Are you a aircraft owning millionaire ? If so, congratulations, but this article is probably not for you.

We, mere mortals, get our kicks from flying radio controlled aeroplanes and in particular scale models.

My own passion and that of many others is for models of fighter aircraft of the last one hundred years or so. We associate these with the great aviators that flew them, from world war one aces like Manfred Von Richofen, the top allied pilot of world war two Marmaduke Pattle (yes that really was his name) to the extraordinary German Erich Hartman who destroyed no less than three hundred and fifty two of his foes.

Many modellers build static models going to huge lengths to get every detail right. Using acrylic and enamel paints applied with brushes or airbrushes they replicate even oil marks, exhaust stains and chips on wings and propellers. They are sometimes finished in matt gloss to protect all the artwork then dulled down, by various means, to look more realistic.

I am a great admirer of this type of modelling and have spent many hours inspecting their work in museums and special exhibitions, however one thing is always in the back of my mind - they do not fly.

They were meant to fly, whether they are models or the real thing. A scale model aircraft needs to be up there twisting and turning under the direction of it's owner. They should look as much like the real thing as possible not only on the ground but should fly just like it too !

Radio controlled airplanes can be made so accurately that when they take to the air they will have the same flying characteristics as the real thing. I have even seen a WW1 model, with wire wing braces that were so accurate, that the wind made the same noise blowing through them as the full size version.

By launching your baby into the elements a crash landing, no matter how good an RC flyer you are, is always possible. The display model has only a bit of over enthusiastic dusting or perhaps the cat to worry about but they will never experience the thrill of flying.

Electric RC planes have brought a whole new dimension to our favorite hobby. By using the latest brushless motors and lightweight, yet powerful, batteries we can enjoy RC planes that can be propeller or jet driven. Does this mean they are slow flyers ? Far from it, there are prop driven scale models doing 30 to 40 m.p.h. and jets achieving speeds of 90 m.p.h. or more!

No fuel to spill and ruin the planes paintwork or catch fire. Less noise to upset the neighbors and yet a full 10 to 15 minutes in the air on a single charge. Scale electric radio controlled aircraft, are huge fun and can do anything their liquid fuel cousins can but with less fuss.

O.K. so perhaps we will never take the controls of a Fokker Triplane or a Spitfire but we can fly our own radio controlled electric powered scale model fighter and watch it flash past us doing a victory barrel roll.

Author: Robert Oak is a radio controlled aeroplanes fanatic. He suggests that you watch the amazing videos of beginners planes, WW2 scale models and even 90 mph ducted fan jet powered radio controlled airplanes.