✈️ 3D-Printed Cessna-Style RC Airplane

Meet this Cessna-inspired, high-wing RC airplane, designed primarily for printing in LW-PLA using vase mode 🛩️ Its classic trainer-like shape, large wings, and lightweight construction make it perfect for relaxed flying—or simply as an impressive display model 😎

The airplane has been successfully flight-tested ✅ Its approximate ready-to-fly weight is around 1 kg, depending on the electronics, battery, and hardware used. Thanks to its huge wing area, it can fly relatively slowly and smoothly 🌤️

🖨️ Printing

Most parts should be printed in:

• LW-PLA
• Vase mode / spiral mode

Only a few smaller parts—shown in black in the photos and assembly references—are recommended to be printed with normal settings for extra strength 💪

🧰 Additional materials

Besides the printed parts, you will need:

• Approximately 2 m of 6 × 6 mm square tubing—carbon fiber is strongly recommended.
• Approximately 0.5 m of 6 mm round rod—carbon fiber is also recommended.

⚙️ Motor compatibility

The motor mount is compatible with motors featuring four M3 mounting holes arranged on a 16 mm bolt circle 🔩⚙️ Before installation, check your motor’s technical drawing to ensure that the mounting pattern matches.

Carbon fiber reinforcement keeps the airplane strong without adding too much weight ⚖️

🎮 Tail and landing-gear options

The tail assembly can accommodate up to three servos:

• One servo for the elevator ⬆️⬇️
• One servo for the rudder ⬅️➡️
• One optional servo for a custom feature, such as a steerable tail wheel 🛞

There is also a small opening at the front of the fuselage that could be used for a nose-wheel installation. I have not tested a landing-gear setup yet, so some creativity and custom work may be required 🔧

⚖️ Center of gravity and flight setup

The recommended center of gravity is approximately 25% of the wing chord, measured back from the leading edge 📏 Getting the CG right may be challenging, especially for beginners.

In my build, the battery was too light to achieve the correct balance, so I added a few screws as ballast 🔩 A larger or heavier battery may remove the need for extra weight, but always check the CG carefully before every first flight.

Using a flight stabilizer or gyro is strongly recommended, particularly for beginners and during the first test flights 🧭 Make sure all control surfaces move in the correct direction and test the model in a large, open area 🌳

And if you do not feel like flying it, no problem—it also makes a seriously cool decoration for your workshop, room, or RC collection 🛩️✨😄