Scale Model Aircraft

A scale model aircraft is a reduced scale replica of a real flying machine a plane, glider, helicopter, etc. Model aircraft is a broader term, referring to any small size unmanned aircraft. Basically, there are two major aircraft model groups: flying and non-flying. Flying model aircraft range from toy gliders built of foam polystyrene or cardstock... to powered RC planes usually made of bamboo, balsa wood, plastic carbon, fiber fiberglass or styrofoam. They are skinned with mylar covering or tissue paper, and some of them can be extremely large mainly when used to study and research the flying properties of full-scale aircraft designs. There are three main types of flying model aircraft: Free flight (F/F) models fly with no control and adjustments from the ground.They have to be set up before flying so the weight and control surfaces will allow a stable flight. Free flying model aircraft are usually either rubber powered or unpowered gliders. They come in countless forms some designed to resemble scaled variants of full-scale aiplanes while others have various shapes that have no intention to look like real planes such as of birds and even flying dinosaurs designs. Control line (C/L) model planes are controlled using cables; the models are either handled manually by the pilot or simply attached to a central point, flying in circles around it. Usually, the model has the cables attached to the elevator, that allows the pilot to control the aircraft pitch. Radio Controlled model aircraft (or Remote Controlled aircraft) have a controller that sends signals through a transmitter to a receiver placed in the model; the receiver activates the servos from the model and handles the flight controls, very similar to a real aircraft. Non-flying or static models vary from mass-produced aircraft replicas cast in white plastic or metal intended for hobbyists, to exceptionally detailed and accurate scale models made for museums display. However, shops sell most of the scale models as kits, usually built from injection-molded ...Read More