are RC Planes toys? HELP!

[mr.dencehead]

Hi, I have several 80" and bigger nitro/gas planes along with a tricopter and all of my friends/ family think that I am crazy for spending so much money on "toys". When ever I try to correct them by telling them that they are not toys, I stop because I don't really know what to call them. So my question is what should you classify these planes/ the whole hobby? Because they really aren't toys?
Thanks, hope this makes sense.

 

[rcspaceflight]

They are "toys". But the same way a motorcycle, a sports car, a boat, or an ATV is a "toy".

Sometimes it astonishes me how many hours one person will spend building a full scale paper model of a (Star Wars) Storm Trooper. Or the hours a person will spend playing video games. But then I realize "well, what else is one to do with their free time?" Same goes with the money put into a hobby (any hobby). As long as you have fun doing it, it doesn't matter how you spent your money or your free time. Other people don't have to understand it, it's just clearly not for them.

Hopefully if you explain to them that it's a hobby and a very enjoyable one for you they'll understand. Everybody has at least one hobby. Whether that's reading books, watching sports, watching movies, watching TV, or listening to music. (Which seems to be the short list of the most popular "hobbies".)

 

[CrashRecovery]

It's a hobby. Just like there are diesel motor junkies that spend $6000 on a new turbo just to go faster on a track. You could have a more expensive hobbie

 

[bstanley72]

Tell them that their stamp collection won't take off a finger, or a head!

 

[ViperTech]

It is a scale model ! Accurate in every way to a full size aircraft, follows the same rules of aerodynamics! Just cheaper to own and maintain.

 

[IFlyRCstuff]

When I first read the title I was thinking "oh heck no!" This is because when I think of a toy I think of a plastic thing that can be broken and purchased for lower than 100$ at startup. Generally speakong, a toy doesn't require a tremendous amount of practice, but if a R/C pilot wants to be able to do a rolling circle 2 inches above the ground, then that pilot has better practce like crazy. I think of these planes as machines. Machines that are a huge amount of fun, and that you don't want to blow into little pieces (unless the Swede is around "Spitfire preview" episode)

So, I would ask the people if they can fly it as easily as they can play with a toy. (Although some brands such as airhogs tend to make toys [cheaper, lower quality], but they get people into flying, then rolling circles 2 inches up, sooo...)

 

[johnmw]

it's a toy in a sense that we enjoyed, passionate about, play with and have heaps of fun from.
it's not a toy because it's a project, methodically planned, engineered and built to the utmost seriousness.
both are positive views.

it's a matter of perspectives i suppose.
there are many positive hobbies out there but the choice i believe is mine.
as long as i'm sensible about it, i don't see why i shouldn't carry on.
just imho.

 

[Rcgary24]

maybe next time you correct them just say " Its not a toy , its and addiction!" haha , i get the same thing from people.

 

[Tench745]

You could tell them, "... a toy plane is something you wind up and it rolls along the floor. A model aeroplane is something totally different. Model aeroplanes have been flying successfully more than fifty years before the Wright brothers ever got off the ground. They are not toy planes.” Flight of the Phoenix (1965).