Model aircraft
Physical models of aircraft for display, research, or amusement.
A model aircraft is a physical replica of a real or imaginary airplane, created for display, scientific study, or recreation. These models fall into two main categories: those that can fly and those that cannot. Non-flying models are often called static, display, or shelf models.
Aircraft companies and researchers build wind tunnel models to test aerodynamics, explore new designs, or conduct basic research. Sometimes only a section of the aircraft is made. Static models range from simple mass-produced toys made of white metal or plastic to highly detailed, museum-quality pieces that can take thousands of hours to complete. Many are sold as kits, usually made from injection-molded polystyrene or resin.
Flying models include everything from simple paper gliders, balsa wood, card stock, or foam polystyrene toys to powered scale replicas built from balsa, bamboo, plastic, metal, resin, or composites like carbon fiber and fiberglass. They are often covered with tissue paper, Mylar, or other materials. Some flying models are quite large, especially when used to study the flight characteristics of a proposed full-size aircraft.
For aerodynamic research, models are used in wind tunnels or free-flight tests. They often have interchangeable parts to compare different configurations, or movable controls to simulate various flight positions. Many are fitted with sensors for spot measurements and are mounted on supports that keep them aligned with the airflow while providing additional data. In some cases, only part of the aircraft is needed for testing. Full-scale static engineering models are also built for production development, sometimes from different materials than the final design, and again often only a portion of the aircraft is made.
Static display models cannot fly. They are used for exhibition, education, and wind tunnel data collection. They can be made from plastic, wood, metal, paper, or fiberglass, and are built to a specific scale so the size of the original can be compared with other aircraft. Some models come finished, while others require assembly and painting using glue, screws, or snap-together parts.
Many airlines allow their aircraft to be modeled for publicity. In the past, airlines ordered large-scale models to give to travel agencies as promotional items.
- Common scales
- 1:144, 1:72, 1:48, 1:32, 1:24
- Die cast scales
- 1:48 to 1:600
- Promotional scales
- 1:200 to 1:1200
- Introduced 1 72 scale
- 1932 with Skybirds kits
- Us war dept scales
- 1:72 for single-engine, 1:144 for multi-engine aircraft
- Common materials
- injection-molded polystyrene, resin, balsa, bamboo, metal, paper, carbon fiber, fiberglass
Lore & Background
Model aircraft have been built for wind tunnel and free-flight research tests, often containing components that can be swapped to compare various fittings and configurations. For wind tunnel research, it is sometimes necessary only to make part of the proposed aircraft. Full-scale static engineering models are also constructed for production development, often made of different materials from the proposed design.
Static model aircraft are primarily available commercially in a variety of scales from as large as 1:18 scale to as small as 1:1250 scale. Scales are not random but are generally based on divisions of either the Imperial system or the Metric system. 1:72 scale was introduced with Skybirds wood and metal model aircraft kits in 1932 and was followed closely by Frog, which used the same scale from 1936 with their 'Frog Penguin' brand. 1:72 was popularized in the US during the Second World War by the US War Department after it requested models of commonly encountered single engine aircraft at that scale, and multi-engine aircraft in 1:144th scale.
Flying model aircraft are generally controlled through one of three methods: free flight (uncontrolled other than by preset control surfaces), control line (tethered by strings or wires), or radio control. The reduced size affects the model's Reynolds number, which determines how the air reacts when flowing past the model, and compared to a full sized aircraft the size of control surfaces needed, the stability and the effectiveness of specific airfoil sections may differ considerably requiring changes to the design.
Reader's Guide
Model aircraft serve multiple purposes: aerodynamic research, education, display, and amusement. For research, wind tunnel models allow testing of aerodynamic properties and configuration changes. For display, static models range from mass-produced toys to highly accurate museum pieces requiring thousands of hours of work. Many of the world's airlines allow their aircraft to be modelled for publicity, and airlines used to order large scale models to supply to travel agencies as promotional items. Desktop model airplanes may be given to airport, airline and government officials to promote an airline or celebrate a new route or an achievement. The hobby of aeromodelling involves building and operating flying model aircraft, with some resembling scaled down versions of full scale aircraft and others built with no intention of looking like real aircraft. The legacy of model aircraft includes their use in aircraft recognition training during wartime and their continued role in both professional aeronautical development and recreational modeling.
Did You Know?
- During WWII, the US War Department requested models of single-engine aircraft in 1:72 scale and multi-engine aircraft in 1:144 scale for recognition training.
- Some flying models are built as ornithopters, representing birds, bats, and pterosaurs.
- Older models sometimes did not conform to an established scale and were sized to fit the box, referred to as 'Box Scale'.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a model aircraft?
A model aircraft is a scaled-down physical replica of a real or fictional airplane, built for purposes such as display, aerodynamic research, or recreational flying. It is not a single product but a broad category spanning everything from simple toys to museum-grade replicas.
What are the two main types of model aircraft?
They split into flying models (powered or radio-controlled) and non-flying models, the latter often referred to as static, display, or shelf models. Non-flying pieces can range from inexpensive white-metal or plastic toys to highly detailed collector's items.
Which scales do hobbyists most commonly build at?
The most popular scales for static kits are 1:144, 1:72, 1:48, 1:32, and 1:24. Die-cast metal models tend to cover a wider range from 1:48 down to 1:600, while promotional or souvenir pieces often sit between 1:200 and 1:1200.
What materials are model aircraft typically made from?
Common construction materials include injection-molded polystyrene, resin, balsa wood, bamboo, various metals, paper, carbon fiber, and fiberglass. The choice depends on whether the model is a mass-produced kit, a hand-built flying craft, or a high-detail display piece.
Why do aircraft manufacturers and researchers build model aircraft?
They create wind-tunnel models to test aerodynamic performance, validate new airframe designs, and carry out fundamental research. Sometimes only a partial section of the full aircraft is modeled to isolate specific flow characteristics.
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