You know the some of those really great reproductions of the famous War-birds of the past with the notes to dress them out in their famous colors of the era. Some say match the skills of the builder with the plastic model airplane kit. Rarely will you find a kit that is too complicated for the very young to the very old.
There is nothing like the completion of a difficult plastic model airplane project dressed up in its vintage colors presented on display. This makes a very healthy sense of accomplishment for the builder. Especially if it was difficult to build and you had to enlist the help of one of the model builder forums on the internet for help in completing your project.
So where to find the best vintage model kits? The answer to this question could go on forever. But let's fill you with some ideas and get you started right. Well there are you traditional hobby shops that are always filled with the latest model airplane kits. But here is a place you may not have thought of. Old war-bird museums' are always jam packed with vintage plastic model airplane kits that are from the past not just the new stuff.
Here are a couple of resources that are great for finding a special vintage model treasure most have never thought of. Keeping a watchful eye open can turn up a new vintage model treasure just about every day. One such place is eBay but you must watch often because the model kits are up sometimes for a day and then gone. Another such place to keep a watchful eye on is Craigslist and the same is true here they come and go every day.
Model airplane kit building as a hobby is enjoyed by those very young to those more advanced in years. Over the last number of years even young girls have picked up the hobby of building plastic model airplane kits. But if the truth be told with what is going on in the world today a young girl or boy with a room full of built model airplane kits that they built in their spare time instead of the mall is a very healthy thing.
So on to the story where to find the vintage plastic kits? You know the some of those really great reproductions of the famous War-birds of the past with the notes to dress them out in their famous colors of the era. Some say match the skills of the builder with the plastic model airplane kit. Rarely will you find a kit that is too complicated for the very young to the very old.
There is nothing like the completion of a difficult plastic model airplane project dressed up in its vintage colors presented on display. This makes a very healthy sense of accomplishment for the builder. Especially if it was difficult to build and you had to enlist the help of one of the model builder forums on the internet for help in completing your project.
So where to find the best vintage model kits? The answer to this question could go on forever. But let's fill you with some ideas and get you started right. Well there are you traditional hobby shops that are always filled with the latest model airplane kits. But here is a place you may not have thought of. Old war-bird museums' are always jam packed with vintage plastic model airplane kits that are from the past not just the new stuff.
Here are a couple of resources that are great for finding a special vintage model treasure most have never thought of. Keeping a watchful eye open can turn up a new vintage model treasure just about every day. One such place is eBay but you must watch often because the model kits are up sometimes for a day and then gone. Another such place to keep a watchful eye on is Craigslist and the same is true here they come and go every day.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
How to Build a Plastic Model Airplane
How to Build a Plastic Model Airplane
Plastic model airplane building is a hobby that appeals to a wide variety of people and age groups. From the youngster building his or her holiday gift to the veteran re-creating a piece of history. Following the basic instructions is generally a good place to start, but there is a whole world of knowledge beyond the instructions. Here are some tips for creating a better-looking model:
Wash the parts first. The parts are made by injection molding, and are covered with a release agent to help un-stick them from the mold. This agent will prevent paint from sticking well to your model. Wash the parts in soap and water, then air dry. You can use a hair dryer to help.
Cockpit. Assemble and paint the cockpit next. The cockpit will be permanently enclosed within the fuselage halves, and will be nearly impossible to paint later.
Minimize glue. Use only a thin line of glue on each side of the fuselage, or each side of the wing. Use only a dab to attach small parts. You can apply the glue with a pin to have better control over the amount of glue. Excess glue gets onto the surface of the model and creates lumps which must be cleaned up with sandpaper.
Alignment. Take care to line up the wings and tail relative to the fuselage. A crooked airplane is easy to spot. Use tape to hold the larger pieces together to check the alignment, before you apply glue.
Gap Filling. Sometimes after gluing there will be gaps between pieces. A gap between the fuselage halves, or where the wing joins the fuselage, is common and easy to spot. Fill these gaps with putty, or with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue). When the filler is dry, smooth with sandpaper.
Paint with Brush. If painting by brush, get at least 3 sizes (wide, medium and fine). Try not to overlap your brush strokes, or repaint an area that is still wet. Wait until the paint is dry then apply another coat if necessary. After painting, clean your brushes thoroughly with the recommended thinner, and store them upright in an old cup.
Spray Cans. Paint delivered by spray can will give a smoother finish than the brush. Cans cool down as they are used which causes the paint flow to slow down. Place the can in warm (not hot) water for ten (10) minutes or so to fix this.
Airbrush. The airbrush is the ultimate tool for painting model airplanes. It is like a spray can with much more control. The air pressure and paint volume can be controlled (in some types, simultaneously) allowing the user to paint fine lines at will. If you plan to keep building models, it is a worthwhile investment.
Canopy. The clear plastic canopy has frames that need to be painted. This can be done with a fine point brush and a steady hand. A better option is to use masking tape to cover the canopy, then use a sharp hobby knife blade to cut and remove tape from the frame portions. Then paint, and after drying remove the remaining tape.
Gloss Coat for Decals. The water-slide decals (markings) that come with the kit will look much better if applied onto a gloss surface. A clear gloss overcoat should be applied, then after drying apply decals.
Flat Coat. If the airplane has a naturally flat (matt, non-glossy) surface, then after applying decals, paint with a flat clear coat.
Visit our website for detailed illustrated tips and
tutorials on creating a museum-worthy
World War 2 Airplane Model.
This article may be reprinted if proper credit is given and all links left intact.
Copyright©2005 World War 2 Airplane Model
Plastic model airplane building is a hobby that appeals to a wide variety of people and age groups. From the youngster building his or her holiday gift to the veteran re-creating a piece of history. Following the basic instructions is generally a good place to start, but there is a whole world of knowledge beyond the instructions. Here are some tips for creating a better-looking model:
Wash the parts first. The parts are made by injection molding, and are covered with a release agent to help un-stick them from the mold. This agent will prevent paint from sticking well to your model. Wash the parts in soap and water, then air dry. You can use a hair dryer to help.
Cockpit. Assemble and paint the cockpit next. The cockpit will be permanently enclosed within the fuselage halves, and will be nearly impossible to paint later.
Minimize glue. Use only a thin line of glue on each side of the fuselage, or each side of the wing. Use only a dab to attach small parts. You can apply the glue with a pin to have better control over the amount of glue. Excess glue gets onto the surface of the model and creates lumps which must be cleaned up with sandpaper.
Alignment. Take care to line up the wings and tail relative to the fuselage. A crooked airplane is easy to spot. Use tape to hold the larger pieces together to check the alignment, before you apply glue.
Gap Filling. Sometimes after gluing there will be gaps between pieces. A gap between the fuselage halves, or where the wing joins the fuselage, is common and easy to spot. Fill these gaps with putty, or with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue). When the filler is dry, smooth with sandpaper.
Paint with Brush. If painting by brush, get at least 3 sizes (wide, medium and fine). Try not to overlap your brush strokes, or repaint an area that is still wet. Wait until the paint is dry then apply another coat if necessary. After painting, clean your brushes thoroughly with the recommended thinner, and store them upright in an old cup.
Spray Cans. Paint delivered by spray can will give a smoother finish than the brush. Cans cool down as they are used which causes the paint flow to slow down. Place the can in warm (not hot) water for ten (10) minutes or so to fix this.
Airbrush. The airbrush is the ultimate tool for painting model airplanes. It is like a spray can with much more control. The air pressure and paint volume can be controlled (in some types, simultaneously) allowing the user to paint fine lines at will. If you plan to keep building models, it is a worthwhile investment.
Canopy. The clear plastic canopy has frames that need to be painted. This can be done with a fine point brush and a steady hand. A better option is to use masking tape to cover the canopy, then use a sharp hobby knife blade to cut and remove tape from the frame portions. Then paint, and after drying remove the remaining tape.
Gloss Coat for Decals. The water-slide decals (markings) that come with the kit will look much better if applied onto a gloss surface. A clear gloss overcoat should be applied, then after drying apply decals.
Flat Coat. If the airplane has a naturally flat (matt, non-glossy) surface, then after applying decals, paint with a flat clear coat.
Visit our website for detailed illustrated tips and
tutorials on creating a museum-worthy
World War 2 Airplane Model.
This article may be reprinted if proper credit is given and all links left intact.
Copyright©2005 World War 2 Airplane Model
Monday, May 7, 2012
Great Information Regarding the Model Airplane
Great Information Regarding the Model Airplane
The model aircraft are the flying or the non-flying models of those existing or just an imaginary aircraft. They are usually scale versions of the full-sized airplanes which are made of different materials like foam, polystyrene, balsa wood and fiber glass.
The designs are ranging from the simple glider airplane to the accurate scale model that could be very big. Models can be constructed by flying or non-flying models and the techniques for building the two were very different from the other.
Static Model Airplane - this is a scale model of an airplane and being belt by using the plastic, metals, woods or papers. Some of the static models were scaled intended for the wind tunnels, wherein the data that has been acquired can be used for helping the design of the full scaling aircraft.
Promotional Purposes - most of the airline companies permit their airplane to be utilized as models for publicity. In previous days, airlines companies will order big models of their aircraft and provide them into travel agencies in order to make them as promotional items.
Flying Model Aircraft
There are three groups of flying model airplane:
a) Free flight model - aircraft which fly with no attachment into the ground. This model pre-dates the hard works of the Wright Brothers and also other founders.
b) Control line model - this aircraft makes use of cables (normally two) leading from the wings to the pilot. A deviation of the system is the Round-the-pole flying model
c) Radio-controlled aircraft - this airplane has a transmitter maneuvered by the pilot in the land, transferring signals into the receiver in the plane.
Several flying forms look like scaled down form of piloted airplane, while others were built having no intentions of appearing similar to piloted aircraft. Moreover, there are some models of birds as well as flying dinosaurs.
Glider Aircraft- is an aircraft that resembles an airplane without an engine. Bigger outside model gliders are normally radio controlled and hand-winched opposing the wind by a cord connected to the hook underneath the fuselage means of a ring, in order that cord will drop when the glider is overhead. Other methods entail catapult-launching.
Since gliders are authorized, flight should be continued by means of the use of ordinary wind in the atmosphere. A slope or mountain will frequently manufacture updrafts of atmosphere which would continue the voyage of the glider.
The model aircraft are the flying or the non-flying models of those existing or just an imaginary aircraft. They are usually scale versions of the full-sized airplanes which are made of different materials like foam, polystyrene, balsa wood and fiber glass.
The designs are ranging from the simple glider airplane to the accurate scale model that could be very big. Models can be constructed by flying or non-flying models and the techniques for building the two were very different from the other.
Static Model Airplane - this is a scale model of an airplane and being belt by using the plastic, metals, woods or papers. Some of the static models were scaled intended for the wind tunnels, wherein the data that has been acquired can be used for helping the design of the full scaling aircraft.
Promotional Purposes - most of the airline companies permit their airplane to be utilized as models for publicity. In previous days, airlines companies will order big models of their aircraft and provide them into travel agencies in order to make them as promotional items.
Flying Model Aircraft
There are three groups of flying model airplane:
a) Free flight model - aircraft which fly with no attachment into the ground. This model pre-dates the hard works of the Wright Brothers and also other founders.
b) Control line model - this aircraft makes use of cables (normally two) leading from the wings to the pilot. A deviation of the system is the Round-the-pole flying model
c) Radio-controlled aircraft - this airplane has a transmitter maneuvered by the pilot in the land, transferring signals into the receiver in the plane.
Several flying forms look like scaled down form of piloted airplane, while others were built having no intentions of appearing similar to piloted aircraft. Moreover, there are some models of birds as well as flying dinosaurs.
Glider Aircraft- is an aircraft that resembles an airplane without an engine. Bigger outside model gliders are normally radio controlled and hand-winched opposing the wind by a cord connected to the hook underneath the fuselage means of a ring, in order that cord will drop when the glider is overhead. Other methods entail catapult-launching.
Since gliders are authorized, flight should be continued by means of the use of ordinary wind in the atmosphere. A slope or mountain will frequently manufacture updrafts of atmosphere which would continue the voyage of the glider.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Online Airplane Simulator Games Guide - Guide To The Best Flight Simulation Downloads
Online Airplane Simulator Games Guide - Guide To The Best Flight Simulation Downloads
Are you in the market for a flight simulator game? Does the thought of flying an aircraft get you all fired up and raring to go? Does the wide array of choices have you completely baffled? Let me assure you that this article will take away the confusion. Fly a jumbo jet, fly a regular airplane, fly a fighter plane, the choice is yours based on the level of adventure you seek.
A flight simulator game is a software that will allow you, the operator to experience through game play spacecraft flight in real space. All of these games have the element of thrill built into them and you can roll and pitch, zigzag and bank with the best of them.
You need to choose the right flight simulator game to match your flying simulation expectations and experience the buzz of real flying while you're at it. The features that you should look out for in a flight simulator game are detailed below.
Aircraft choices - look for a flight simulator game that allows you to fly different types of aircraft, the zanier the better. You can find games that have the original Wright Brothers 1903 Wright Flyer as well as the more modern planes and helicopters - now wouldn't that be cool!
Realistic flying experience - the whole purpose of getting yourself a flight simulator game is to experience the realistic thrill and sheer joy of flying, short of signing up for the air force or flying lessons. A major part of the reality of the game is that when you fly, the scenery and the weather conditions change accordingly. This makes the flying seem even more real. If you travel from America to say Hong Kong, then the sun and moon should reflect the exact time zone you are travelling in.
Scenery - choose a flight simulator game that gives you the option of full scenery complete with rivers, lakes, seas, roads and even railroads. The surrounding scenery should reflect the city you are in and when flying over urban areas you should get the right feeling with the lighting and infrastructure.
If you choose a combat game then make sure that the features include real action flying with the right scenery and night flying options.
Technology has made tremendous strides in the flight simulator game industry with enhanced animation and graphics design to provide the gamer with an outstanding three-dimensional graphical interface that makes the flying experience very near the real thing. When you see traffic moving on real looking roads, rivers flowing by and the sunlight glinting off the sea, you have to believe you actually are flying in space. Games now have the added feature of structured missions and you can choose from a list of options that will challenge your flying capabilities to the fullest extent.
You have another option with your flight simulator game - add on features like enhanced sound which will help you better understand navigating your aircraft, help you plan your destination and even training courses to fly right.
All in all flight simulator games are a great way to experience the absolute thrill of a life time with a real experience flying trip, all without the threat of a crash landing!
Are you in the market for a flight simulator game? Does the thought of flying an aircraft get you all fired up and raring to go? Does the wide array of choices have you completely baffled? Let me assure you that this article will take away the confusion. Fly a jumbo jet, fly a regular airplane, fly a fighter plane, the choice is yours based on the level of adventure you seek.
A flight simulator game is a software that will allow you, the operator to experience through game play spacecraft flight in real space. All of these games have the element of thrill built into them and you can roll and pitch, zigzag and bank with the best of them.
You need to choose the right flight simulator game to match your flying simulation expectations and experience the buzz of real flying while you're at it. The features that you should look out for in a flight simulator game are detailed below.
Aircraft choices - look for a flight simulator game that allows you to fly different types of aircraft, the zanier the better. You can find games that have the original Wright Brothers 1903 Wright Flyer as well as the more modern planes and helicopters - now wouldn't that be cool!
Realistic flying experience - the whole purpose of getting yourself a flight simulator game is to experience the realistic thrill and sheer joy of flying, short of signing up for the air force or flying lessons. A major part of the reality of the game is that when you fly, the scenery and the weather conditions change accordingly. This makes the flying seem even more real. If you travel from America to say Hong Kong, then the sun and moon should reflect the exact time zone you are travelling in.
Scenery - choose a flight simulator game that gives you the option of full scenery complete with rivers, lakes, seas, roads and even railroads. The surrounding scenery should reflect the city you are in and when flying over urban areas you should get the right feeling with the lighting and infrastructure.
If you choose a combat game then make sure that the features include real action flying with the right scenery and night flying options.
Technology has made tremendous strides in the flight simulator game industry with enhanced animation and graphics design to provide the gamer with an outstanding three-dimensional graphical interface that makes the flying experience very near the real thing. When you see traffic moving on real looking roads, rivers flowing by and the sunlight glinting off the sea, you have to believe you actually are flying in space. Games now have the added feature of structured missions and you can choose from a list of options that will challenge your flying capabilities to the fullest extent.
You have another option with your flight simulator game - add on features like enhanced sound which will help you better understand navigating your aircraft, help you plan your destination and even training courses to fly right.
All in all flight simulator games are a great way to experience the absolute thrill of a life time with a real experience flying trip, all without the threat of a crash landing!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Parts of an Airplane
Parts of an Airplane
A very important part of the airplane is the wing, for it is by means of the air blowing over it that the lift is produced by which the plane rises or flies. At the outer ends of the wings are the ailerons, by which the pilot keeps the plane level, banks it, or rolls it. Also located on the wings are the flaps. By using them the pilot can make the plane climb or glide more steeply. The wings often contain the gas tanks. Wings are attached at about the middle of the fuselage, except in small planes and flying boats with high wings. There is usually only one wing on each side, attached near the bottom of the fuselage, where it will not interfere with the pilot's view.
Every plane with one wing is called a monoplane, although many people only think of a monoplane as having its wing attached to the top of the fuselage. In the olden days there were many biplanes-planes having two wings, one above the other. By 1953 they were no longer being manufactured, because the two wings created too much added drag, and with high-powered engines were no longer needed to provide lift. THE TAIL Another necessary part of the airplane is the empennage or tail section. This is attached to the back of the fuselage, and is composed of two parts.
The part that stands upright is called the fin. Hinged to the back of the fin is the rudder. It steers the plane to either side. The fixed horizontal part is called the horizontal stabilizer. It helps the wings and ailerons keeps the plane level. Hinged to the back of the horizontal stabilizer is the elevator, which steers the airplane up and down. The engines for multi-engine planes are located on the forward edge of the wings or just beneath them. If a plane has only a single engine it is located at the front end of the fuselage. Those with rear propellers are pushers. Engines may be all jet, all conventional, or propeller engines, or a combination of both. The B-36, for instance, has six conventional engines and four jets. Before 1940 there were some tri-motored planes (three engines ). Two were on the wings, the third in the nose. But with the growth in size of the airplane engine there was no longer room for one in the nose. All multi-engine planes made after 1940 have had an even number of engines. The landing gear finally, there is the landing gear of the airplane.
This has to be one of the strongest and heaviest parts. If you should fall from a window 10 feet high, you would be going 17 miles per hour when you hit the ground-and it would give you quite a jolt. You can imagine how big a jolt it is on the landing gear when an airplane weighing many tons comes down at more than 100 miles per hour. There are two types of landing gear: conventional, with which the plane sits in a three-point attitude on the ground with tail down; and tricycle, with which the airplane rests in a level position. By 1953, all planes being manufactured, except for a few small types, were of the tricycle type. This arrangement enables the pilot to see better while taxiing, since the plane is level. Most landing gears are also retractable. That is, they can be drawn up into the fuselage while the plane is airborne, so as to reduce drag and thus gain higher speeds. (In 1949, the British Navy began experimenting with planes without landing gear, since without the additional weight greater performance could be obtained. They landed them on rubber mats on carriers, and catapulted them for take-off.) The seaplane is similar to the land plane, except in landing gear.
A very important part of the airplane is the wing, for it is by means of the air blowing over it that the lift is produced by which the plane rises or flies. At the outer ends of the wings are the ailerons, by which the pilot keeps the plane level, banks it, or rolls it. Also located on the wings are the flaps. By using them the pilot can make the plane climb or glide more steeply. The wings often contain the gas tanks. Wings are attached at about the middle of the fuselage, except in small planes and flying boats with high wings. There is usually only one wing on each side, attached near the bottom of the fuselage, where it will not interfere with the pilot's view.
Every plane with one wing is called a monoplane, although many people only think of a monoplane as having its wing attached to the top of the fuselage. In the olden days there were many biplanes-planes having two wings, one above the other. By 1953 they were no longer being manufactured, because the two wings created too much added drag, and with high-powered engines were no longer needed to provide lift. THE TAIL Another necessary part of the airplane is the empennage or tail section. This is attached to the back of the fuselage, and is composed of two parts.
The part that stands upright is called the fin. Hinged to the back of the fin is the rudder. It steers the plane to either side. The fixed horizontal part is called the horizontal stabilizer. It helps the wings and ailerons keeps the plane level. Hinged to the back of the horizontal stabilizer is the elevator, which steers the airplane up and down. The engines for multi-engine planes are located on the forward edge of the wings or just beneath them. If a plane has only a single engine it is located at the front end of the fuselage. Those with rear propellers are pushers. Engines may be all jet, all conventional, or propeller engines, or a combination of both. The B-36, for instance, has six conventional engines and four jets. Before 1940 there were some tri-motored planes (three engines ). Two were on the wings, the third in the nose. But with the growth in size of the airplane engine there was no longer room for one in the nose. All multi-engine planes made after 1940 have had an even number of engines. The landing gear finally, there is the landing gear of the airplane.
This has to be one of the strongest and heaviest parts. If you should fall from a window 10 feet high, you would be going 17 miles per hour when you hit the ground-and it would give you quite a jolt. You can imagine how big a jolt it is on the landing gear when an airplane weighing many tons comes down at more than 100 miles per hour. There are two types of landing gear: conventional, with which the plane sits in a three-point attitude on the ground with tail down; and tricycle, with which the airplane rests in a level position. By 1953, all planes being manufactured, except for a few small types, were of the tricycle type. This arrangement enables the pilot to see better while taxiing, since the plane is level. Most landing gears are also retractable. That is, they can be drawn up into the fuselage while the plane is airborne, so as to reduce drag and thus gain higher speeds. (In 1949, the British Navy began experimenting with planes without landing gear, since without the additional weight greater performance could be obtained. They landed them on rubber mats on carriers, and catapulted them for take-off.) The seaplane is similar to the land plane, except in landing gear.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
RC Airplane Batteries
RC Airplane Batteries
Flying around your RC airplane is such a treat you will want to do it as long as you can. But, to get the most out of your RC plane you are going to need to equip it with a stellar battery. RC batteries are unlike the types you use in your TV remote control. RC airplane enthusiasts know that RC batteries are specialized pieces that can make all the difference to your RC experience.
When deciding which battery to purchase for your RC airplane, there are a few things to keep in mind. The first thing to note is the amount of voltage necessary to power your particular airplane. Voltage is listed as V and most RC airplanes require at least 5 volts of power. Most battery systems are set-up in cells. These cells are small, thin and lightweight that produce small voltage but can be wired together to create an overall powerful charge. Parallel cell set-ups are popular amongst enthusiasts because they increase battery capacity allowing you to fly longer. It should be noted that RC parallel cell set-ups don't increase voltage.
Once you've figured out your RC cell set-up, you will want to find the right chemical set-up.
There are a few different kinds of batteries available for RC units but the most widely available are NiCD, NiMH and LiPo. Commonly, Nickel Cadmium (NiCD) batteries are used in RC models. These are the worst batteries available on the market. Not only do they carry the lowest voltage and capacity of any RC airplane battery out there, but cadmium is harmful to the environment. NiCD batteries also need to be discharged after every use before they can be recharged.
Failure to discharge will result in a battery that can no longer be 100% recharged. RC nickel metal hydride is much better RC battery all around. Not only does it produce more power but it doesn't carry any cadmium. You also won't have to discharge NiMH batteries after every use. This makes battery upkeep easy. Lithium Polymer batteries (LiPo) are the latest and greatest in battery technology. These RC batteries have a high drain capacity and pack high voltage cells. They are also lightweight making them great for any model RC. One of the only downsides of LiPo batteries is that they are fragile. They have to be closely monitored when being charged because they have a chance of going haywire during any kind of power transfer. If you decide to go with LiPos be sure to pick up a top notch charger.
Fly high and often with a new battery for your RC airplane. By swapping out that NiCD battery for a high powered LiPo or NiMH battery can be one of the best decision you can make for your RC model. Get the battery power necessary for long RC airplane sessions.
Flying around your RC airplane is such a treat you will want to do it as long as you can. But, to get the most out of your RC plane you are going to need to equip it with a stellar battery. RC batteries are unlike the types you use in your TV remote control. RC airplane enthusiasts know that RC batteries are specialized pieces that can make all the difference to your RC experience.
When deciding which battery to purchase for your RC airplane, there are a few things to keep in mind. The first thing to note is the amount of voltage necessary to power your particular airplane. Voltage is listed as V and most RC airplanes require at least 5 volts of power. Most battery systems are set-up in cells. These cells are small, thin and lightweight that produce small voltage but can be wired together to create an overall powerful charge. Parallel cell set-ups are popular amongst enthusiasts because they increase battery capacity allowing you to fly longer. It should be noted that RC parallel cell set-ups don't increase voltage.
Once you've figured out your RC cell set-up, you will want to find the right chemical set-up.
There are a few different kinds of batteries available for RC units but the most widely available are NiCD, NiMH and LiPo. Commonly, Nickel Cadmium (NiCD) batteries are used in RC models. These are the worst batteries available on the market. Not only do they carry the lowest voltage and capacity of any RC airplane battery out there, but cadmium is harmful to the environment. NiCD batteries also need to be discharged after every use before they can be recharged.
Failure to discharge will result in a battery that can no longer be 100% recharged. RC nickel metal hydride is much better RC battery all around. Not only does it produce more power but it doesn't carry any cadmium. You also won't have to discharge NiMH batteries after every use. This makes battery upkeep easy. Lithium Polymer batteries (LiPo) are the latest and greatest in battery technology. These RC batteries have a high drain capacity and pack high voltage cells. They are also lightweight making them great for any model RC. One of the only downsides of LiPo batteries is that they are fragile. They have to be closely monitored when being charged because they have a chance of going haywire during any kind of power transfer. If you decide to go with LiPos be sure to pick up a top notch charger.
Fly high and often with a new battery for your RC airplane. By swapping out that NiCD battery for a high powered LiPo or NiMH battery can be one of the best decision you can make for your RC model. Get the battery power necessary for long RC airplane sessions.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Parkzone Ember 2 RTF RC Airplane Review
Parkzone Ember 2 RTF RC Airplane Review
When you are in the market for a new model radio control airplane you need to know about the Parkzone Ember 2 RTF RC Airplane. It is a great starter plane, an easy plane to fly, and is a ton of all around fun. Here are some of the reasons why this could be the perfect fit for you and your new plane purchase.
One reason to purchase this model is that the technology on the remote control is very advanced. You do not have to worry about interference from other planes. That can allow multiple planes to be flying at the exact same time so you could easily set up a race between you and your friends.
Another reason to purchase this model is that it is ready to fly as soon as you get it out of the box. This is going to be a great feature because you will no longer have to sit and read the assembly instructions when you get the plane. Instead, you will be able to take the plane out right away and enjoy the flying of the plane. There is nothing like quick, out of the box, ready to fly action!
The battery life for the Parkzone Ember 2 RTF is great and will last for a long period of time. That feature alone can save you a ton of money. Because nothing is worse than having your plane flying around above you only to see it come floating back down to you hopefully, or crashing down because the battery died!
Being able to get your new hobby off to a good start can be a wonderful thing to do. The Parkzone Ember 2 RTF RC Airplane is a terrific plane to acquire.
When you are in the market for a new model radio control airplane you need to know about the Parkzone Ember 2 RTF RC Airplane. It is a great starter plane, an easy plane to fly, and is a ton of all around fun. Here are some of the reasons why this could be the perfect fit for you and your new plane purchase.
One reason to purchase this model is that the technology on the remote control is very advanced. You do not have to worry about interference from other planes. That can allow multiple planes to be flying at the exact same time so you could easily set up a race between you and your friends.
Another reason to purchase this model is that it is ready to fly as soon as you get it out of the box. This is going to be a great feature because you will no longer have to sit and read the assembly instructions when you get the plane. Instead, you will be able to take the plane out right away and enjoy the flying of the plane. There is nothing like quick, out of the box, ready to fly action!
The battery life for the Parkzone Ember 2 RTF is great and will last for a long period of time. That feature alone can save you a ton of money. Because nothing is worse than having your plane flying around above you only to see it come floating back down to you hopefully, or crashing down because the battery died!
Being able to get your new hobby off to a good start can be a wonderful thing to do. The Parkzone Ember 2 RTF RC Airplane is a terrific plane to acquire.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Paper Airplane - A Lesson for Flying Outside the Box by Michael McMillan
Paper Airplane - A Lesson for Flying Outside the Box by Michael McMillan
This helpful guide utilizes creativity, fully illustrated images, and a series of real-life truths to help teach people out to think outside the box. In Paper Airplane - A Lesson For Thinking Outside the Box by Micheal McMillan, Mrs. Hackett has spent all week teaching her class about aerodynamics. At the end of the week, she assembles a competition involving paper airplanes to compete the lesson. Jeff - the class clown, does something completely different, and therefore wins the entire competition.
Because of Jeff's willingness to stand out, he is rewarded in the end. Likewise, in real life, when people make the decision to do something completely different, they too are rewarded with endless praise and possibilities. This guide teaches you that you don't always have to follow the crowd to success. Sometimes, it's best to go with your own creative flow if you want to get ahead in life.
Paper Airplane - A Lesson For Thinking Outside the Box by Micheal McMillan is designed to help people from all walks of life. It serves as a form of enlightenment for anyone who desires a new approach. Without trying, Jeff uses his natural talents and charismatic personality to literally win over everyone in his class, including his teacher. Because of his creativity, he efforts are recognized above everyone else.
The lesson this book gives is that it's okay to be different. Going along with the crowd and what is expected of you only limits your possibilities. Limiting your own possibilities simply by doing what you believe you are supposed to do will not lead to a life of fulfillment. In order to reach your true potential, you must do what you can to reach further beyond what is in sight.
The dreams you have about succeeding and achieving great things are all possibilities. In order to "win the race", you must strive to succeed in ways in which you would have never thought otherwise. In other words, if you want to excel in life, think differently on purpose. Wake up every morning and instead of adopting the same mundane attitude, think of ways to stand out. What can you do today that will make you unique?
Paper Airplane - A Lesson For Thinking Outside the Box by Micheal McMillan was made to help ordinary, everyday people who have been taught to believe that things should be done a certain way, can be done differently and with more passion.
It teaches a valuable lesson to leaders and business owners all over the world, letting them in on the fact that you don't always have to give 50 percent in life. It speaks to people who are currently striving to chase after their dream - the one that seems impossible - that if they give it their all, they will achieve their dream in little to no time with surprises along the way.
Paper Airplane - A Lesson For Thinking Outside the Box by Micheal McMillan hopes to change the way you look at life in general. Are you simply driven by your circumstances? Or are you taking the action required to mold and change them yourself? Truly happy and successful individuals do not allow their lives to control them, but rather, take the bull by the horns and run the show themselves.
This helpful guide utilizes creativity, fully illustrated images, and a series of real-life truths to help teach people out to think outside the box. In Paper Airplane - A Lesson For Thinking Outside the Box by Micheal McMillan, Mrs. Hackett has spent all week teaching her class about aerodynamics. At the end of the week, she assembles a competition involving paper airplanes to compete the lesson. Jeff - the class clown, does something completely different, and therefore wins the entire competition.
Because of Jeff's willingness to stand out, he is rewarded in the end. Likewise, in real life, when people make the decision to do something completely different, they too are rewarded with endless praise and possibilities. This guide teaches you that you don't always have to follow the crowd to success. Sometimes, it's best to go with your own creative flow if you want to get ahead in life.
Paper Airplane - A Lesson For Thinking Outside the Box by Micheal McMillan is designed to help people from all walks of life. It serves as a form of enlightenment for anyone who desires a new approach. Without trying, Jeff uses his natural talents and charismatic personality to literally win over everyone in his class, including his teacher. Because of his creativity, he efforts are recognized above everyone else.
The lesson this book gives is that it's okay to be different. Going along with the crowd and what is expected of you only limits your possibilities. Limiting your own possibilities simply by doing what you believe you are supposed to do will not lead to a life of fulfillment. In order to reach your true potential, you must do what you can to reach further beyond what is in sight.
The dreams you have about succeeding and achieving great things are all possibilities. In order to "win the race", you must strive to succeed in ways in which you would have never thought otherwise. In other words, if you want to excel in life, think differently on purpose. Wake up every morning and instead of adopting the same mundane attitude, think of ways to stand out. What can you do today that will make you unique?
Paper Airplane - A Lesson For Thinking Outside the Box by Micheal McMillan was made to help ordinary, everyday people who have been taught to believe that things should be done a certain way, can be done differently and with more passion.
It teaches a valuable lesson to leaders and business owners all over the world, letting them in on the fact that you don't always have to give 50 percent in life. It speaks to people who are currently striving to chase after their dream - the one that seems impossible - that if they give it their all, they will achieve their dream in little to no time with surprises along the way.
Paper Airplane - A Lesson For Thinking Outside the Box by Micheal McMillan hopes to change the way you look at life in general. Are you simply driven by your circumstances? Or are you taking the action required to mold and change them yourself? Truly happy and successful individuals do not allow their lives to control them, but rather, take the bull by the horns and run the show themselves.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
BR 1 - Paper Airplane Book Review - The Paper Airplane Book By Seymour Simon
BR 1 - Paper Airplane Book Review - The Paper Airplane Book By Seymour Simon
Book Name: The Paper Airplane Book
Date Reviewed: 11 November 2006
Author(s): Seymour Simon
ISBN #: ?
Year of original book/Year of my copy - 1971/1973
Pages - 48 pages
Cover Price - $.75
Number of Planes - 5 Planes
Names of planes - There are no named planes in this book.
Level of difficulty - 3 out of 10
Comments:
A great first book of paper airplanes for a young child. This book is a nice, gentle read, with great experiments throughout its entirety. It teaches children all about the important forces that act upon any aircraft in flight, and how to use flaps, rudders, and ailerons to control your flight.
There are instructions on how to make a drinking straw dart as well.
I rate this book at 9, for young or first time paper airplane makers. The only reason I don't rate it a 10, is because I believe a beginner's book needs more than 5 designs.
Older, more experienced paper airplane pilots will more than likely have seen these designs before.
The book does not include paper to make the planes with, but regular copy paper works just fine. If you go to the store, look for 20lb paper stock, usually about $3.00 a ream (500 sheets of paper, which equals lots of fun! )
This book was also published in a hardcover version, with a blue cover, with a small paper airplane design on the lower front cover. That is harder to find, however. Illustrations are all black and white in this book. This book is still available as a new or used book on Amazon.
Total score: 9/10 planes
Book Name: The Paper Airplane Book
Date Reviewed: 11 November 2006
Author(s): Seymour Simon
ISBN #: ?
Year of original book/Year of my copy - 1971/1973
Pages - 48 pages
Cover Price - $.75
Number of Planes - 5 Planes
Names of planes - There are no named planes in this book.
Level of difficulty - 3 out of 10
Comments:
A great first book of paper airplanes for a young child. This book is a nice, gentle read, with great experiments throughout its entirety. It teaches children all about the important forces that act upon any aircraft in flight, and how to use flaps, rudders, and ailerons to control your flight.
There are instructions on how to make a drinking straw dart as well.
I rate this book at 9, for young or first time paper airplane makers. The only reason I don't rate it a 10, is because I believe a beginner's book needs more than 5 designs.
Older, more experienced paper airplane pilots will more than likely have seen these designs before.
The book does not include paper to make the planes with, but regular copy paper works just fine. If you go to the store, look for 20lb paper stock, usually about $3.00 a ream (500 sheets of paper, which equals lots of fun! )
This book was also published in a hardcover version, with a blue cover, with a small paper airplane design on the lower front cover. That is harder to find, however. Illustrations are all black and white in this book. This book is still available as a new or used book on Amazon.
Total score: 9/10 planes
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Best Remote Control Airplane? Multiplex Easy Star RTF Electric Plane User Reviews - Gifts for Guys
Best Remote Control Airplane? Multiplex Easy Star RTF Electric Plane User Reviews - Gifts for Guys
With a 4.5 rating out of 5 on Amazon, whilst the Multiplex RTF Easy Star remote control plane is designed for first time pilots, user reviews suggest it takes a little more skill. Multiplex are argued to make some great products and this quite pricey RC airplane is argued to be one of them.
This toy comes as an RTF (Ready To Fly) not ARF (Almost Ready To Fly) remote control plane. This is important if you are purchasing a RC plane as an ARF will need considerable skill.Therefore this plane only takes some basic assembly and requires no skill.
Multiplex Easy Star RTF Features:
- Stable flight characteristics.
- Durability.
- Powered by a speed 400 motor mounted on the top so hard landings won't break the propeller or damage the motor.
- It does as stated by user's require a little skill to fly, but has the ability to recover in flight quite easily if a mistake is made. Made from Multiplex's durable "Elapor" foam, if the Easy Star does break it can be easily repaired with CA (super) glue.
The Easy Star Electric RTF RC Airplane Includes:
- Installed Hitec HFS-04MG Receiver.
- Battery: 1200mAh 7.2V NiMH.
- Hitec Neon-SS FM 72MHz 3-Channel Transmitter.
- Servos: Two Installed Multiplex Tiny-S Servos.
- Installed Multiplex Multicont X-08 ESC.
- Hitec CG-207 2Amp DC Peak Charger.
Multiplex RC Airplane User Review Advantages:
- The radio system is argued to be excellent.
- This is a quality plane made with above the bar parts.
- The receiver is 4 channel and the servo's are micro therefore the setup can be moved into another plane as your level of experience and tastes change.
- The wingspan is argued to be seriously impressive!
- Having a top-notch radio system will mean that switching it is as easy as reversing a plug in the transmitter and the back is screw-less so you don't have to unscrew 8 screws like on other models.
- Very nice simulator software available for this model on Internet.
- It can be used as an FPV (first-person view) pilot who use a real-time video camera in the plane to fly it, while the pilot is on the ground.
- The plane is very fast because it's so aerodynamic and many maneuvers like loop the loop or flying upside down will become second nature after a little practice.
- You can modify it to take longer wings from other planes.
- More powerful motors and lipo (lithium polymer) batteries have upped its performance greatly.
- To land on water if you can find some scrap foam, shape them into floats, you have a float plane!
Multiplex RC Airplane User Review Disadvantages and Advice:
- You should glue in the tail and rear wings instead of using their included double sided tape.
- Place a small piece of tape on the front and back of the canopy.
- Make sure you are 3 miles away from any airfields as it can be flown great distances and some users have stated that once the Easy Star Electric RTF remote control airplane is maybe half a mile away, the plane began to take instructions from someone else at the airfield.
- Put your telephone number and name on it so if it flies off into the woods someone will hopefully find it and return it.
WARNING: This thing is MASSIVE so keep kids at a safe distance.
With a 4.5 rating out of 5 on Amazon, whilst the Multiplex RTF Easy Star remote control plane is designed for first time pilots, user reviews suggest it takes a little more skill. Multiplex are argued to make some great products and this quite pricey RC airplane is argued to be one of them.
This toy comes as an RTF (Ready To Fly) not ARF (Almost Ready To Fly) remote control plane. This is important if you are purchasing a RC plane as an ARF will need considerable skill.Therefore this plane only takes some basic assembly and requires no skill.
Multiplex Easy Star RTF Features:
- Stable flight characteristics.
- Durability.
- Powered by a speed 400 motor mounted on the top so hard landings won't break the propeller or damage the motor.
- It does as stated by user's require a little skill to fly, but has the ability to recover in flight quite easily if a mistake is made. Made from Multiplex's durable "Elapor" foam, if the Easy Star does break it can be easily repaired with CA (super) glue.
The Easy Star Electric RTF RC Airplane Includes:
- Installed Hitec HFS-04MG Receiver.
- Battery: 1200mAh 7.2V NiMH.
- Hitec Neon-SS FM 72MHz 3-Channel Transmitter.
- Servos: Two Installed Multiplex Tiny-S Servos.
- Installed Multiplex Multicont X-08 ESC.
- Hitec CG-207 2Amp DC Peak Charger.
Multiplex RC Airplane User Review Advantages:
- The radio system is argued to be excellent.
- This is a quality plane made with above the bar parts.
- The receiver is 4 channel and the servo's are micro therefore the setup can be moved into another plane as your level of experience and tastes change.
- The wingspan is argued to be seriously impressive!
- Having a top-notch radio system will mean that switching it is as easy as reversing a plug in the transmitter and the back is screw-less so you don't have to unscrew 8 screws like on other models.
- Very nice simulator software available for this model on Internet.
- It can be used as an FPV (first-person view) pilot who use a real-time video camera in the plane to fly it, while the pilot is on the ground.
- The plane is very fast because it's so aerodynamic and many maneuvers like loop the loop or flying upside down will become second nature after a little practice.
- You can modify it to take longer wings from other planes.
- More powerful motors and lipo (lithium polymer) batteries have upped its performance greatly.
- To land on water if you can find some scrap foam, shape them into floats, you have a float plane!
Multiplex RC Airplane User Review Disadvantages and Advice:
- You should glue in the tail and rear wings instead of using their included double sided tape.
- Place a small piece of tape on the front and back of the canopy.
- Make sure you are 3 miles away from any airfields as it can be flown great distances and some users have stated that once the Easy Star Electric RTF remote control airplane is maybe half a mile away, the plane began to take instructions from someone else at the airfield.
- Put your telephone number and name on it so if it flies off into the woods someone will hopefully find it and return it.
WARNING: This thing is MASSIVE so keep kids at a safe distance.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
The Five Major Parts of an Airplane
The Five Major Parts of an Airplane
We tend to think of aircraft as single, uninterrupted units. There are in fact five major parts of an airplane which can be looked at separately. These can be found on nearly any model of aircraft out there.
The most obvious feature to begin with is the wing. Responsible for holding the craft aloft, it is also where the vast majority of fuel is stored during flights. Without the wing, you would have a missile instead. Wings are absolutely necessary for the kind of flight that planes do.
A wing is not much good unless the craft can be propelled forward. To this end the second main component would be the engine. These are high performance gas combustors for the most part, and the need to operate them at high output levels for extended periods of time means that they are meant to favor reliability over power.
The tail section is very important. Much of the stability and ability to maneuver comes from the tail surfaces. Without a tail an aircraft quickly becomes impossible to handle in the air and will be at an inevitable risk of crashing.
The main body of the aircraft is called the fuselage. This is typically where passengers and cargo are placed. The fuselage contains the cabin and the cockpit, and depending on the complexity of the aircraft, can be pressurized and climate controlled for the comfort of the human beings who are inside.
These are the main elements of a plane. With the wing, tail, engine, and fuselage all in place you almost have all the bits too make your own functional aircraft. Now let's think about how you are going to land this thing, because you are probably going to want to do that at some point.
Landing gear is pretty important. Sure, you can skid an aircraft down a runway on its belly, but you really aren't going to make any friends doing that. Airports probably hate it when that happens. So does the FAA. Be courteous and think of their feelings. A nice solid set of landing gear will allow your plane to take off and land without gouging huge scars in the tarmac.
That is the basic information about the configuration of aircraft. There are five major parts of an airplane, and those are them. The wing holds the machine aloft and holds the fuel for the engine. The tail and fuselage describe the main body of the craft and hold cargo or passengers. The landing gear, the final main component, is deployed when the airplane is preparing to arrive at an airstrip.
We tend to think of aircraft as single, uninterrupted units. There are in fact five major parts of an airplane which can be looked at separately. These can be found on nearly any model of aircraft out there.
The most obvious feature to begin with is the wing. Responsible for holding the craft aloft, it is also where the vast majority of fuel is stored during flights. Without the wing, you would have a missile instead. Wings are absolutely necessary for the kind of flight that planes do.
A wing is not much good unless the craft can be propelled forward. To this end the second main component would be the engine. These are high performance gas combustors for the most part, and the need to operate them at high output levels for extended periods of time means that they are meant to favor reliability over power.
The tail section is very important. Much of the stability and ability to maneuver comes from the tail surfaces. Without a tail an aircraft quickly becomes impossible to handle in the air and will be at an inevitable risk of crashing.
The main body of the aircraft is called the fuselage. This is typically where passengers and cargo are placed. The fuselage contains the cabin and the cockpit, and depending on the complexity of the aircraft, can be pressurized and climate controlled for the comfort of the human beings who are inside.
These are the main elements of a plane. With the wing, tail, engine, and fuselage all in place you almost have all the bits too make your own functional aircraft. Now let's think about how you are going to land this thing, because you are probably going to want to do that at some point.
Landing gear is pretty important. Sure, you can skid an aircraft down a runway on its belly, but you really aren't going to make any friends doing that. Airports probably hate it when that happens. So does the FAA. Be courteous and think of their feelings. A nice solid set of landing gear will allow your plane to take off and land without gouging huge scars in the tarmac.
That is the basic information about the configuration of aircraft. There are five major parts of an airplane, and those are them. The wing holds the machine aloft and holds the fuel for the engine. The tail and fuselage describe the main body of the craft and hold cargo or passengers. The landing gear, the final main component, is deployed when the airplane is preparing to arrive at an airstrip.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
The History of the Model Airplane
The History of the Model Airplane
Each model airplane is a little piece of history. Soon after the advent of the airplane, the building of model airplanes became a hobby for those old and young alike. Customers range from novice hobby model airplane builders to master model aircraft builders, governmental agencies, airports, museums, libraries and schools.
Model airplane building has been the introduction to aviation for countless youths in years past and continues in many lesser degrees today for the younger set. Building a model airplane is a simple pleasure for both young and old alike. Kits are for the novice to master model airplane builder. Make sure you search through Amazons extensive list of model airplane books and other products.
When most people think of model airplanes, they immediately think of a nice little box with pieces that are put together, resulting in a model airplane that can be set on a shelf to be admired but not touched. The present die cast model airplanes are so real you can virtually smell the jet fuel.
There are engines for every type of model airplane or helicopter you could come up with, and every one of them is handcrafted. A model airplane needs a vertical rudder to keep it moving straight. All flying model airplanes, just like real ones, have a Center of Gravity that effects the planes balance and thus its flying characteristics.
Flying Model airplanes is a fun and educational hobby. Depending on your budget, and how serious you are about radio control flying, you can purchase an RC flight simulator to practice on, but these are not necessary for a simple model airplane.
Each model airplane is a little piece of history. Soon after the advent of the airplane, the building of model airplanes became a hobby for those old and young alike. Customers range from novice hobby model airplane builders to master model aircraft builders, governmental agencies, airports, museums, libraries and schools.
Model airplane building has been the introduction to aviation for countless youths in years past and continues in many lesser degrees today for the younger set. Building a model airplane is a simple pleasure for both young and old alike. Kits are for the novice to master model airplane builder. Make sure you search through Amazons extensive list of model airplane books and other products.
When most people think of model airplanes, they immediately think of a nice little box with pieces that are put together, resulting in a model airplane that can be set on a shelf to be admired but not touched. The present die cast model airplanes are so real you can virtually smell the jet fuel.
There are engines for every type of model airplane or helicopter you could come up with, and every one of them is handcrafted. A model airplane needs a vertical rudder to keep it moving straight. All flying model airplanes, just like real ones, have a Center of Gravity that effects the planes balance and thus its flying characteristics.
Flying Model airplanes is a fun and educational hobby. Depending on your budget, and how serious you are about radio control flying, you can purchase an RC flight simulator to practice on, but these are not necessary for a simple model airplane.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Some Tips When Financing an Airplane
Some Tips When Financing an Airplane
Most people need loans in order to buy a car, a snowmobile, an ATV, and a lot of other vehicles. However, not too many people know anything about Airplane Financing. Airplanes are great to own when one has his or her pilot's license. The problem is that they are usually very expensive, so not too many people with their pilot's license has the money to buy an airplane. That's why this article will provide some tips and information for people who are looking to buy an airplane but don't know if they can.
Just like any other loan, there will be a lot of different things that will be looked at when one is trying to get Airplane Financing. Their credit history will be looked at, and a bad credit history could keep people from being able to purchase an airplane. A lender will also look into a lot of other things such as information about the plane. Generally, a specifications sheet about the airplane will be required by the lender. Also, tax returns from the last two or three years will be requested by the lender. So, be prepared to give the lender all of this information.
People have a few different Airplane Financing options. Obviously, a loan will probably need to be taken out for most people, because they are too expensive to purchase with cash. Most fixed rate loans for airplanes usually range from around 15 to 25 years. However, if a loan with a shorter term is desired, it can also be found. There are also loans with adjustable rates. These loans are usually shorter than the fixed rate loans. In any case, there are a few options for people looking to buy an airplane.
People who don't want to buy an airplane could lease an airplane instead. This will cost people a lot less money than buying an airplane. However, insurance is something that should seriously be considered by anyone leasing an aircraft. An aircraft costs a lot of money, and fixing one also costs a lot of money. An airplane lease could be for a new or used airplane, and the length of the lease can be anywhere from months to even twenty years or more! It's cheaper than buying an airplane, but it's definitely not the same as owning an airplane. I hope this article has been beneficial to those wondering what their Airplane Financing options are.
Most people need loans in order to buy a car, a snowmobile, an ATV, and a lot of other vehicles. However, not too many people know anything about Airplane Financing. Airplanes are great to own when one has his or her pilot's license. The problem is that they are usually very expensive, so not too many people with their pilot's license has the money to buy an airplane. That's why this article will provide some tips and information for people who are looking to buy an airplane but don't know if they can.
Just like any other loan, there will be a lot of different things that will be looked at when one is trying to get Airplane Financing. Their credit history will be looked at, and a bad credit history could keep people from being able to purchase an airplane. A lender will also look into a lot of other things such as information about the plane. Generally, a specifications sheet about the airplane will be required by the lender. Also, tax returns from the last two or three years will be requested by the lender. So, be prepared to give the lender all of this information.
People have a few different Airplane Financing options. Obviously, a loan will probably need to be taken out for most people, because they are too expensive to purchase with cash. Most fixed rate loans for airplanes usually range from around 15 to 25 years. However, if a loan with a shorter term is desired, it can also be found. There are also loans with adjustable rates. These loans are usually shorter than the fixed rate loans. In any case, there are a few options for people looking to buy an airplane.
People who don't want to buy an airplane could lease an airplane instead. This will cost people a lot less money than buying an airplane. However, insurance is something that should seriously be considered by anyone leasing an aircraft. An aircraft costs a lot of money, and fixing one also costs a lot of money. An airplane lease could be for a new or used airplane, and the length of the lease can be anywhere from months to even twenty years or more! It's cheaper than buying an airplane, but it's definitely not the same as owning an airplane. I hope this article has been beneficial to those wondering what their Airplane Financing options are.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Really Cheap Airplane Ticket - How To Get A Truly Low-Priced Airplane Ticket
Really Cheap Airplane Ticket - How To Get A Truly Low-Priced Airplane Ticket
The best place to look for a really cheap airplane ticket is online. Travel agencies can't compete with discount ticket sites. Search online, for finding a cheap airline ticket, do a Google search ("cheap airfare to ....) or try any of the well-known travel sites. The internet is a great place to search for and compare airline rates.Include travel date and return date in your query so that you can get a specific quotation for your trip.
Because you are looking to get really cheap airline fares and possible discounts, you will have to know the ins
and outs of how airlines work. Here are some tips to help you on your way to finding cheap airline tickets so that you can travel in luxury on a budget:
The earlier you book a flight, the cheaper the airfare will be. Ahead of time booking can save you a lot of cash. If you are flexible as far as time is concerned, then make sure you make preparations way ahead of time. Most airlines offer special discounts for advanced booking. For a booking made late more will be charged. If you try to book a flight the day before you want to leave, the airlines will charge you the highest price imaginable.
On the other hand: Tickets at the last minute.
Last minute travel deals are the solution to a low-budget vacation that you may be looking for. One of the expensive parts of a quality vacation are the airline tickets to get to your destination. Looking for cheap airline travel, tickets can be very hard to find if you're not looking in the right places and you never know from day to day which sites will find the cheapest flights.. Prices for airline tickets can fluctuate wildly. Check at least three places.
Seasonality.
The more the demand, the more expensive the airline tickets
will be. If demand for a travel destination is high, then you are bound to spend more money. Flying to a destination during peak seasons is a sure way to spend two to three times as much as during the other seasons.
Flexibility.
The more flexible you are, the better your chance of getting a really cheap plane ticket. Different departure and return dates. Try all options that are offered. Options like Courier flights, for example, can be a great deal.
Really Cheap Plane Ticket(s) - More tips
Check for package deals, where you pay for plane tickets and
your hotel room.
"Name Your Own Price". Make your bid, and the airlines say yes
or no, depending on whether they have empty seats to fill. First look for the cheapest tickets you can find, then make a bid bid lower than that. If your bid is rejected, you can always go back to the best deal and book it.
A good way to find exceptional deals is to frequently surf the various web sites of your favorite airlines. Subscribe to their news-
letters and allow them to send you last minute deals via e-mail. In this way, tickets to numerous destinations will be found at the lowest possible airfare rates.
The best place to look for a really cheap airplane ticket is online. Travel agencies can't compete with discount ticket sites. Search online, for finding a cheap airline ticket, do a Google search ("cheap airfare to ....) or try any of the well-known travel sites. The internet is a great place to search for and compare airline rates.Include travel date and return date in your query so that you can get a specific quotation for your trip.
Because you are looking to get really cheap airline fares and possible discounts, you will have to know the ins
and outs of how airlines work. Here are some tips to help you on your way to finding cheap airline tickets so that you can travel in luxury on a budget:
The earlier you book a flight, the cheaper the airfare will be. Ahead of time booking can save you a lot of cash. If you are flexible as far as time is concerned, then make sure you make preparations way ahead of time. Most airlines offer special discounts for advanced booking. For a booking made late more will be charged. If you try to book a flight the day before you want to leave, the airlines will charge you the highest price imaginable.
On the other hand: Tickets at the last minute.
Last minute travel deals are the solution to a low-budget vacation that you may be looking for. One of the expensive parts of a quality vacation are the airline tickets to get to your destination. Looking for cheap airline travel, tickets can be very hard to find if you're not looking in the right places and you never know from day to day which sites will find the cheapest flights.. Prices for airline tickets can fluctuate wildly. Check at least three places.
Seasonality.
The more the demand, the more expensive the airline tickets
will be. If demand for a travel destination is high, then you are bound to spend more money. Flying to a destination during peak seasons is a sure way to spend two to three times as much as during the other seasons.
Flexibility.
The more flexible you are, the better your chance of getting a really cheap plane ticket. Different departure and return dates. Try all options that are offered. Options like Courier flights, for example, can be a great deal.
Really Cheap Plane Ticket(s) - More tips
Check for package deals, where you pay for plane tickets and
your hotel room.
"Name Your Own Price". Make your bid, and the airlines say yes
or no, depending on whether they have empty seats to fill. First look for the cheapest tickets you can find, then make a bid bid lower than that. If your bid is rejected, you can always go back to the best deal and book it.
A good way to find exceptional deals is to frequently surf the various web sites of your favorite airlines. Subscribe to their news-
letters and allow them to send you last minute deals via e-mail. In this way, tickets to numerous destinations will be found at the lowest possible airfare rates.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Super Cheap Airplane Tickets - How to Find Cheap Airplane Tickets
Super Cheap Airplane Tickets - How to Find Cheap Airplane Tickets
Super cheap airplane tickets are easy to get when you know the right information. The sad thing is, 99% of people will never know this information. If you ever plan on traveling by air, this article may be the most important thing you read all year! The truth is, airlines are robbing people like you and I of our hard earned money EVERY DAY. Ticket prices are outrageous as is, then we are slapped in the face with baggage fees, taxes, oxygen fees, on and on and on... It all seems so helpless, how can we defeat these greedy airline giants?
It starts with finishing this article! In it, you will learn the secrets only a select few travelers know about saving money when flying.
The first step is to book early. Everyone knows this. What you may not know is what day to buy the ticket- YES it matters what day and even time you buy your ticket. Airlines release the "new" (and cheapest) tickets on a certain day and time. Since most businesses are purchasing tickets between 9am and 5am, avoid purchasing tickets between these times as airlines like to jack up the price (because businesses will pay anything).
Next, book your stay over a weekend. Again, most people will try to fly back on a Sunday. Airlines know this and jack up price accordingly. This trick alone saved me 92$ on a round trip ticket to New Orleans.
Always try to buy tickets after holiday seasons. Airlines typically have huge promotions after holidays to keep their sales up. If you take advantage of this, you will save significant cash. If you are in the military or are a clergyman, present your card when buying tickets and you will typically receive a 5%-10% discount.
Typically, travelers will buy tickets straight from the airlines, or even from a "super cheap airplane ticket" website thinking they are getting the best deals. Yeah, you will be getting the 'best' deal online, but it's not the cheapest ticket available! Always consider talking to a travel agent when buying a ticket. Travel agents have access to significant discounts that they are willing to pass down to you if you know what to say.
Super cheap airplane tickets are easy to get when you know the right information. The sad thing is, 99% of people will never know this information. If you ever plan on traveling by air, this article may be the most important thing you read all year! The truth is, airlines are robbing people like you and I of our hard earned money EVERY DAY. Ticket prices are outrageous as is, then we are slapped in the face with baggage fees, taxes, oxygen fees, on and on and on... It all seems so helpless, how can we defeat these greedy airline giants?
It starts with finishing this article! In it, you will learn the secrets only a select few travelers know about saving money when flying.
The first step is to book early. Everyone knows this. What you may not know is what day to buy the ticket- YES it matters what day and even time you buy your ticket. Airlines release the "new" (and cheapest) tickets on a certain day and time. Since most businesses are purchasing tickets between 9am and 5am, avoid purchasing tickets between these times as airlines like to jack up the price (because businesses will pay anything).
Next, book your stay over a weekend. Again, most people will try to fly back on a Sunday. Airlines know this and jack up price accordingly. This trick alone saved me 92$ on a round trip ticket to New Orleans.
Always try to buy tickets after holiday seasons. Airlines typically have huge promotions after holidays to keep their sales up. If you take advantage of this, you will save significant cash. If you are in the military or are a clergyman, present your card when buying tickets and you will typically receive a 5%-10% discount.
Typically, travelers will buy tickets straight from the airlines, or even from a "super cheap airplane ticket" website thinking they are getting the best deals. Yeah, you will be getting the 'best' deal online, but it's not the cheapest ticket available! Always consider talking to a travel agent when buying a ticket. Travel agents have access to significant discounts that they are willing to pass down to you if you know what to say.
RC Airplane Kits Are Fun
RC Airplane Kits Are Fun
RC airplane kits are way too fun! I mean flying an RC airplane is all about having fun. I remember my first flight, it could not last long enough. The real fun comes in building and flying something that you built. A RC airplane is a pretty simple project that just requires a few tools, some time and some creativity. This is a great way for a father and son or even the whole family to join in and have fun learning to fly. If you are inexperienced I would suggest you look into a RC Airplane kit, RC airplane kits are what is usually called ARF, or almost-ready-to-fly. RTR, or ready-to-fly radio control airplanes require very little effort to get up and going. Just open the box and fly. These airplanes are best for beginners. A lot of these model kits are designed to be easy to control, and help beginners gain flying experience. Once you are done building with some kits, you will find yourself making modification on your own, getting ideas from other models and improving designs.
I would take the time to consider between electric airplane, gas propelled, nitro or nitro methane powered. Some are meant for indoors and some are for outdoors. Some RC airplane kits are made of styrofoam and others are made of balsa wood. Depending on what you are looking for and you experience level, I would start out with a styrofoam construction. The basic characteristics will always be the same but cheaper RC airplane may have only maneuvers of left, right, up and down; most of them come with forward and backwards controls as well.
Radio control Airplane kits are very easy to build and a lot of times take very little skills or tools. The average person can build an Radio control plane in about an hour. When you receive your airplane kit I would start by plugging in the battery while you put the rest together. When starting out it might be best to get a trainer type plane. Starting out I had very few crashes due to the fact that I had a trainer type RC airplane. Nowadays you really don't have to worry so much about crashing, the airplane kits are usually made of very durable material. My first airplane was made of a material called EPP foam, it was basically a strong foam polypropylene. As you fall in love with flying you will probably want to get a more advanced RC airplane kit or even build your own from scratch. Most people start out with a electric airplane kit and then move into a gas powered type plane that have more advanced controls. I really hope you get a plane that fits your experience level if not you might want to due to the fact you do not want to waste your money on a plane that is far to hard to build and fly. That would not be fun. There are a lot of online stores that you can get an RC airplane kit from, I would recommend Hobbytron. They have a great selection of RC airplane kits for the best prices and also have great customer service. A lot of times you can catch them on one of there FREE shipping specials.
Thank you for letting me share with you one of my favorite hobbies. Have fun Flying.
RC airplane kits are way too fun! I mean flying an RC airplane is all about having fun. I remember my first flight, it could not last long enough. The real fun comes in building and flying something that you built. A RC airplane is a pretty simple project that just requires a few tools, some time and some creativity. This is a great way for a father and son or even the whole family to join in and have fun learning to fly. If you are inexperienced I would suggest you look into a RC Airplane kit, RC airplane kits are what is usually called ARF, or almost-ready-to-fly. RTR, or ready-to-fly radio control airplanes require very little effort to get up and going. Just open the box and fly. These airplanes are best for beginners. A lot of these model kits are designed to be easy to control, and help beginners gain flying experience. Once you are done building with some kits, you will find yourself making modification on your own, getting ideas from other models and improving designs.
I would take the time to consider between electric airplane, gas propelled, nitro or nitro methane powered. Some are meant for indoors and some are for outdoors. Some RC airplane kits are made of styrofoam and others are made of balsa wood. Depending on what you are looking for and you experience level, I would start out with a styrofoam construction. The basic characteristics will always be the same but cheaper RC airplane may have only maneuvers of left, right, up and down; most of them come with forward and backwards controls as well.
Radio control Airplane kits are very easy to build and a lot of times take very little skills or tools. The average person can build an Radio control plane in about an hour. When you receive your airplane kit I would start by plugging in the battery while you put the rest together. When starting out it might be best to get a trainer type plane. Starting out I had very few crashes due to the fact that I had a trainer type RC airplane. Nowadays you really don't have to worry so much about crashing, the airplane kits are usually made of very durable material. My first airplane was made of a material called EPP foam, it was basically a strong foam polypropylene. As you fall in love with flying you will probably want to get a more advanced RC airplane kit or even build your own from scratch. Most people start out with a electric airplane kit and then move into a gas powered type plane that have more advanced controls. I really hope you get a plane that fits your experience level if not you might want to due to the fact you do not want to waste your money on a plane that is far to hard to build and fly. That would not be fun. There are a lot of online stores that you can get an RC airplane kit from, I would recommend Hobbytron. They have a great selection of RC airplane kits for the best prices and also have great customer service. A lot of times you can catch them on one of there FREE shipping specials.
Thank you for letting me share with you one of my favorite hobbies. Have fun Flying.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Unusual Fundraising Auction Venue - Airplane Hangars
Unusual Fundraising Auction Venue - Airplane Hangars
When you're thinking about a venue for an auction event, I'm sure that you didn't envision standing inside a hangar, looking out towards... the runway. Yes, I did say "runway".
An unusual venue - like a plane hangar - can be a fun place to have a benefit auction. During one benefit auction I attended, one of the favorite spots for the guests to gather was actually near the open hanger doors where they stood enjoying the view.
One of the stories in the August 2009 issue of Small Market Meetings was Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Transportation Museums are on a Roll. The article discussed the many types of events held in transportation museums.
I haven't conducted fundraising auctions in a transportation museum yet, but I have a lot of experience conducting fundraising auctions in transportation facilities. This article covers a charity auction held in an executive airplane hangar.
An unusual venue can make a guest do a double-take when considering whether to attend your auction fundraiser.
"Oh neat," they'll think, "The party will be held in ____."
If it comes down to attending your function versus another event, they might very well opt for yours based on the unique auction venue. They might be more interested in a place they don't get to see everyday.
Airplane hangars are definitely worth considering if you're hosting a very large event. For example, in Kissimmee, FL there is a 10,000 sq. ft. hangar that can accommodate 1,500 people seated or 2,000 for receptions.
That said, auction committees should take some precautions when booking a nontraditional space. Every venue will have its challenges. You'll want to tour the site and think about flow, and food stations, and silent auction tables, and all those things good Auction Chairs consider when they are sorting through an auction gala's festivities in their mind's eye.
* At this locale, the wide open space allowed the auction procurement and decor committees to have great flexibility in adjusting the facility to meet their needs. One big hangar = lots of space for 200 guests.
* On the flip side, a super-slick, bright white concrete floor can be slippery to high heels, and - vice versa - heels or other shoe soles made of the wrong material can be unkind to a super-clean, high-tech floor.
P.P.S. The article featured places like the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY, the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, VA, and the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, AZ.
When you're thinking about a venue for an auction event, I'm sure that you didn't envision standing inside a hangar, looking out towards... the runway. Yes, I did say "runway".
An unusual venue - like a plane hangar - can be a fun place to have a benefit auction. During one benefit auction I attended, one of the favorite spots for the guests to gather was actually near the open hanger doors where they stood enjoying the view.
One of the stories in the August 2009 issue of Small Market Meetings was Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Transportation Museums are on a Roll. The article discussed the many types of events held in transportation museums.
I haven't conducted fundraising auctions in a transportation museum yet, but I have a lot of experience conducting fundraising auctions in transportation facilities. This article covers a charity auction held in an executive airplane hangar.
An unusual venue can make a guest do a double-take when considering whether to attend your auction fundraiser.
"Oh neat," they'll think, "The party will be held in ____."
If it comes down to attending your function versus another event, they might very well opt for yours based on the unique auction venue. They might be more interested in a place they don't get to see everyday.
Airplane hangars are definitely worth considering if you're hosting a very large event. For example, in Kissimmee, FL there is a 10,000 sq. ft. hangar that can accommodate 1,500 people seated or 2,000 for receptions.
That said, auction committees should take some precautions when booking a nontraditional space. Every venue will have its challenges. You'll want to tour the site and think about flow, and food stations, and silent auction tables, and all those things good Auction Chairs consider when they are sorting through an auction gala's festivities in their mind's eye.
* At this locale, the wide open space allowed the auction procurement and decor committees to have great flexibility in adjusting the facility to meet their needs. One big hangar = lots of space for 200 guests.
* On the flip side, a super-slick, bright white concrete floor can be slippery to high heels, and - vice versa - heels or other shoe soles made of the wrong material can be unkind to a super-clean, high-tech floor.
P.P.S. The article featured places like the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY, the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, VA, and the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, AZ.
The First Time Airplane Buyer
The First Time Airplane Buyer
For most people buying their first airplane can be ranked in conjunction with buying your dream home, getting married or name any other significant event in your life. Buying your first airplane means the completion of a dream. One of the greatest highlights of my career is seeing a first time buyer act like a 6 year old on Christmas morning when I hand him or her keys to their new airplane.
The thought of purchasing an airplane can seem daunting. After all, only 1 in 100 people in the U.S. have a pilots license, much less own an airplane. For those looking for an adventure to a far off land, a 100 dollar hamburger or a business tool to be more productive, rest assured that purchasing an airplane isn't rocket science, it's "plane science" which is a whole lot easier so lets begin.
This article will present a step by step process to make your dream come true. Step number 1; make sure your spouse or significant other is on board. I firmly believe that this is the biggest dream killer. If you pass step one (lucky you), then step two is to take inventory of what you are looking to accomplish. What is your mission? Is it to take your wife and kids on a 100 mile trip to the coast on a sunny day or do you often find yourself needing to be in a business meeting three states away and the weather is usually marginal? Here is the key, purchase the airplane that meets your mission at least 80% of the time. Don't by a six place airplane if 90% of the time it is just you and your wife flying. The extra gas, aircraft cost, insurance, and maintenance of purchasing the extra seats you won't be using will more than pay for the rentals of the times when you do need the extra seat. The same can be said for buying an airplane to fly you from New York to Florida twice a year. If you are a low time or student pilot, call an aircraft insurance agent to help determine what airplanes you can safely fly. If you are just learning to fly, don't expect to be flying a King Air any time soon.
Along with determining your mission, determine how much a year you are willing to set aside for an airplane. The purchase price is just one piece of the pie. You will have to do research and find out how much a hangar or tie-down costs at your local airport as well as fuel and shop rates for oil changes and annuals. If you plan on buying a used airplane, set aside money for unscheduled repair bills, and a pre-buy inspection. A good rule of thumb that I have heard from mechanics is budget the price of the annual to cover the unscheduled repair bills. Also, the monthly cost to keep all available subscriptions on a glass cockpit is often overlooked and can run over 100 dollars month. Don't forget that if you keep your airplane for a long time, you will have to eventually pay for an engine overhaul.
Now that you have determined your mission and know how many premium Starbucks coffees you must forgo to afford your next love (I mean airplane), it is time to begin the search process. A great place to gather information is by attending large aircraft expos such as Oshkosh or Sun N Fun. It never hurts to ask around the local FBO or spend some quality time on the internet searching airplanes. Asking an aircraft broker or sales representative would result in several airplanes to meet your mission and price.
With several different airplanes in mind, the next step is to determine the most important features you want in an airplane? The honest truth is that there is no ideal airplane for everyone that has everything. Each airplane has its strengths and weakness. I recommend rank ordering what strengths you think your ideal airplane should have. A few ideas include: safety record, speed, avionics, payload, cabin comfort, visibility, range, efficiency, cost of maintenance, etc. I would like to expound on these a bit. First, safety record. Airplanes are safe, just some have a better safety record than others. The best way to research a specific airplane is to visit the NTSB website at http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/query.asp and do a search on the airplanes you are interested in. Comparing the avionics panel is like comparing a house with a pool to a house without one, it makes a big difference. Airplanes with glass panels are in demand and offer a higher resale value than non-glass equipped airplanes; they also command a higher price. Airplanes with a Garmin 430 or 530 GPS are more desirable than Loran equipped airplanes or no GPS at all. I hate to admit this but it is true, almost any GPS other than a 430 or 530 is almost undesirable in today's market. If you are a recreational flyer going to the beach, a Garmin G1000 might be overkill, whereas flying with a Garmin G1000 cross county on an IFR plan might be quite useful. The cost of maintenance could be found by contacting a sales representative or asking another owner of the airplane that interests you. Speed, payload and range can be found on the manufacturers' website or a write up in an aviation magazine. For cabin comfort and visibility, you will most likely have to wait until the demo flight.
By now, you should be down to just two or three models that fit your mission, piloting skill level, price, and features. Before you start dialing for demo flights, you may want to make sure your bank is ok with you buying an airplane. Companies such as Dorr Aviation, Airfleet Capital or AOPA can help you secure financing. Even during this economic downturn, there is plenty of money that banks are willing to lend to someone who qualifies. Plan on putting 15-20% down. Banks are usually willing to lend upwards of 20 years and aircraft financing rates are very favorable at the time of this writing. Once you are preapproved, you won't have any more doubt and you will be in a much stronger position to make an offer on your next airplane. On a side note, if you don't qualify for the airplane you are considering, getting into a partnership may be an alternative; (however, I will save partnerships for another topic on another day.)
One additional question that I often hear is should I buy new or pre-owned? Books can be written about new verses used so for the purpose of this article and as a general rule of thumb, if you can go new as a first time buyer, then do it. It will save you headaches when it comes to repairs and having an airplane warranty is nice to have. Buying new can also help with your taxes. The downside of buying new is being prepared to take a depreciation hit when it comes time to sell or trade in.
Finally, if you are looking for a new airplane, give your local sales representative a call and schedule a demo flight. If you go used, you may have to do some dialing and schedule several different visits to find your next Christmas present.
For most people buying their first airplane can be ranked in conjunction with buying your dream home, getting married or name any other significant event in your life. Buying your first airplane means the completion of a dream. One of the greatest highlights of my career is seeing a first time buyer act like a 6 year old on Christmas morning when I hand him or her keys to their new airplane.
The thought of purchasing an airplane can seem daunting. After all, only 1 in 100 people in the U.S. have a pilots license, much less own an airplane. For those looking for an adventure to a far off land, a 100 dollar hamburger or a business tool to be more productive, rest assured that purchasing an airplane isn't rocket science, it's "plane science" which is a whole lot easier so lets begin.
This article will present a step by step process to make your dream come true. Step number 1; make sure your spouse or significant other is on board. I firmly believe that this is the biggest dream killer. If you pass step one (lucky you), then step two is to take inventory of what you are looking to accomplish. What is your mission? Is it to take your wife and kids on a 100 mile trip to the coast on a sunny day or do you often find yourself needing to be in a business meeting three states away and the weather is usually marginal? Here is the key, purchase the airplane that meets your mission at least 80% of the time. Don't by a six place airplane if 90% of the time it is just you and your wife flying. The extra gas, aircraft cost, insurance, and maintenance of purchasing the extra seats you won't be using will more than pay for the rentals of the times when you do need the extra seat. The same can be said for buying an airplane to fly you from New York to Florida twice a year. If you are a low time or student pilot, call an aircraft insurance agent to help determine what airplanes you can safely fly. If you are just learning to fly, don't expect to be flying a King Air any time soon.
Along with determining your mission, determine how much a year you are willing to set aside for an airplane. The purchase price is just one piece of the pie. You will have to do research and find out how much a hangar or tie-down costs at your local airport as well as fuel and shop rates for oil changes and annuals. If you plan on buying a used airplane, set aside money for unscheduled repair bills, and a pre-buy inspection. A good rule of thumb that I have heard from mechanics is budget the price of the annual to cover the unscheduled repair bills. Also, the monthly cost to keep all available subscriptions on a glass cockpit is often overlooked and can run over 100 dollars month. Don't forget that if you keep your airplane for a long time, you will have to eventually pay for an engine overhaul.
Now that you have determined your mission and know how many premium Starbucks coffees you must forgo to afford your next love (I mean airplane), it is time to begin the search process. A great place to gather information is by attending large aircraft expos such as Oshkosh or Sun N Fun. It never hurts to ask around the local FBO or spend some quality time on the internet searching airplanes. Asking an aircraft broker or sales representative would result in several airplanes to meet your mission and price.
With several different airplanes in mind, the next step is to determine the most important features you want in an airplane? The honest truth is that there is no ideal airplane for everyone that has everything. Each airplane has its strengths and weakness. I recommend rank ordering what strengths you think your ideal airplane should have. A few ideas include: safety record, speed, avionics, payload, cabin comfort, visibility, range, efficiency, cost of maintenance, etc. I would like to expound on these a bit. First, safety record. Airplanes are safe, just some have a better safety record than others. The best way to research a specific airplane is to visit the NTSB website at http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/query.asp and do a search on the airplanes you are interested in. Comparing the avionics panel is like comparing a house with a pool to a house without one, it makes a big difference. Airplanes with glass panels are in demand and offer a higher resale value than non-glass equipped airplanes; they also command a higher price. Airplanes with a Garmin 430 or 530 GPS are more desirable than Loran equipped airplanes or no GPS at all. I hate to admit this but it is true, almost any GPS other than a 430 or 530 is almost undesirable in today's market. If you are a recreational flyer going to the beach, a Garmin G1000 might be overkill, whereas flying with a Garmin G1000 cross county on an IFR plan might be quite useful. The cost of maintenance could be found by contacting a sales representative or asking another owner of the airplane that interests you. Speed, payload and range can be found on the manufacturers' website or a write up in an aviation magazine. For cabin comfort and visibility, you will most likely have to wait until the demo flight.
By now, you should be down to just two or three models that fit your mission, piloting skill level, price, and features. Before you start dialing for demo flights, you may want to make sure your bank is ok with you buying an airplane. Companies such as Dorr Aviation, Airfleet Capital or AOPA can help you secure financing. Even during this economic downturn, there is plenty of money that banks are willing to lend to someone who qualifies. Plan on putting 15-20% down. Banks are usually willing to lend upwards of 20 years and aircraft financing rates are very favorable at the time of this writing. Once you are preapproved, you won't have any more doubt and you will be in a much stronger position to make an offer on your next airplane. On a side note, if you don't qualify for the airplane you are considering, getting into a partnership may be an alternative; (however, I will save partnerships for another topic on another day.)
One additional question that I often hear is should I buy new or pre-owned? Books can be written about new verses used so for the purpose of this article and as a general rule of thumb, if you can go new as a first time buyer, then do it. It will save you headaches when it comes to repairs and having an airplane warranty is nice to have. Buying new can also help with your taxes. The downside of buying new is being prepared to take a depreciation hit when it comes time to sell or trade in.
Finally, if you are looking for a new airplane, give your local sales representative a call and schedule a demo flight. If you go used, you may have to do some dialing and schedule several different visits to find your next Christmas present.
RC Airplane Kits
RC Airplane Kits
You can easily make RC airplanes by yourself. RC Airplane kits can be of different types. The prominent ones are:
1. RTF Kits:
Ready-to-fly (popularly known as RTF) RC airplane kits contain all the pre-assembled parts together and require a relatively less amount of assembly work. With these kits, one can construct a remote-controlled airplane in just about an hour.
2. ARTF Kits:
Almost Ready To Fly (ARTF) Radio Controlled Airplane Kits are somewhat similar to RTF kits but require relatively more time for assembly and basic construction. On an average, it takes around 20 hours of labor when assembling an aircraft using Almost Ready To Fly kits. These kits will require separate both purchase as well as installation of servos, speed controller (electric), choice of motor (glow fuel, gas or electric) and occasionally control rods.
3. From scratch or plans:
Radio-controlled airplanes can even be constructed from scratch or plans. Many plans are available in the market. These plans include an Radio Controlled airplane's complete drawing and also its components. The parts first need to be cut as per the shape and size mentioned in the fuselage and in the plan. The rest of the steps are similar to that elaborated in the pre-assembled kits wherein all the essential components are assembled and joined together to build an RC Airplane.
To building Radio Controlled Airplane from scratch involves significant knowledge of airplane design. Constructing Radio Controlled Airplanes from scratch can be a very fun and delightful process.
4. Balsa Kits:
Balsa RC Airplane kits are available in a range of sizes and skill levels. These kits usually contain most raw materials that are required for building an unassembled airplane. Balsa kits can be of two types, namely laser cut Balsa kits and die-cut Balsa kits. Laser cut kits are comparatively more expensive and have more accuracy and tolerance in their construction. Balsa R. C Airplane kits don't usually include the essential tools which can be bought separately.
Thus, one can make an RC aircraft using these Radio Controlled plane kits.
You can easily make RC airplanes by yourself. RC Airplane kits can be of different types. The prominent ones are:
1. RTF Kits:
Ready-to-fly (popularly known as RTF) RC airplane kits contain all the pre-assembled parts together and require a relatively less amount of assembly work. With these kits, one can construct a remote-controlled airplane in just about an hour.
2. ARTF Kits:
Almost Ready To Fly (ARTF) Radio Controlled Airplane Kits are somewhat similar to RTF kits but require relatively more time for assembly and basic construction. On an average, it takes around 20 hours of labor when assembling an aircraft using Almost Ready To Fly kits. These kits will require separate both purchase as well as installation of servos, speed controller (electric), choice of motor (glow fuel, gas or electric) and occasionally control rods.
3. From scratch or plans:
Radio-controlled airplanes can even be constructed from scratch or plans. Many plans are available in the market. These plans include an Radio Controlled airplane's complete drawing and also its components. The parts first need to be cut as per the shape and size mentioned in the fuselage and in the plan. The rest of the steps are similar to that elaborated in the pre-assembled kits wherein all the essential components are assembled and joined together to build an RC Airplane.
To building Radio Controlled Airplane from scratch involves significant knowledge of airplane design. Constructing Radio Controlled Airplanes from scratch can be a very fun and delightful process.
4. Balsa Kits:
Balsa RC Airplane kits are available in a range of sizes and skill levels. These kits usually contain most raw materials that are required for building an unassembled airplane. Balsa kits can be of two types, namely laser cut Balsa kits and die-cut Balsa kits. Laser cut kits are comparatively more expensive and have more accuracy and tolerance in their construction. Balsa R. C Airplane kits don't usually include the essential tools which can be bought separately.
Thus, one can make an RC aircraft using these Radio Controlled plane kits.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)