Cheap RC airplanes
- some examples

There are lots of cheap rc airplanes around these days, and they provide an excellent opportunity to try the hobby of radio control flying without risking all your hard earned cash.

But what defines cheap?
Well, any Ready To Fly (RTF) model that can be bought for under $100 could be classed as cheap, but amazingly you can buy an electric RTF airplane for under half that amount - now that is cheap!

An RTF model comes complete with radio control gear and motor installed.
Generally speaking, all you need to do is buy and install the batteries to power the radio control gear. A charger for the motor battery pack is supplied with the model, so you don't even have to worry about that.

It's the rapid advances in technology in recent years that have made cheap rc airplanes available from such a huge variety of suppliers, and it's very common now for such planes to even appear in small toy shops.

Buying and flying a cheap rc airplane is a great way of getting a taste of radio control flying, or perhaps getting a son or daughter involved at very little cost.

Of course, one thing to remember is the golden rule of "You get what you pay for". Cheap rc airplanes aren't going to be the same quality as more costly models, but most are perfectly acceptable. Certainly good enough for what they are.

Shown below are some electric examples, listed in no particular order:

Popular cheap rc airplanes

Firebird Phantom
3 channel addition to HobbyZone's range, with Anti-Crash technology and a great value rc airplane. One of the best quality and most popular cheap rc airplanes around.

Cox EZ Flyer
A simple twin motor airplane with a wingspan of 36 inches. Both height and steering are controlled by the motors, with no control surface input needed. More details.

A7 Tornado
Not your normal plane, this is an electric ducted fan powered jet. Simple rudder and motor speed control makes it easy to fly, but not suited to the younger modeler because of its fast airspeed. More details.

FireFly
A mini rc airplane suitable for smaller flying areas. Powered by twin motors and a wingspan of just 14 inches, making it a popular 'go anywhere' rc plane. More details.

CC Flyer
A nice and simple single motor high wing 'trainer' style plane, ideal for kids to get the hang of radio control flying. Rudder and motor power control and a convenient 20 inch wingspan makes it ideal for public park flying. More details.

Air Phantom
A virtually indestructible foam rc airplane that's about as RTF as they get. Quick charge time (5 minutes) means that you get more flying in a day. Good simple twin motor fun. More details.

All the planes shown above are available from RC Discounts.

Related pages

Beginner rc airplanes - similar suggestions for trying the hobby.

Toy rc airplanes - suitable planes for the kids.

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