Austin Area RC - Brief history into RC

Back to Main Page A Brief History Into R/C

Wednesday, August 1st, 2001

A brief history into R/C
Hobbyists have been building model cars and planes since right after the turn of the 20th century. They longed to be able to operate their models by some form of remote control. One logical answer was to find a way to use radio waves to control models. This would involve sending radio signals from a hand-held transmitter to a receiver built into the model. The signal could then be converted into mechanical movement by having the receiver send signals to small electromechanical devices called servos, also installed in the model. Gears inside the servos would be activated and would move pushrods connected to the axles or engine of a car; the wings, tail or engine of a plane, or the rudder or engine of a boat. As a result, the modeler could control his or her craft from a distance and adjust its speed, turns or height.
During the late 1930's and early 1940's several different groups of creative and courageous hobbyists finally managed to make their wish come true. The creators of radio-controlled aircraft were two brothers Walter and William Good. Walter prized in building model planes and William was a ham radio operator. In 1936 the two brothers combined their interests and constructed a model plane with a wingspan of nearly eight feet and powered it across the sky by use of a radio transmitter and receiver.
The first R/C planes were heavy, hard to control and very expensive to build not to mention hard to operate. In 1937 national model competition took place, National Model Airplane championships (NMAC). Only six competitors showed up for the event and only three of them were able to get their planes off the ground. During and after World War II the goods brothers stayed busy perfecting their models and inventing the basic rules for R/C flying. The first planes constructed had only two controls, one for the rudder and one for the elevator. Today's model aircraft operate on an average of 4 channels, one for the rudder, one for the elevator, one for the aileron and one for the throttle. Some of the more complex models have a need for extra controls.
R/C cars and boats originated at nearly the same time as R/C planes. The first R/C cars didn't look much like real racing cars, they were just frames built around radio systems that enabled them to be turned by remote control. A group of hobbyists in southern California, led by a man named Norbert Meyer, hand-made realistic looking cars that actually raced. These cars were equipped with steering and throttle and could be controlled by standing along side the track. These cars were a replica of the cars that ran the Daytona and what has come about us today.
The first R/C boat was created in the late 1930's and early 1940's. It was made of timber and powered by a steam engine more came about during the same period. R/C boats were not very popular due to the time and expense required to construct them. Smaller combustion engines and electric motors along with lightweight model plastic came along and made R/C boating a possibility for many hobbyists.


Wednesday, August 1st, 2001
A brief history into R/C Hobbyists have been building model cars and planes since right after the turn of the 20th century. They longed to be able to operate their models by some form of remote control. One logical answer was to find a way to use radio waves to control models. This would involve sending radio signals from a hand-held transmitter to a receiver built into the model. The signal could then be converted into mechanical movement by having the receiver send signals to small electromechanical devices called servos, also installed in the model. Gears inside the servos would be activated and would move pushrods connected to the axles or engine of a car; the wings, tail or engine of a plane, or the rudder or engine of a boat. As a result, the modeler could control his or her craft from a distance and adjust its speed, turns or height. During the late 1930's and early 1940's several different groups of creative and courageous hobbyists finally managed to make their wish come true. The creators of radio-controlled aircraft were two brothers Walter and William Good. Walter prized in building model planes and William was a ham radio operator. In 1936 the two brothers combined their interests and constructed a model plane with a wingspan of nearly eight feet and powered it across the sky by use of a radio transmitter and receiver. The first R/C planes were heavy, hard to control and very expensive to build not to mention hard to operate. In 1937 national model competition took place, National Model Airplane championships (NMAC). Only six competitors showed up for the event and only three of them were able to get their planes off the ground. During and after World War II the goods brothers stayed busy perfecting their models and inventing the basic rules for R/C flying. The first planes constructed had only two controls, one for the rudder and one for the elevator. Today's model aircraft operate on an average of 4 channels, one for the rudder, one for the elevator, one for the aileron and one for the throttle. Some of the more complex models have a need for extra controls. R/C cars and boats originated at nearly the same time as R/C planes. The first R/C cars didn't look much like real racing cars, they were just frames built around radio systems that enabled them to be turned by remote control. A group of hobbyists in southern California, led by a man named Norbert Meyer, hand-made realistic looking cars that actually raced. These cars were equipped with steering and throttle and could be controlled by standing along side the track. These cars were a replica of the cars that ran the Daytona and what has come about us today. The first R/C boat was created in the late 1930's and early 1940's. It was made of timber and powered by a steam engine more came about during the same period. R/C boats were not very popular due to the time and expense required to construct them. Smaller combustion engines and electric motors along with lightweight model plastic came along and made R/C boating a possibility for many hobbyists.