Mechanical Model AIrplanes

Mechanical model airplanes and helicopters are less popular than their RC and static brothers and that's a great reason to look deeper at them. You know, what's less popular is usually more worlthwile ;)

The simmplest mechanical aircraft models don't have any gears - they have just good aerodynamic shape which lets them keep flying for some time when they are thrown with a hand. Such models are often called "free flight model airplanes". They are simple, cheap and you can make such ones yourself.

I'm however more interested in the ones that use some gears. For example the rubber band powered model airplanes and helicopters - they can fly longer, don't need to be thrown away and observing their work is really educative. Rubber band model aircraft is also appropriate for making yourself - you need some basic skills and tools, balsa wood or plastic and of course high quality rubber band.

But the mechanical wonders in model aviation don't end here. There are airplanes and helicopters that are powered by complex cam and crank mechanisms, winded up with keys or powered by springs. It's not easy to find such ones, not to talk about building yourself. However I have found some sites about mechanical retro toys which explain in detail the principles behind this type of mechanisms.

I'll be very interested to see pictures of model airplanes with gears. If you hve such, please post them here in the comments area.

What is your favorite type of model aircraft? Do you like the mechanical ones or do you prefer the modern electric RC toys? If so, why? Do you prefer to collect or make? Do you prefer helicopters, airplanes or rockets? Let me know, this is a topic which deserves to be discussed. There are so many kinds of model aircraft, one can easily get lost in them.

Types of model helicopters

I'm sure if you love the model airplanes you will also love the model helicopters. The helicopters are wonderful machines that have a lot of advantages over the airplanes - most important they can lift and land on much smaller area.

Same is valid for the flying model helicopters - it's much easier to fly such one in a small area or even indoor, than it is to fly an airplane.

Let's see what are the main types of model helicopters that you can have.

Static model helicopters:
These can't fly - just like the static model airplanes. They however contain many details, can follow and exact scale and can be quite hard to build yourself. Most static model helicopters are made of plastic or balsa wood.

Mechanical model helicopters. There are some flying model helis which can fly based on gravity forces (when thrown with a hand), or other mechanical forces - for example powered by rubber band. Such aircraft can't fly for too long, but they are simple and kids love to play with them.

Electric RC helicopters. This is probably the most popular type. They are powered by very light rechargable batteries and can fly for several minutes. The remote control is relatively easy to use after some practice. Some electric RC helis are so little and precise that you can land one on the table next to your coffee cup. These are usually made of plastic.

Gas RC helicopters. The gas powered aircraft is for real enthusiasts. They are usually more expensive, harder to use, require more maintenance and are less easy to fly. But the experience flying such a model aircraft is really awesome and much closer to flying a real helicopter.

I'd recommend you try all of the types - they are not very expensive and playing with them or collecting them is really anjoyable.