Electric RC Airplanes

By Andre McFayden

Until recently, most rc airplanes were powered by small two-stroke engines, using liquid fuels. Models powered by electric motors were very uncommon, due to the excessive weight of the power system and battery. However, the electric rc airplane has become commonplace, especially in models meant for beginner pilots.

Electric power advantages include reliability, convenience, low noise, low vibration, and clean operation. The disadvantage of early systems was low power relative to weight. However modern electric airplane motors, combined with advanced batteries, have increased the performance of electric rc airplanes by leaps and bounds.

In the more common Brushed motors, current switching is done using sliding contacts known as brushes. These brushes get hot and wear out over time. In Brushless motors, the switching happens electronically using a special speed controller. This second type of motor and its controller are more expensive to make. Its advantages are no maintenance and higher performance.

There are three main types of battery packs in use for electric airplane motors. These are Nickel Cadmium (NiCad), Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) and Lithium Polymer (LiPo). LiPo batteries are lighter for a given application, but are more expensive than NiCad or NiMH.

Electric rc airplane types include powered sailplanes, indoor flyers, scale models, aerobatic models, and ducted fan (jet-type). Virtually any type of rc model can now be electric powered. Even electric helicopters are now a practical reality. For the beginner, something slow and stable is recommended for a trainer aircraft.

Visit the RC Airplane Advisor for more info about Electric RC Airplanes.

This article may be reprinted if proper credit is given and all links left intact.

Copyright©2005 RC Airplane Advisor

Andre is a regular contributor to the RC Airplane Advisor:

http://www.rc-airplane-advisor.com
Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andre_McFayden

Owning A Sports Car As A Hobby

by Gregg Hall


There are those who decry sports car ownership as poor decision-making. They maintain the limitations in functionality, high maintenance and insurance costs, and other factors make owning a sports car a poor move. They don't understand the value of purchasing a sports car and will espouse the numerous virtues of more "reasonable" choices.

Even if one were to concede their arguments, however, it would not degasify sports car ownership. What those who critique the logic underlying sports car purchases fail to recognize is the residual value of hobby entertainment. They perceive automobile value as being found in quantifiable terms such as cost, fuel efficiency, available space and average maintenance costs. They fail to value beauty, character and fun into their decision-making calculus.

Although a more expensive than crossword puzzles or knitting, sports car ownership is a hobby. It is not just an automobile decision. Instead, sports car ownership is part of a hobbyist lifestyle. One can find great satisfaction in a hobby. Grown men spend countless hours with model trains and planes. Others spend their spare hours in workshops building chairs and tables. Some opt for a comfortable chair and a well-read library of classics. Hobbies are attractive to all of us, and the sports car hobby offers unique appeal.

Sports car ownership creates the chance to spend your spare time doing something you enjoy. As an alternative to watching television or spending spare time aimlessly, a sports car is hard to beat. One can spend their time caring for the vehicle, learning more about it and its history and, of course, driving it.

Driving the sports car is really the core of the hobby. There is nothing that compares to sailing down winding roads in a precision machine that responds perfectly to your every whim. Sports car driving can be said to represent the perfect merger between man and machine and can create a thrilling experience unlike any other. The entertainment value of driving a great sports car cannot be quantified, yet it still must be considered when one analyzes the decision to purchase a high-performance automobile.

Sports car ownership also creates an opportunity to develop and enjoy an extended social network of likeminded enthusiasts. Sports car fans band together in clubs, attend fun functions, and socialize in a variety of other fashions. One doesn't just buy an automobile when they invest in a sports car. They also come into possession of a developed social network filled with people who certainly share some of their interests and may share much of their outlook on life. Sports car ownership isn't just about the driving. It is about forging relationships with others as well as growing acquainted with the car itself.

There are, of course, more practical automotive choices than a sports car. You can find more reliable vehicles. You can invest in a more spacious and comfortable car. Fuel efficient and functional alternative abound. None of these options, however, create a hobby. It is that intangible hobby value that separates sports cars from the pack. No other vehicle offers quite the same collection of benefits and joys.

Cars merely provide transportation. Sports cars, on the other hand, provide thrills, fun and unique opportunities. When one assesses these intangible benefits, it's not hard to see why so many drivers eschew generic sedans and practical station wagons and instead opt to slide behind the wheel of high-performance sports cars.


About the Author
Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. For innovative car care products go to http://www.stopwaxing.com

Flyte Future Bikes

Customer Testimonials by: Donald White

After moving back to Texas about 2 years ago I started
looking for something to take the chip seal roads better than my CADD 5
Cannondale R2000. I also wanted to go to a triple chain ring to compensate
for the additional years on the engine since I had ridden the Hill Country rides
last. I visited all the LBS close by and test rode several steel and carbon bikes.

I spent a lot of time in the bike forums only to get more
confused by the hour. I remembered looking at an Airborne at the LBS in
Marietta, GA several years ago and went online to find more info only to find
out that Airborne had ceased to exist basically overnight between August 31 and
September 1. I emailed Flyte and got the story on what had happened. Over the
next month I purchased an SRS 2 aluminum with carbon stays from Flyte.

Rode it, liked it but it was not what I really wanted. Called
Flyte and spoke with Jason and Dan and explained, they recommended I return the
SRS 2 and go with the Defiant. No hassles, no questions asked. I did so and got
the Defiant about 2 weeks later. Flyte helped me through every step from
measuring to deciding on what components to go with. I am absolutely thrilled
with the fit and the feel of the bike. I have been riding about 13 years and
this is the first time that I can say I feel like my bike is a natural extension
of my body.

Took it out for the first longer road ride yesterday and got
a good taste of how it feels on the chip seal roads and broken pavement. I
cannot believe the difference from my old aluminum frame. I can truly say this
bike will keep me coming back for more and more. Overall I could not be happier
with both the shopping experience and the bike itself.

The guys at Flyte were great to deal with and probably got
really tired of all the questions but remained calm and walked me through it. I
will be spreading the good word for them (and no I am not a shill, just a very
happy customer).

Go-cart Construction

by Mitch Johnson

For some the thrill of go carting begins before the actual ride. Kids and adults enjoy building their own go-carts for the self-satisfaction. Building a go cart is essentially a simple task because of the simplicity of most go cart designs. For decades taking on a go cart construction project has been a typical father-son bonding activity. It is also a hobby that is just plain fun for anyone, any age. Go carts are the perfect do-it-yourselfer because they are a complex machine that runs like a car, but not too complex where ordinary people cannot comprehend the construction.

These days it is not difficult to find the information you need to get started on building go carts. The internet has innumerable resources for all types and designs of go carts. The hardest part for you is choosing the design you want our homemade go cart to resemble. Perhaps the most helpful piece of knowledge for making that decision is to know what your uses of the go cart will be. You will most likely be choosing between a street cart or an off-road set of wheels. Children looking to make a go cart with little or no adult help are fortunate enough to have easy access to blue prints and go cart kits, making the job easier. With a set of go cart plans to build off of you are made aware of all the necessary building materials and construction tools. Knowing these things prepares you to make a list and find all the equipment.

The beauty of building your own go cart is in the work and effort put into the construction and the pride that comes with the finished product. Little money is needed to build your own go cart, however, if you are in the market for a fancy, self-made set of cart wheels, there are more elaborate plans to follow. For kids building go carts with their parent or friends, or for adults who enjoy go cart construction as a hobby, most all building materials are scraps that can be picked up around the house or easily found other places.

An even easier way to build your own go cart is to buy a go cart building kit. Kits can be ordered online and they include every material you need to complete your own go cart, even the engine. Young kids are capable of completing a project themselves by following the guide included with go cart kits. The kits will be more expensive than using scrap materials, but you will probably have a sharper looking end product, although the quality or look of a go cart is not why all people build their own. Go cart kits are great for those who want to save time by not having to search for the building materials, but some people still prefer getting all done themselves, completely from scratch. The choice is yours.

About the Author
Mitch Johnson is a successful freelance author that writes regularly for http://www.atv-parts-n-accessories.com/ , a site that focuses exclusively on atv reviews, as well as tips on choosing parts and accessories. His articles have also been featured on recreational automotive sites such as http://www.go-cart-plans-n-kits.com/ and http://www.best-scooters-n-mopeds.com/

Choosing Your First RC Airplane

by: Andre McFayden

You've decided to buy a radio-controlled (rc) airplane, for yourself or a as a gift. There are an overwhelming number of these airplanes on the market, with a huge range of prices. What factors should you use in your purchase decision? Performance should really come first. At this stage, it's really all about the flying.

You will need something that is slow, and stable. Ease of assembly should also be high on your list. You'll need good, complete instructions. If you have the time, consider building from a kit, as a wooden kit plane can turn out very light (good for performance).

Crash resistance should not be your main consideration. Airplanes designed to withstand crashes tend to be much heavier than is good for decent fight performance. Because of this they end up doing a lot of crashing! Cost is usually on someone's mind when they get into any new hobby, and rc airplanes are no different. Just remember that you usually get what you pay for.

The cheapest system is generally not the best. Looks should be the last thing on your mind when you get your new rc airplane. You will not have a fun experience trying to fly a scale model as your first. You can scale the airplane down, but you can't scale down the forces of nature. Scale models will be too fast and unstable for a beginner.

For more information about choosing that perfect first radio controlled model, including specific recommendations, visit the RC Airplane Advisor.This article may be reprinted if proper credit is given and all links left intact. Copyright©2005

About the Author
Andre is a regular contributor to the RC Airplane Advisor: www.rc-airplane-advisor.com

How to get started flying RC airplanes

by Michael Cottier

For thousands of years man has dreamed of flight. Nothing has amazed people as much as flying machines have in the past century and there is still more to come. What is even more amazing though, is the progress in personal flight toys. You can fly everything from a miniature helicopter, to a one 20th scale Cessna, which you can build at home yourself.

The more amazing thing about today's RC airplanes is the fact that anyone can fly them, and some airplanes are very easy to fly. For example, I bought a $50 Hobby Zone airplane and the controller had two controls, one that could steer the plane left or right and then the second was throttle (speed) control. How can you get any simpler then that!

As easy as it can be, it still can be difficult for beginners to get started in this hobby. Since I now have the knowledge that every beginner should know, since I was a beginner once, I wanted to share it with other people so everyone can enjoy the RC airplane hobby.

The first thing a beginner needs to know is their power sources. RC airplanes can be powered either electrically or by an engine that runs on fuel called nitro methane. This is very important when deciding on purchasing your first radio controlled airplane. You need some knowledge of both power sources, as they both have their pros and con's. First I would like to state that for all beginners' I recommend an electric RC airplane over a gas RC airplane. Why? Because an electric airplane is cheaper, like under $100 cheap, and much easier to operate. In fact, all you have to do is plug in the battery and flick the ON switch. They are also much quieter and produce no fumes in the air. Plus not much maintenance is required besides keeping it in a cool, dry place.

A gas powered RC airplane has its advantages to of course. If you are a realist and what an authentic looking and sounding remote control airplane, then an airplane with a gas engine is what you want. An RC airplane with a gas engine is bigger and bulkier then an electric R/C airplane, so it is more to scale and realistic. It also sounds like a real airplane does, and is kind of like a real little miniature airplane since the engine requires fuel, tuning, and other adjustments. These types of airplanes cost a little more and take longer to assemble. Plus, they require much more maintenance and you have to continue to spend more money since you need special fuel, oil and some other small accessories.

Now that you pretty much know what type of airplane you want to purchase, let me help you get it running and teach you some tips and tricks that you will find handy out on the flying field.
If you have never flown a model airplane or a real airplane before, then you might have some trouble taking off, flying and landing. The first thing to remember is that you need a good open field to fly at, unless of course you have a slow flyer or park flyer, which can be flown in small areas like indoors or parks. A good local flying field can be located online by searching through a search engine, like Google, for a local club. Flying fields always have a club, and they are usually full of friendly people who are willing to help you learn.

Most of these clubs have flying instructors that will either help you for free, or charge you a little money. Either way you will have a guide that can teach you a lot. You also can be sure that if something goes wrong with your airplane, people will be there that have the knowledge to fix it.
Another way you can learn to fly is of course teaching yourself, but that can be costly if you crash a lot. If you are going to teach yourself, I suggest you start off with a cheap $50 electric RC airplane that has only left and right steering control and throttle control. These types of airplanes can take off from a flat surface or can be easily hand launched into the air by applying full throttle.

After you get started, there will be no stopping you and the rest will come naturally. There still is some other much needed accessories that I suggest no beginner go with out. Like a good RC airplane book, a field box, a car charger for an electric plane, and extra batteries for your transmitter. With all these tips in mind, start your flying experience right and keep the wind at your back.

About the Author
Michael Cottier has been flying RC airplanes most of his life and can help you get started in the hobby with his website, no matter what age the pilot is. Just check out his RC airplane website.

A Guide to Gas Powered RC Cars

by: Greg Root

If you're a fan of radio-controlled vehicles, but find standard RC to be lacking in power and running time, you might want to consider looking into gas powered RC cars. These cars, which run on a nitromethane-based fuel that is often referred to as "glow fuel" or "nitro", offer a level of realism and performance that you just won't find on battery powered cars. Gas powered RC cars are also often highly customizable, allowing hobbyists to utilize a variety of engines and design types... there are even different types of transmitters available depending upon how you would prefer your car to work. Below are some of the options available for gas powered RC cars, giving you an idea of the level of customization that you can achieve.

Engines

Obviously, one of the more important aspects of gas powered RC cars is the engine. A variety of different engine models are available for you to choose from, but in general most cars of this type will have what are commonly referred to as "glow" engines. A "glow" engine is a 2-cycle internal combustion engine, creating the power that gas powered RC cars are known for and adding a bit of realism to the car with the exhaust that is produced. Instead of the spark plugs that a full-size automotive engine would have, these engines use a "glow plug" that is heated by what is known as a "glow starter" This heat is then held by the plug and is used to fire the engine strokes for the remainder of the running time.

Fuel

As mentioned above, the "gas" used by gas powered RC cars isn't actually gasoline... it's a special fuel that is nitromethane-based and formulated for the cars' engines. Special lubricants are added to the fuel mixture to protect the engine from excessive heat and wear; the lubricants work in much the same way as gas-oil mixtures in some chainsaws and other small-engine equipment. Other fuel accessories may be needed to go with your car. A pump or special bottle may be used to get the fuel into the RC car's fuel tank, and filters in the fuel line may need to be replaced from time to time.
Radio The radio that you use to control your gas powered RC cars can be the same type that is used to control an electric model of RC car. A 2-channel radio system. It's important to keep in mind that just because the car's engine runs on a liquid fuel doesn't mean that you have no need of batteries. In addition to the battery that powers the radio controller, you might find yourself in need of batteries to supply power to the radio receiver in the car itself. Of course, with some receivers it may be possible to have the power supplied by the motor of the car itself. The type of receiver that you use and the power supply that it needs are one consideration to keep in mind when comparing different parts or different cars.

Sport vs. Competition

A variety of different options and body styles exist for gas powered RC cars. You can choose from trucks, sedans, buggies, popular car models, and even stock cars. Once you've decided upon the body style and layout that's right for you, however, you may find yourself facing one additional choice. Many of the car models available commercially come in two distinct types; a sport version, and a competition version. Sport cars tend to cost less, and offer basic options that are popular with beginners and casual hobbyists. For those who want to race their cars against other dedicated hobbyists, though, there are the competition cars which tend to have more power and higher speeds and offer advanced options such as oil shocks and ball bearings.

Competition models may not be a complete car, however, since they are designed to allow for more customization... many of these kits require you to get the engine that you want to go with it separately, as well as the car body in many cases (since the kit only provides the main chassis.)

Kits vs. RTR

If you've decided that you want to buy gas powered RC cars, you often have to make a choice between buying a kit, so that you can build the car yourself, or buying a ready-to-race car (also known as RTR) that is ready to be fueled and go right out of the box. RTR cars are good for beginners or casual hobbyists, but aren't highly customized. Kits, on the other hand, may require additional work but allow the builder to decide exactly how they want their car put together. Should you use a kit, it's important to remember that you'll need to make sure that you have the engine that you want, paint and basic tools on hand for assembly and decoration, and additional tools and parts depending upon the kit that you purchase. Regardless of the type of car that you buy, though, you're certain to find yourself amazed at the power and performance of these cars loved by hobbyists and racers around the world.

About the Author
Greg Root owns and maintains http://www.rccarssite.com. A website that provides basic tips on how to buy, build and race electric and gas powered RC cars.

RC auto racing for NASCAR wannabes

by: Ian Tham

Always dream of owning one of those high end sports cars but never could afford it? Never mind, there is always a way out. Have you thought of owning your own radio control car which is a replica of your favourite car?Here are some reasons why rc cars are so popular. The cost of owning a rc car is a fraction of the original thing.

You have the option of buying a ready to run model or you can get a kit where you assemble the different parts together. When you have built it, you feel a sense of pride and dignity and achievement. You can actually custom it so no one else has the same car as you. The advantage of kit assembly cars is that you can always repair and change the parts as you wish. This is a really fun hobby.

Just driving the rc car around sure attracts attention. This is a good way to meet and make new friends. I 'm sure your kids will be thrilled to play with rc cars too. You can develop a father child bond and relationship by playing the rc cars together. You can race the car without getting injured. For those who haven't learnt driving this is a good way to race cars. Driving rc cars improves your hand eye coordination.

You learn about physics, maths and laws of motions as you compete in car races. Building, tuning or upgrading and driving RC cars also builds up your knowledge of how a car works. It is advisable for beginners to start off with electric rc cars as they are cheaper to own and maintain. They are also simpler to maintain. As you learn more about rc cars you can upgrade to gas powered rc cars. They are faster and the run time can be limitless as the refuel time takes only a few seconds. They make car engine noise and emit exhaust fumes adding to the realism of actually driving a real car.

You can choose from off road or on road vehicles. Off road vehicles are versatile and let you drive them on practically any terrain. There is no need to hunt for a special ground to drive your RC car. If you are game for it, you can take part in informal or regional competition or you can take it to the next level and compete in international competition organised by the International Federation of Model Auto Racing.

About the Author
The writer is the webmaster of digiteevee.com which covers the use of technology in your daily life. Here is where you can find more radio control and remote control gadgets.