Mini RC airplanes
- great for backyard flying!
Not so long ago, so-called mini rc airplanes would have been 'made to measure' by indoor flying enthusiasts using normal free flight indoor model airplane kits and modifying them to take the new breed of micro servos, receivers, battery packs and motors.
This made them expensive and time consuming to build, and a good knowledge of model airplane building was needed to carry out the necessary modifications. But now RTF (Ready To Fly) mini rc airplanes are commonplace, and will become even more so as radio control technology continues to advance.
ParkZone's recently developed Sukhoi Su-26m is, in my opinion, the best to date - a fully aerobatic, 4 channel electric rc airplane aimed at indoor flying.
Using the latest innovative rc technology, the Sukhoi Su-26m is an excellent example of what's possible these days and is sure to be a massive seller and the ultimate 'keep in the car' rc airplane!
Above, the Sukhoi Su-26m from ParkZone is what we've all been waiting for!
See the Sukhoi Su-26m in more detail.
Another nice example is the Micro Citabria, also from ParkZone, a 3 channel electric RTF rc airplane with 2.4GHz DSM2 digital radio system. This Citabria is a gentle little flyer, perfectly suited to flying around school gymnasiums and similar venues, or outside on a perfectly calm day.
The Citabria is a popular subject and this particular mini rc plane has been a good seller for ParkZone. The stability that comes with a high wing design airplane, and the basic 3 channel configuration, make this plane very suitable for beginner pilots, unlike the more advanced Sukhoi Su-26m.
Above, ParkZone's Micro Citabria is another nice example
See the ParkZone Micro Citabria in more detail.
Given the variety of size in rc airplanes these days, it's a very blurry line between the terms mini and micro. Certainly the latter is used more frequently, but I like to class planes like the two shown above into the 'mini' category. Micro, to me, suggests 'palm of hand' size, like the tiny infrared helicopters such as the Havoc Heli.
Certainly, at the time of writing at least, there's no official size that defines 'mini' but any rc airplane with a wingspan of around the 16 inch mark, for example, can safely be put into this category. The availability of radio control planes like this is improving all the time, and the release of the Sukhoi Su-26m shown at the top of this page is fine testament indeed to what innovative rc technology allows in terms of shrinking models!
Such mini rc airplanes are easy to fly and really don't require much airspace, which is why they are finding their way in to indoor rc flying clubs around the world, where a school hall or gym provides more than enough airspace.
Lightweight mini RC airplanes for indoor flying
Indoor rc flying, in places such as school halls and gymnasiums, is a very popular and growing sector of the radio control flying hobby.
Electric airplanes like the Sukhoi and Citabria can easily be flown indoors if the space is big enough, but two excellent examples for even smaller spaces are the Ember and the Vapor, both shown below...
The Ember and Vapor also come from ParkZone, and are sold with 2.4GHz radio as standard. Their slow flying capabilities and small size makes them ideal candidates for some gentle indoor flying. But of course, these planes aren't restricted to indoor flying, they can be flown perfectly well outdoors on completely still days.
Mini rc airplanes like these are true testament to the electronic revolution that has changed the face of radio control flying in the last few years. They are excellent products at an affordable price, great news for everyone!
The ParkZone mini rc airplanes can be seen in more detail here.
Related pages
Micro rc airplanes - examples of smaller 'micro flyers'.
Indoor rc airplanes - a rapidly growing sector of the hobby.
Electric rc airplanes - an overview of 'normal' size electric planes.
Flying model airplanes - tips for getting airborne with a Park Flyer type plane.
ParkZone Sukhoi SU-26m - fully aerobatic 4 channel mini rc plane.
ParkZone Cessna 210 Centurion - a small scale 3 channel electric plane.
ParkZone Ember - lightweight indoor airplane.
ParkZone Vapor - ultra-lightweight indoor flyer.
