I have owned only one rc airplane which was a foam park flyer cessna which crashed and I never put back together. I am looking to get back into flying rc airplanes and was wondering if I should get a balsa trainer or another foam airplane. Also what are the advantages and disadvantages between them.

This is really a matter of opinion. How serious do you plan to get? Do you want to stick to small, electric planes that you can fly in a park or move up to larger planes where you will need to join a club?

If parkfliers are all you're looking for, I would stick to foam - at least until you have learned the basic skills. A slow flying foam plane is less likely to get damaged and repairs are usually easier

Small Electric Aircraft are best suited for Foam in thier design. If you want to fly any fuel or gas Aircraft, In my opinion I would stick with balsa Wood construction. It is much more sturdy for larger engines. Foam wings on fuel aircraft , have a Balsa wood exterior, which sheets the entire wing for added rigidity and strength. You , in just learning the basics would be fine with either, foam or Balsa Constuction for a Trainer.

Thank you

p.s. no matter which way you go, as a beginner, stick with the big guys, like Horizon, for a first plane, especially with ARF or RTF. For the most part you will get adequate electronics, and the plane will fly and last more then one or two flights. And they will have excellent customer service if something happens.

If you go with the other places you are getting something that looks good in the photos, and has an amazing description of it's flying in the ad. And when you actually get it you'll find it won't fly, won't fly right, or the electronics fizzle out shortly. And their customer service, if you can ever reach anyone is going to be little if any help to you.


If you want a small bird that you can fly in a small park or even out in your yard, take a look at Horizon's HobbyZone Champ. It's RTF and it has a huge following of folks who can't find anything bad to say about it. I got one a couple of weeks ago, and I'm having so much fun with it I haven't flown any of my other birds since. That's a lot to say for someone with nearly 2 dozen birds, foam/balsa/fiberglass, and from park flyers to 1/4 scale in the hangar right now.