Learning to fly is a big step for any kid, and they can easily get downhearted when presented with an overly complicated remote control plane that comes with more buttons and levers than you’d find in a real cockpit. Luckily, there are some excellent planes out there for beginners to help them take to the skies without too much fuss.
These planes don’t take a lot of setting up and they’re sturdy enough to survive the inevitable plummet to the ground, but still deliver all the thrills a junior pilot could want. We’re confident you’ll find the perfect beginner craft here as we’ve done our research based on real recommendations and grounded any planes with fake or stolen reviews because air safety is serious business. We regularly update our guides with the latest customer sentiment analysis so you can be confident that you will find the right beginner RC plane for your kid.
If outdoors sounds a bit much, we also have a guide on the very best indoor RC helicopters and even hand-controlled drones that you might enjoy.
The Top 3 Beginner RC Planes In 2022:
| LEAMBE P-51D Mustang | LEAMBE F4U Corsair | EagleStone A200 | |
 |  |  | |
| ✅ BEST AGE | 14 years and above | 14 years and above | 8 years and above |
| ❤️ PROS | You can change the modes as your skills advance to have even more fun | Easy one-key operation and aerobatics make it ideal for beginners. | It comes ready to fly with everything assembled at the factory |
| 💔 CONS | You can only fly it for 12 minutes on a single charge, which is relatively low | The landing gear positions are unbalanced and this may cause a crash once in a while | You do not have the many controls you may need such as U-turn and speed |
| 💵 PRICE | $59.99 | $40.62 | $40.62 |
1. POWERUP 4.0 – Modern Paper Airplane Kit
| Recommended age: 14 years and up |
What I love about this remote control plane is that it provides a ton more STEM value than your ,standard airplane kit. From a 30 minute charge you can get 10 minutes of flightime and control can all be done by a smartphone. Like with a traditional paper air plane you can be super creative with new designs with the option for extras via additional kits.
It can reach speeds of 20mph and has a working range of 230ft and it works with paper, foam and balsa wood models so way more chance that this kit will still be used well into your kid’s teenage years.
Notable Features
• Carbon Fibre material
• USB micro charging
• Loops, Barrel Rolls, & Hammerheads are achieved with the special Acro Mode!
• 10 minutes flight time with a single charge
• Can use multiple materials for the plane
• Recommended for 14 years and older
What We Love:
❤️ So many possible designs you can make so far more learning opportunities
❤️ Can use paper, foam, and even balsa wood
❤️ The controls via the app are super simple
❤️ You can operate the plane even when it is 230 feet away
What We Don’t Love:
💔 It’s easy to break the propellers so make sure you only fly in good weather
💔 Not as easy as the traditional kits to fly for beginners RC airplanes
2. LEAMBE P-51D Mustang
| Recommended age: 14 years and up |
This RC plane features three modes: beginner, intermediate, and experienced modes. You can, therefore, use it to learn how to fly as fast or as slow as you want. It features elastomer foam construction that makes it light so that you can fly it for long distances. Even better, the plane sports advanced propeller saver technology that protects the propeller from damage. It is easy for users to fix back the propeller and continue with their flight after the unit falls apart.
LEAMBE RC Plane features a 360 ma rechargeable battery that can fly for up to 12 minutes on a single charge. You can control it over a distance of 300 feet. This is a large plane with a fuselage length of 14 inches and a wingspan of 15 inches. The advanced Xpilot gyro stabilizer in this plane keeps it stable regardless of the speed the plane flies at.
Notable Features
• 4-Channel RC plane
• Xpilot gyro stabilizer
• One-key U-turn and aerobatics
• 12 minutes flight time with a single charge
• 15 inches wing span
• Elastomer foam construction
• Recommended for 14 years and older
What We Love:
❤️ You can change the modes as your skills advance to have even more fun
❤️ The plane is made of durable elastomer foam with a propeller protection feature to last long
❤️ The controls on the remote are easy to use for all use levels
❤️ You can operate the plane even when it is 300 feet away
What We Don’t Love:
💔 Thanks to its lightweight construction, the plane cannot withstand strong winds
💔 You can only fly it for 12 minutes on a single charge, which is relatively low
3. LEAMBE F4U Corsair
| Recommended age: 14 years and up |
LEAMBE F4U Corsair is so easy to fly – press the switch and then use the stick to control the aerobatics of the plane. Once charged, the plane can be airborne for up to 15 minutes before you can recharge it again – this is a distance of up to 656 feet. This is a small size plane that is 14 inches in length with a wingspan of 15 inches. It has three propellers that give a satisfying thrust when you fly it at top speed.
To make it fly stably, LEAMBE integrates Xpilot Stabilization System that keeps it on the air for long. The use of lightweight EPP foam material ensures that the plane is easy to carry, and it also flies with ease. Even better, the material withstands crashes to last long. It comes pre-assembled and ready to fly – just attach the wheels and switch them on to get it on the move.
Notable Features
• 4-Channel control
• Xpilot Stabilization System
• 14 inches long and 15 inches wingspan
• Recommended for 14 years and older
• One-key U-turn and aerobatics
• Three-level flight control system
What We Love:
❤️ The plane comes with a reliable flight assistant system so that you can enjoy every flight
❤️ Easy one-key operation and aerobatics make it ideal for beginners
❤️ The plane features a propeller drop protector to keep it running without damage
❤️ Adjust the operation modes based on your skill level so that you never have to buy an advanced plane when your skills improve
What We Don’t Love:
💔 The landing gear positions are unbalanced and this may cause a crash once in a while
4. VOLANTEXRC RC Ranger600
| Recommended age: 14 years and up |
The Ranger600 brings all the advanced features you need to enjoy a great flight. First off, you get the Xpilot Stabilization System that makes your plane easy to control. The motor system gives you the speed you need on open grounds while making this RC plane easier to control. You can adjust the flight control levels from beginner to intermediate and experienced.
You can control the plane for up to 656 feet with the 2.4Ghz radio frequency control remote. It offers a strong anti-interference ability so that you can see off the plane over a long distance. One of the strengths of this model is that you can fly it for up to 30 minutes before the need to recharge. Its glider design allows it to fly for short periods without power support, which is why it flies for a long period.
Notable Features
• XPILOT stabilization system
• EPP foam construction
• 3-channel operation
• 400 mAh Lipo rechargeable battery
• 23.6 inches long and 18.1 inches wingspan
• Recommended for 14 years and older
• One-key U-turn
What We Love:
❤️ The flight time of up to 30 minutes is relatively impressive as others fly for as few as 12 minutes
❤️ The stabilization system is effective even at very high speeds
❤️ You will have easy controls for all operation levels
❤️ The plane comes fully assembled and ready to fly
What We Don’t Love:
💔 The motor starts to make a little noise after a few flights
5. E-flite UMX Turbo Timber BNF Basic RC Airplane
| Recommended age: 15 years and up |
The E-flite UMX Turbo Timber is a smaller version of the popular UMX Timber 1.5m. This model was engineered to be lightweight and more powerful with a 3400Kv motor and three-blade propellers to give it a thrust. It has enough thrust to hover and climb vertically and is capable of short take-off and landing. Features, such as drooped wingtips and a high-power brushless motor allow the airplane to spring into the air and then float down within a short distance.
The advanced permanent landing gear offer fairings that secure the oversized wheels to make an excellent landing. At night, you can switch on the realistic LED lights for easy landing and navigation, and it also has strobe lights. The plane comes fully assembled with 6+ channels and a powerful Spektrum 2.4GHz control tech for easy control.
Notable Features
• 6+ channel control
• 26 inches in length and 26 inches wingspan
• 10 minutes flight time
• Recommended for 15 years and older
• 3400kV motor system
• LED navigation, landing, and strobe lights
• 280 mAh LiPo rechargeable batteries
What We Love:
❤️ The plane is fast, and you can use it for advanced levels as well as beginner levels
❤️ You have 6+ channel control, allowing you to control different aspects of the flight
❤️ The motor system is powerful, giving you the thrust you need regardless of the direction the plane is flying
❤️ You will have LED lights to use at night for landing and navigation
What We Don’t Love:
💔 Flight time is only about 10 minutes with a single charge, so you might need more battery sets
6. VOLANTEXRC Aileron Sport Cub 500 Parkflyer RC Airplane
| Recommended age: 14 years and up |
This is another RC plane for beginners. It sports the advanced Xpilot Gyro Stabilize system that keeps the plane stable in the air. Under its hood is a powerful motor system that gives you the thrust you need with easy control for aerobatic flying. The model offers three-level flight control assists for beginners, intermediate, and experts. The detailed manual allows you to learn to fly one step at a time.
Each unit comes with a 2.4GHz radio control that gives you access to the plane when it is 656 feet away. With a single charge, you can fly this plane for up to 20 minutes, which is relatively impressive. Everything comes fully assembled and ready to roll so that the plane can get airborne within a minute of unboxing it.
Notable Features
• 20.47 inches long and 20.47 inches wingspan
• 2 rechargeable Lithium Metal batteries
• 4 channel control
• EPP foam construction
• Xpilot Stabilization System
• One-key U-turn and One-Key aerobatics
• 20 minutes flight time
• Recommended for 14 years and older
What We Love:
❤️ You have more control of the plane in any of the three modes of operation
❤️ The plane flies for up to 20 minutes with a single charge, which is relatively impressive
❤️ The parts feature high-quality EPP foam material that makes the plane durable
❤️ Kids, as well as adults, can fly the plane
What We Don’t Love:
💔 The landing gear is weak and might break after a single-use, land the plane by hand
7. EagleStone A200
| Recommended age: 8 years and up |
If you are looking for an absolute beginner RC plane, this model will meet your needs. It sports a sleek fighter-jet design that makes it look great and allows it to fly for longer, thanks to better aerodynamics. Each package includes three sets of batteries, each allowing you to fly for up to 15 minutes – so you have up to 45 minutes of flight time. It is a 2-channel flight that allows you to move it right, left, up, and down – exactly what an absolute beginner is looking for. Its radio control works over a distance of 492 feet, allowing you a great flight experience. Even better, the plane sports a built-in self-stabilization system, so you can fly it for long distances in a stable manner. Although it features durable EPP foam construction, the model still comes with four spare propellers.
Notable Features
• 15 minutes fight time with a single charge
• 350mAh rechargeable LiPo battery
• 2-channel control
• 15.98 inches long and 11.93 inches wingspan
• Recommended for 8 years and older
• EPP foam construction
What We Love:
❤️ This is the simplest RC plane to fly with kids as young as 8 being able to fly it
❤️ It comes with three sets of batteries to keep you on the air for up to 45 minutes
❤️ You also get spare propellers to enhance the durability of the RC plane
❤️ It comes ready to fly with everything assembled at the factory
What We Don’t Love:
💔 You do not have the many controls you may need such as U-turn and speed
Note – we updated this list in July 2022 based on certain planes being unavailable and we wanted to include some newer models.
Frequently Asked Questions About Beginner Remote Control Planes
🙋Picking the Right RC Airplane Based on Number of Channels
RC planes feature a radio channel for every control they allow. A beginner RC plane will likely have three channels with the most basic having two channels. Those with advanced flying skills can go for planes with up to 15 channels. Stick to four channels or fewer to make your training easier.
• Two-channel planes are the easiest to control. These planes allow you to control up and down pitch and the right and left movements. They mostly fly at a single speed. You can go for these planes when shopping for young flyers or complete beginners.
• Three-channel planes are ideal for complete beginners, but even intermediate flyers will enjoy flying them. These planes allow you to control the rudder for left and right steering, pitching to move up and down, and the throttle that controls how fast they fly.
• Four-channel RC planes are for beginners who feel confident in themselves. They offer all the controls that a three-channel RC plane offers, but they also allow the plane to bank left or right.
As your flying skills advance, you can go for more channels for more controls.
🙋What to look for when choosing the right RC plane for the first time
• Speed – RC planes fly between 20 mph and 110 mph. For beginners, you need to pick slower planes or planes that allow you to control the speed. As your skills improve, you can adjust the speed as you like.
• Age Recommendation – Flying an RC plane, especially one with three or more controls requires coordination and common sense. Check the age guidelines on the RC plane you plan to buy to ensure you have the best product for your kid.
• Power Source – Most RC planes feature rechargeable batteries in them and AA batteries in the controller. However, a few models may have the standard AA batteries in place of the rechargeable batteries. Check the kind of batteries that an RC plane uses and how affordable these batteries are.
• Availability of Storage – The standard RC plane requires about one square foot. Large RC planes can take up to three by four feet of space. Do you have the space for these large planes?
• Durability – There are different types of foam used to make RC planes. However, when accessing the durability of a plane, consider the landing gear. Some planes feature single-use landing gear that may crash after the first use, while others feature permanent landing gear that withstands multiple uses.
