Top 5 RC planes under $100
A top 5 list of ready to fly RC planes that wont bust your wallet.
Remote controlled flight is, to many, an incredibly entertaining and satisfying hobby. The high cost of very fragile equipment that will certainly break (after a single crash in many cases) has kept young adults with limited toy budgets away for many years. The opposite end of the spectrum was cheap electric RC “Ready to Fly” planes available at department stores. Anyone hoping to actually fly with these devices however was imideatly discouraged by their crappy Nickle battery capable of no more then a 5 minute charge and 10 minute charging time, sloppy aerodynamics, lack of control and heavy weights.
Recently, advances in micro RC components have paved the way for a series of very small RC flying craft that compete with their large expensive cousins for less then $100.00 US. The casual hobbiest beware, these things will suck you right in.
The following list of 5 RC vehicles is based on performance of flight, length of flight, and of course, price.
5) The B2 Spirit Bomber by Interactive toy - $30.00 - $60.00 (depending on location, best to buy it online)
For a nickle battery plane, this one really performs. With flight times as long as 10 minutes, and an interchangeable battery, it almost makes up for the lack of Lithium battery. Without an adjustable throttle however (it’s either flying hard or gliding) it certainly does not out fly some of it’s competition in the field of cheap ready to fly planes.
4) Storm Launcher - $80.00 (+$25.00 for charger and LiPo battery)
The storm launcher is the most advanced (and most expensive) vehicle on our list but for good reason. It’s what RC nerds would tell you is a Hyrdo. A “toy” hyrdo, (meaning it wont cost you your first born) hasn’t been done until now that I’ve seen. It uses two large foam platforms to scoot across water and land, but has enough surface area to fly nearly as well as any RC plane on this list. It has an elevator with a rudder system so in a sense it’s more fragile than the others. Going off ramps and in and out of water before taking off and flying back to your hand is worth the risk if you have 80 bucks to spare (and the 25 for the battery and charger.)
3) Picco Z - $30.00
There’s actually several different indoor micro helicopters. Until the Picco Z’s release, the bladerunner was the foremost in this field. RC helicopters are notoriously hard to fly, but the up/down, left/right system makes it a breeze. Within hours, you can take off from one table and land on another. A must have for any RC enthusiast who’s seen the dread of a rainy day.
2) The AeroAce Jet - $29.99
Introduced shortly after the success of the AeroAce Bipe, the jet design of the AeroAce uses all the same components that made it’s famous counter-part what it is (see #1). It flies amazingly well, but unlike the bi-plane it has ducted fans half way through the wings. Sadly they nick the ground upon landing, slowly damaging the fans. It was designed to be faster then the bipe, but once the bottom wings are removed, the biplane can fly circles around the jet. Thus it comes in at number 2.
1) The AeroAce Bipe (In the US) or the X-Twin (Just about anywhere else) - $29.99
Number one is the Aero Ace bi-plane, sold in the US under Air Hogs. It was first sold in Europe as the X-Twin. It’s popularity is marked by a strong internet following. Countless forums, websites , and even YouTube videos are available for fans of this little device. Instructions on modifications are available by the bucketload, the most common and easiest is that ripping the bottom wings off will make the plane much faster at the sacrifice of stability. Citizens of the USA can buy this gem at almost any Wal*Mart, Target, or Toys R Us for just $29.99.
It uses Vector steering to eliminate tiny fragile rudder systems, so it’s not going to do barrel rolls and loops without a wind gust and bit of luck. But it flies like a dream. Very simple, but entirely satisfying It also has a Lithium Ion battery that will see up to 15 minute flight times on one charge.
It needs about 1/10 the space of larger RC planes. A front yard is fine once you’ve had a little experience.
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25 Comments
bizbong, posted this comment on Sep 12th, 2006
laishing corsair STRONG!!!111111!!!!!!
dave, posted this comment on Sep 12th, 2006
No it doesn’t! *cries*
dave, posted this comment on Sep 12th, 2006
*still crying*
Sulane, posted this comment on Sep 21st, 2006
Great article! Appreciate the photos and links. Professional job.
Kyle, posted this comment on Sep 26th, 2006
Too bad you can’t actually get the AeroAce Biplane anymore.
Johnny, posted this comment on Sep 26th, 2006
cool deal,
checked it out, nice youtube vid on your auction
-might be willing to shell out some bucks for this lil toy
netman, posted this comment on Sep 27th, 2006
I had to search high and low for the AeroAce biplane. 2 Targets, 3 Wal-Marts and 1 We-Be-Toys were out of them. Finally a second ToysRus had ‘em. I went to a third to get another for a friend (these things are way too much fun) but they were out. I asked an employee and she said they had tons in the back. Maybe holding ‘em for Christmas or something… Either way, you may need to ask a clerk for them if you don’t see any on the shelf.
SadHeli, posted this comment on Sep 27th, 2006
I have been intrigued by the PiccoZ heli and last weekend I located one (Radio Shack, $30). After the initial trim per the instructions, the heli simply didn’t have enough power to ascend. If you launched it from your hand, it would maintain level flight, but couldn’t climb. Ensuring it was fully charged didn’t change it, so it was returned.
I was disappointed, but it may have just been that unit. Vids I’ve seen show other helis performing much better.
JnyJny, posted this comment on Sep 27th, 2006
Dave, thanks for my new obsession. In the last two weeks I’ve purchased a Jet and Bi-Plane and flown the ever-living crap out of them! I think I ought to get a commission from Air Hogs. Every time I fly, I sell at least two people on them.
This has got to be the best money I’ve spent this year on entertaining gadgets!
JnyJny, posted this comment on Sep 27th, 2006
And of course I mean “Allen” when I said “Dave”. Doh.
Parmy Charm, posted this comment on Sep 27th, 2006
What’s the point of having this be two-page article?
Cyberdactyl, posted this comment on Sep 27th, 2006
I’ve had the PiccoZ for about a week now. I’m on roughly the 30th charge and I’m finally decent at flying it. Mine is awesome, climbs very well and a charge lasts about 8 minutes with a 15 minute charge. I’ve crashed it dozens of times and it’s still doing great. While it doesn’t have any cyclic, you CAN control direction by adding the little aluminum stickies to the front to give it a slight forward CG. I love it!
Joe, posted this comment on Sep 27th, 2006
I bought two at a local ToysRus yesterday, and I’m buying two more tonight at K-Mart.
Both these stores just received shipment, so the AeroAce Bipe is still being made and distributed.
I plan on selling a few on eBay.
Jessman, posted this comment on Sep 29th, 2006
We found 8 Aero Ace Biplanes at Toys R Us still in the shipping box on 08/22/06. I deduct from this that they are still being shipped.
We also bought 2 PiccoZ helos from radio shack.
Both stores were in Kalamazoo Michigan.
Andy, posted this comment on Sep 30th, 2006
Got a PiccoZ a few days ago, still trying to get it fly foward under more control. Great cheap fun!
Gil, posted this comment on Dec 5th, 2006
Anyone come up with a practical way to limit porposing of the AeroAce Jet ?
Would be great to go “petal-to-the-metal, as it revs better than the bi-winger.
Darrell McCormick, posted this comment on Dec 11th, 2006
Hey, I have had the aero ace bipe, and have had it up about 300-400 feet. I even manage to get it do a roll and loopA! however I accidently spilled super glue on the on/off switch,then broke the switch trying to move it.Anyone willing to buy me one?lol
ps.. if you know anyone up here, posted this comment on Jan 2nd, 2007
shelves are full of them in all stores in canada.. ( its supposed to be snowy up here.. but its not)
dr. phil, posted this comment on Apr 2nd, 2007
and how does that make you feel? look deep into your heart and find it.
cretin, posted this comment on Sep 14th, 2007
I just bought a skyhog jet because i thought it wouldn’t break as easy as I have no flight experience–and was right! got it out of about 10 trees before learning that lesson WITHOUT BREAKAGE! the most fun I’ve had for $30 in years.this is big fun!
Ponchoman, posted this comment on Oct 26th, 2007
laishing is probably the best compared to these but its not good compared to Parkzone fighter planes which cost 70 dollars more. I have a Laishing Zero plane and its range is only 80 feet plus it has a flight time of 2 minutes at most. Its crap!! I recommend saving your money for a more expensive quality plane and do some research while ur at it!!!!
sam, posted this comment on Jan 6th, 2008
I got the stormlauncher for christmas from my mom. It\’s great. except the batt. life and durability.
flyboy101, posted this comment on Feb 7th, 2008
u need to get some water planes up there
poopboy, posted this comment on May 28th, 2008
Get a hobbyzone commander 2 for 85$ rudder and a 380 motor
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dave, posted this comment on Sep 7th, 2006
the laishing corsair is 89.99 and it beats all of those!