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The Flying Lawn Mower

RC airplanes don't always come in conventional shapes, and the flying lawn mower has to be one of the most famous 'non-airplane' things that can be found at flying fields around the world.

In fact, flying mowers of various shapes and sizes have been around for many years and have evolved from 'one-off' homemade models to production kits, such is their popularity!


Sky Cutter flying lawn mower



The FlyingThingZ Sky Cutter is one of the better known kits, designed to take a 40 size glow engine and 4 channel radio gear with mixing ability.
The kit comes in ARF form and can be completed in a weekend if you have a basic knowledge of rc airplane (or mower...) assembly.

Flying lawn mowers like the Sky Cutter are great crowd pleasers and a lot of fun to watch; they look just like the real thing on the ground when they're being taxied over the grass, and then after a short take-off run the mower gets airborne!


Sky Cutter on the grass


In the air the Sky Cutter is surprisingly stable and its thick aerofoil wing allows great aerobatics, with loops and tail-slides easily performed (watch the video).

Flying lawn mowers also have a great characteristic that many rc airplanes don't have - the virtual inability to stall! When the airspeed drops right off, the mower just sinks to the ground while remaining level (obviously with good transmitter inputs!), which can result in near-vertical landings when you get good at it.

Flying lawn mowers aren't the only novelty rc airplane of course- other favorites include flying flags, witches and flying vehicles such as racing cars.


The Sky Cutter is available from Red Rocket Hobby Shop (along with flying flags, witches and other novelty models).