Fly RC nearly anywhere, anytime

The new wave of small RC aircraft equipped with tiny plug-andplay servos, radios and motors is revolutionizing the hobby. Today, building a model that weighs between 5 and 15 ounces and that flies at between 5 and 10 miles per hour is inexpensive and simple. Whether you refer to them as park, slow, backyard, or micro flyers, these diminutive dynamos are here to stay, and the fun is just beginning.

The large variety of ARFs and preassembled micro flyers has reduced the time needed to get into the air from a few evenings to a few hours (and sometimes, to minutes). Such models range from sport scale to aerobatic aircraft to pylon racers to trainers, and the sky is the limit.

Why is this happening now? You may have heard of Moore's Law, which is based on an observation made by Gordon Moore in 1965. Loosely paraphrased, it holds that every 18 months or so, computer chips double in power or halve in size (and, as many have pointed out, they often halve in price). This phenomenon has made hand-held computers, tiny cell phones, desktop supercomputers and now, inexpensive plug-and-play micro RC aircraft a reality.

Will we soon be flying aerobatic routines with RC models of peanut-scale size? Will slow-motion pylon races be a commonplace at backyard barbecues? Will most families eventually purchase tiny, lightweight RC aircraft for outdoor fun? We are amazed at the rapid progress of this branch of our hobby, and modelers are paving the way. Just consider Dave Robelen's 2.5-ounce, scale P-51 Mustang that loops, rolls and maintains cruising flight for 4 minutes using a tiny 50mAh Ni-Cd battery pack. The Micro Mustang has a climb rate of about 200 feet per minute and has scale-like flight characteristics. You can read more about that airplane and download its building plan free from RC MicroFlight, an online and print newsletter that is a sister publication to Model Airplane News.

Free Web access. Our feature article, "Backyard Revolution," starting on page 32, offers an overview of aircraft and systems that are at the heart of this emerging RC arena. If that introduction whets your appetite, we are offering Model Airplane News readers free online access to RC MicroFlight during a two-week period beginning April 23. Just go to www .rcmicroflight.com/freetrial to obtain a free password that will enable you to visit www.rcmicroflight.com and peruse 18 months' worth of back issues.

While at the site, you can read about Dave Robelen's Mustang and many other innovative designs. You can view online video clips of a variety of micro flyers in the air and peruse product reviews, technology reports, how-to's and more.

If you have questions about park, backyard, or indoor flyers, you can also join the free, slow-flyer "list serve" (look for the "email discussion group" listing in the navbar at the RC MicroFlight site). The list serve enables any modeler to communicate with other modelers with similar interests on an email network. Check it out, and find out how easy it has become to fly RC nearly anywhere, anytime.

Copyright Air Age Publishing Jun 2001
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