Introduction to RC Airplanes RC Airplane Types - Trainers, Sport RC Planes, 3D Acrobat RC Airplanes, Jets & More RC Airplane Types RC airplanes come in a few distinct categories.  Each category generally emphasizes certain features or abilities while sacrificing others. Some of the fun in the RC airplane hobby comes from trying these types and discovering which is for you. Finally, tons of fun is the reward for figuring out which type you prefer and focusing on it. RC Airplane Types The first type, because it is commonly a first RC  model airplane, is the trainer. The trainer is identified by the wing mounted high on the fuselage and quite a bit of dihedral – the angle between the two wing halves. It is designed to be stable, easy to fly, and simple to build RC Airplane Types Vortex Extreme – 3 Ch Rud, Elev, Motor Vortex – 2 Ch Rud., Motor Multiplex Easy Star – 3 Ch Rud, Elev, Motor A few of RCSMP Member’s RC Planes RC Airplane Types Often a pilot’s second RC model airplane, the  sport type, drops the wing to the middle or bottom of the fuselage and emphasizes performance. The airfoil thins out, the wing shrinks, and the fuselage is thinner, all in the name of increased performance and speed. These designs allow for aerobatic maneuvers, including inverted flight, knife edge flight, and snap rolls. RC Airplane Types An example of an RC model airplane that  crosses the gap between a trainer and a sport type is this T-28 Trojan RTF. RC Airplane Types Expanding the possibilities in aerobatic  maneuvers are 3D acrobats. These r c planes are designed to fly at slower speeds, and to have incredible control surface authority. Often the control surfaces are as big as the flight surfaces! They are also built extremely light and given the strongest motors for mind-boggling performance, unrivaled in the full-scale world. RC Airplane Types An example of a 3D acrobatic RC model  airplane is the SX3 (Southern Cross 3) RC Airplane Types Focused on speed and sometimes scale-  appearance, jets are a thrilling RC model airplane type. They are often powered by ducted-fans, or even miniature kerosene turbines.