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Why fly RC airplanes
or helicopters?

Me flying my RC glider

What's the attraction of the radio control hobby? Why indeed fly rc airplanes and helicopters? How come the hobby has become so popular in recent years?

The hobby of radio control, in particular rc flying, has always had a large global following, but the last few years have seen a massive increase in the number of radio control models being mass-produced and stocked by all kinds of different shops.

Prices have fallen drastically, because electronic components used in rc products have become so much smaller and cheaper to produce on a large scale. The components have also become more advanced, enabling much better rc airplanes and helicopters to be produced.

For example, modern electric rc helicopters have bought thousands of people into the hobby since the late 90s, as the helicopters have become cheaper to buy and easier to fly than ever before.
Similarly, electric rc airplanes that can be purchased from practically any kind of hobby/toy store and flown with no experience whatsoever, have become high-selling products worldwide.

But what's the attraction of radio control?

Like any hobby or sport, rc is laughed at by many and rc'ers are often called geeks or anoraks by those on the outside! But those of us on the inside of the hobby know the fun and exhilaration of flying an rc airplane or helicopter - being in control of something and being able to make it do what you like when you like, with no laws to abide by!
Maybe that's the attraction - the thought of limitless fun in the 3rd dimension! The satisfaction of being in control and getting your model to obey your every command! (well, most of the time!).

Learning to fly rc airplanes or helicopters is a big part of the fun too. Crashing is all part of the radio control hobby, and such incidents are almost always laughed and joked about - afterwards!
But products such as rc flight simulators can let you learn to fly rc from the comfort of your own home, in total safety! In fact, a good rc flight simulator can be as addictive as flying your actual model, and lets you practice those more daring maneuvers with complete confidence!

Building an rc airplane, helicopter or any other type of model is as equally satisfying as flying it, if not more so. Many modelers see the building of a model more of an attraction than flying it, and it's very true that there's a huge amount of self-satisfaction in seeing a model take to the air that has been built with your own hands!

All in all, to fly rc airplanes and helicopters is (in my humble opinion) and excellent hobby to enjoy, one that can give you a wide variety of aspects to learn and have fun with.

If you're looking for a new past time to get into, why not give radio control flying a go?!