The first practical flying models took to the air at


the beginning of the 20th century. Progress with performance of these


aircraft depended on technology. All flying models need to be


constructed of light, strong materials to fly properly, and require


some sort of power to achieve flight.

Twisted rubber bands were


an early form of lightweight and inexpensive power for model aircraft,


and are still used today on certain free flight planes. As the models


grew in size and weight, small gas engines became the preferred means


of powering the vast majority of flying airplanes. Gas model engines


produce a plenty of power, but require strong and heavy airframe


structures to handle motor vibration, create an oily mess from the


engine exhaust, and the engines are quite loud.

Over the past


five years, electric motors have literally taken over as the preferred


power source for model airplanes. A fortunate convergence of


technologies - small, lightweight and inexpensive radio control


systems, efficient rechargeable batteries and advanced brushless


electric motors - have combined to revolutionize the model airplane


hobby. Many of today\\\\\\\'s radio control aircraft modelers have flown


nothing but electric RC planes, and have never even started a small gas


engine.

This trend favoring the electric RC plane is likely to


continue. Once exposed to electric RC plane flight, the advantages


become very clear over gas engines. Gas engines require a lot of


support. Fresh fuel, electric glow plug igniters, electric starters and


batteries, plus a wide variety of tools all must be on hand. It is not


uncommon to see modelers spending the majority of their day at a flying


field working to get a balky gas engine started.

Starting an


electric RC airplane poses no such challenges. Flight batteries can be


fully recharged prior to arriving at the flying field. The model


airplane pilot literally turns on a switch for instant, silent power


from the electric RC plane motor. While flying, there is never the


worry of an engine failure so common to gas fueled flight; the electric


motors have no moving parts other that the prop shaft, and will run as


long as there is battery power.

As an added benefit of electric


RC plane flight is the quiet power provided by the electric motor.


Flying fields for gas powered models are becoming harder and harder to


keep, as increasing urbanization leads to more and more noise


complaints. Engine noise is an extremely important issue for the future


of the hobby. Noise complaints can lead to the rapid closure of a


flying field. Electric RC flight completely bypasses these concerns, as


you simply cannot hear the smaller electric RC motors in flight.

In


fact, these smaller electric RC modeler groups earned the new nicknames


of park or backyard flyers. For the first time in the history of radio


control airplane flight, anyone can fly their electric RC airplanes in


their back yard, or across the street at a local park. Neighbors will


not even hear the small, silent electric motors powering these


aircraft. Without the need to bring along the normal gas engine support


equipment, the electric RC pilot is airborne in minutes, and usually


within walking distance of his or her home. An added benefit of this


spontaneous flight activity in the local neighborhood is increased


exposure of this wonderful hobby to a wider cross section of potential


future electric RC hobbyists. You could well spark a life long interest


in aviation to some young person viewing one of these aircraft in


flight.

The hobby of flying an electric RC airplane will only


continue to grow. Electric motors are becoming more powerful and less


expensive, and the advent of ready to fly electric model aircraft is


leading to yet further interest in these unique models.