Researching your first radio control (rc) trainer airplane is exciting however, it can sometimes be hard to find a starting point from which to begin your search. Below is a continually updated list of rc trainer aircraft for both glow and electric. We’ve included wood rc kits, almost-ready-to-fly rc kits, and ready-to-fly rc kits.

And while this is not by any means, a complete list of what is currently available on the market today, we hope this gives you that starting point from which to begin your search into the world of radio control flying. Online locations where you can find many of these rc airplanes are: Horizon Hobby, Tower Hobbies, NitroPlanes, Esprit Model, Hobby People, and Hobby-Lobby.

Editors Note: Updated Nov 19, 2011

Glow Powered Rc Trainers
Wood Built Kits
Wood kits typically include items like interlocking balsa and plywood construction, photo-illustrated instructions, hardware kits (including landing gear, engine mount, pushrods, control hardware, etc.), full-size rolled plans, and general information booklet.
Eagle 2	Great Planes (Carl Goldberg)
PT-40	Great Planes
Piper J-3 Cub
SIG Kadet Senior	SIG Manufacturing
SIG Kadet LT-40
ARFs (Almost-Ready-To-Fly)
ARF kit airplanes are pre-assembled and fully covered aircraft. They require the purchasing and installation of items such as reciever, battery, servos, engine mount, and engine.
Eagle 2	Great Planes (Carl Goldberg)
Falcon 56 Mk.II
P-51 Mustang PTS	Hangar 9
Alpha 40
Piper J-3 Cub
NexSTAR	Hobbico
Avistar 40
Trainer 40	Thunder Tiger
Trainer OBL
SIG Kadet LT-40	SIG Manufacturing
Tower Trainer 40	Tower Hobbies
Tower Trainer 60
RFTs (Ready-To-Fly)
RTF kit airplanes are pre-assembled and fully covered aircraft. They have pre-installed items such as reciever, battery, servos, engine mount, and engine. Most often they also include a radio (Rx).
Alpha 40 DSM2	Hangar 9
P-51 Mustang PTS
Electric Powered Rc Trainers
Wood Built Kits
Wood kits typically include items like interlocking balsa and plywood construction, photo-illustrated instructions, hardware kits (including landing gear, engine mount, pushrods, control hardware, etc.), full-size rolled plans, and general information booklet.
Pacer	Dumas Products Inc.
Pilatus Porter
L-19 Bird Dog
ARFs (Almost-Ready-To-Fly)
ARF kit airplanes are pre-assembled and fully covered aircraft. They require the purchasing and installation of items such as reciever, battery, electronic speed control (ESC), servos, motor mount, and motor.
Fairchild PT-19	Great Planes
EletriFly Yardstick
FlyLite
NextSTAR Select	Hobbico
Cessna 182 Skylane	Flyzone
Vista EP	Tower Hobbies
MiniMAG	Multiplex
Easy Star
Easy Cub
Alpha 450	E-flite
Beechcraft Bonanza
T-34 Mentor PTS
J-3 Cub
Taylorcraft 450
de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Piper L-4 Grasshopper
RFTs (Ready-To-Fly)
RTF kit airplanes are pre-assembled and fully covered aircraft. They have pre-installed items such as reciever, battery, electronic speed control (ESC), servos, motor mount, and motor. Most often they also include a radio (Rx).
Super Cub LP	Hobbyzone
Apprentice 15e	E-flite
T-34 Mentor ePTS
NextSTAR Select
Cessna 182 Skylane	Flyzone
Switch EP	Flyzone