Please Note:  As always, for safety and fun sake Hobby Works recommends that all new pilots train with an experienced pilot at one of the many excellent club fields in this area.  When flying one of the larger gas or electric planes, joining a club training program and flying at their designated field is an absolute requirement!  See your store for details on a club field near you.

Since these planes include just about everything you need to fly, they make absolutely excellent gift selections!  For more information about each airplane, just click on the link and learn more about it.

Above Left:  The Firebird II            Above Right:  It's bigger brother - The Firebird XL

We'll start with two of the simplest and inexpensive R/C planes available anywhere:  the Hobby Zone Firebird II and Firebird XL.  The Firebird II is the improved version of the original Firebird that revolutionized entry-level R/C flying forever.  Its big brother -- the Firebird XL -- adds landing gear (for exciting take-offs, landings, and touch-and-goes), and can handle a bit more wind.  Anyone can fly either of these planes without assistance, as long as they take the time to watch the included instructional video!

Next, we have two more planes from Hobby Zone intended for pilots with a bit more experience:  the Fighterbird and the Aerobird.  While not intended for absolute beginners, anyone who has mastered either Firebird will easily transition to these higher-performance aircraft.  

The Fighterbird comes with a unique and innovative sonic combat module.  When the pilot pulls all the way back on the throttle stick, a sonic pulse (with a range of 50 feet) is generated.  If it hits the receiver on the back of the "enemy" aircraft, that aircraft's motor will stop for 10 seconds, allowing an instantly verifiable "kill" to be registered, and yet, since rudder control is maintained, a crash can usually be avoided.  Big time fun, eh?

Above:  The Fighterbird

The Aerobird, on the other hand, is -- as its name implies -- an aerobatics trainer that serves as an excellent bridge between Firebirds and more sophisiticated, complicated and faster aircraft.  Its third channel gives you elevator control, allowing such maneuvers as loops, spins, stall turns, and graceful take-offs, landings and touch-and-goes.

Left:  The Sky Surfer      Above Right:  The Aerobird

One more selection from Hobby Zone:  The Sky Surfer paraglider, perhaps one of the easiest to fly, most graceful visions in the sky.

Is your intended gift recipient interested in gliders?  We have the perfect choice:  the Hangar 9 Aspire EP RTF, which is a ready-to-fly electric-powered glider that includes not only the transmitter, receiver, esc and servos, but the required flight battery pack and charger to boot!  

Above Right:  The Aspire is available as a glider OR with an electric motor!

For you nitro fans, we have the Hangar 9 Alpha Trainer, with it's revolutionary Evolution Trainer Power System, an engine that is already broken-in and pre-tuned at the factory so you know it will start easily and instantly.  In addition, it has a flywheel that keeps it running at idle under all flight conditions, so it will never let you (or your airplane) down.

Above Left:  The awesome NEW Alpha Trainer!     Above Right:  The best selling Superstar 40 Trainer

Perhaps you would like to start out with the world's best-selling radio controlled aircraft trainer, the Hobbico SuperStar Select.  This airplane takes only about 1/2 hour to assemble, and includes an OS .40 LA engine and Futaba 4VF radio already installed.  The only reason you can't buy it today and fly it today is that it takes 12-14 hours to charge the batteries!

Remember, all of the above make outstanding gifts that will be treasured forever by their grateful recipients.  Just click on the links, make your selection, and have a happy, healthy season.