The Radio Controlled Airplanes come in different sizes and shapes. Some are trainer aircrafts, some are called Sport Planes, some are called pattern planes, some are scale planes etc. Each plane is powered by a different size of Engine depending on the size and design of the plane. There are even model jets with real turbine engines in them, War birds and much much more. The material used to manufacture these planes has also a wide variety. Mostly a special wood called Balsa Wood is used, but other materials like foam, fiberglass, carbon fiber and other hi-tech materials are also used.

The model airplanes can fly almost upto a kilometer of range. Normally this is as far as the human eye can see things properly. So as long as you can see your plane and you don't let it out of your site, you are safe. Depending on the size of the tank, you can stay in the air for about 10 to 20 minutes. Normally 10 minutes is the average.

Listed below is some more detail about the major types of aircrafts.

    Trainer
 

Any one joining this hobby, normally starts with a trainer to get trained. The trainer model planes have very stable flying characteristics and are capable of very slow flights and gentle landing characteristics so that the student pilot gets more time to correct mistakes. They are normally high winged planes. This means that the wing is seated on top of the fuselage. They can also do some mild aerobatics like loops and slow rolls.

    Sport /Pattern
 

These types of planes are designed for speed and aerobatics. These are normally low winged planes. That means that the wings are underneath the fuselage. These are very agile and speedy, and can perform almost most of the maneuvers out there with ease. There are also some low wing planes with very gentle characteristics and are called low wing trainers. Once a beginner masters the trainer and wants to get into aerobatics, these low wing trainers are ideal.

    Scale aircrafts
 

These type of aircrafts are exactly similar in shape and characteristics to one of the original airplanes. They range from 1/12 scale to 1/3 scale. The fly the same way as the originals except they are smaller and operate with a radio control. Depending on the type of aircraft, they can be trainers of sport type aircrafts.