Remote Control Model Airplanes are cool! If you have ever dreamt of flying but were not able to actually become a pilot, this is the next best thing. There are so many different planes available to choose from, that it's beyond comprehension. Before you jump into it, though, let's think about it.

First, this hobby isn't the most inexpensive of them out there. If you're looking for cheap, I might suggest rock collecting or something similar. If you're just getting started, be prepared to invest a good pile of coin up front - that is if you want to jump into it right away (see more about this below). You'll need the plane, of course, but you'll also need a place for all the accessories that go with the plane like fuel, propellers, fuel pump, etc. For this, I'd suggest a field/flight box. Hobbico's field box is a good one and should last a long time if you put it together as instructed. If you look at the picture of the field box you'll see a number of other gadgets stored in it. These gadgets come with the combo kits that Hobbico sells. These gadgets include a starter, a rechargeable battery, power panel, battery charger, fueler, fuel tubing, and various other necessities. This kit will get you started off on the right foot.

Second, since you're just getting started, you probably want to look at getting a trainer plane. As mentioned above, there are a lot of different planes out there. Some come fully assembled and ready to go while others come in a kit that requires a good bit of assembly and time investment. There are kits that claim to be ARF (Almost Ready to Fly). While some kits are actually ARF kits, others claim they are but are far from it. Your local hobby shop dealer can help you choose the right plane for you. If you like to build things and you have the patience for it, getting a kit that requires assembly can actually be pretty rewarding.

Third, you may need to purchase the transmitter/receiver kit. Many plane kits don't come with the transmitter, receiver, and servos that control the plane. Therefore, you need to purchase this separately. There are a number of companies out there that manufacture these kits. Futaba is one such company that manufactures these kits. Again, your local dealer can help you choose the best one for the plane you are buying/building.

And then there are the tools. Oh man, there are the tools. If you like tools, this is a great hobby to be in. If you don't like tools, go back to rock collecting. In addition to the tools, there are supplies that you'll need to have available. Some plane kits contain everything you need and are engineered so you don't have to make any modifications. Other kits are not so well engineered and require some improvisation on your part.

So what are some ways of cutting costs? I'm no expert in this area, but I've learned a few things along the way that may help keep things within budget while still providing fun. There are ready-to-fly kits that contain EVERYTHING you need to get started. This will allow you to skip the field box and most of the tools that you would need. Most hobby stores that sell plane kits will have at least a couple of these out-of-the-box planes.

Another way to save some money initially is to purchase a flight simulator like the Great Plains RealFlight G3 Simulator with Interlink Plus Controller. This software is really cool and gives you a chance to learn how to fly a plane before ever buying one. While it's not a true experience, it's really close, and for $200, it provides hours upon hours of fun and training. Great Plains has released two add-on libraries that include additional plane models and fields to fly out of. Another benefit of this option is that it give you the chance to see if you'll like the hobby. Better to spend $200 and find out you don't like it versus spending $800 and a bunch of hours assembling a plane only to drop the hobby like a heavy rock.

Trainer planes are usually less expensive that planes made for experienced pilots. A trainer plane such as the Sky Raider Mach I is a fairly inexpensive plane. However, the instructions for this particular plane are pretty horrible. Other similar kits out there have better instructions.

Finally, since it'll be a while before you are soloing on your own, you can always buy your equipment in phases. Start with the field box and put it together. You may want to stain it and/or apply some polyurathane to protect it. Then start stocking up on tools and supplies. Maybe purchase the software to get some training in. And then buy the kit and assemble it. You don't have to get everything at once.

I've included some help for those folks that are new to this hobby. See the links on the navigation pane to the left. I hope you truly enjoy this hobby. Take your time and have fun with it. And remember, "there are no failures, only feedback". If you make a mistake, learn from it and move on.