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.