Trainers
Trainers are exactly what the name suggests... training aircraft. These typically have a large wingspan as well as a high wing (meaning that the wing is on top of the body of the aircraft body). All this combines to create an aircraft that is very stable at slow speeds, which gives new pilots plenty of time to get themselves out of trouble!
Scale/Warbirds
The Scale Model is the ultimate of both craftsmanship and flying skills combined. They are what the name suggests, which makes them identical to real aircraft except for their size. Outlines, paint schemes, decals, markings, and other special features of the real aircraft must be on the scale model. Pilots are able to fly their scale model just as the real aircraft would fly and perform manoeuvres that the real aircraft would be able to do. A lot of scale models are of from the WW1 & WW2 era. Some of these scale models today have wingspans of around 3-4 meters and are called Mammoth Scale. Scale models are not the easiest to fly without experience and are not forgiving when something goes wrong.
Sports & aerobatic
You have probably seen all those pilots carving up the sky with fast aerobatic models, so once you have learnt to fly on a trainer you will be keen to progress to something fast and aerobatic so you too can become one of those pilots, and most sports models are suitable for this category. The Sports or Funfly type model is the most common model to be seen on the flying fields and they are usually 4 channel control (ailerons, rudder, elevator, throttle), fast and fully aerobatic, with a symmetrical wing shape.
Turbine & Electric Ducted Fan jets
Increasing in popularity are model jet aircraft.
Jets can be powered by a ducted fan unit (which is basically a motor running an impeller instead of a propeller) or a small turbine jet engine which runs on propane gas, with rules and regulations that control the use of this type of jet engine. Ideally jet models prefer a concrete, tar or well-prepared grass runway and are not suited to paddocks where there is livestock roaming around. EDF jets are becoming very popular and some are quite big in size. There are no turbine jets in our club as our field is too small to accommodate, however some of our members do occasionally fly EDFs.
Gliders
These may be flown in either thermals or off a windy slope.
The Thermal Glider is normally very light and may have a large wingspan and is winched, towed, bungee launched or motored with either fuel or electric motor, into the sky and then stays up by finding thermal air currents. The Slope Soaring Glider is usually smaller, heavier and faster than a Thermal Glider. Some gliders can be used for both types of gliding for the average person. The Slope Soarer is just hand launched of a hill into the wind. The catch here is that you need wind coming up the hill to create the lift needed to fly. These days electric gliders are more common because you can use them when there is no wind and if you get into trouble, you can motor out of it. There may be issues with height limits if gliders get too high.
Helicopters
In the world of R/C, the model Helicopter has a firm footing in the sport. They are always the center of attention and can be Scale Models or Sports Models that are fully aerobatic. Helicopters are best flown in their own area, away from fast sports models. Currently we have only have a small number of helicopter flyers in our club.