4 Incredible RC Seaplanes

1. HAWK KING EPO Trainer Seaplane (PNP) | Best Budget

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Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5

The HAWK KING is an excellent toy-grade trainer RC seaplane. It sports a double rubber protective design with smooth lines. It also offers excellent value for a model in this price category.

• Best feature 1: Easy assembly and maintenance
• Best feature 2: Tough EPO material
• Plus points: Beginner-friendly, bright colors, brushless motor, LED lights, acrobatics
• Minus points: Short flight time, plug-n-play (PNP) version

Easy-Peasy RC Trainer Seaplane

The most important thing at the entry-level is a seaplane that’s easy to fly and maintain. This trainer model checks those boxes. The tough EPO foam material means it’s lightweight and as crash-resistant as a foam plane can be. It’s a Plug-N-Play model, so you need the following three parts to complete it:

1. 2.4G 6-channel transmitter
2. 11.1v 1300mah 15C battery
3. 2-3 balancer and adapter

Assembly is quick and painless even at the beginner level. The factory has already installed the LEDs. The flying potential is impressive once it’s all put together. The HAWK KING EPO Trainer gets its power from a reliable, maintenance-free brushless motor. This seaplane is ideal for beginners who want to practice advanced aerobatics. It also has enough flexibility to entertain pilots at the intermediate level.

The Not So Good

There aren’t enough user reviews yet to list any commonly shared cons for this model. It seems to do everything it claims so far. The only downside to date is the short flight time of between 6–7 minutes.

2. RC Lander EPO Polaris RC Seaplane PNP | Best Value

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Editor’s Rating: 4.7/5

The Polaris is a fantastic looking RC seaplane, but that’s not all it is. This puppy can operate from several types of soft surfaces. Some of those include water, snow, ice, and grass.

• Best feature 1: Operates from multiple soft surfaces
• Best feature 2: Low wing loading
• Plus points: Easy to assemble, durable EPO, easy to fly, powerful brushless motor
• Minus points: PNP (needs assembly), stock servos

Assembling this model is easy for pilots with some experience. The smart build and lightweight, durable EPO foam make it an excellent all-weather flier. That includes snowy conditions.

Flying the RC Lander Polaris Seaplane

The RC Lander Polaris flies beautifully and has incredible lift thanks to its airfoil. It’s also a forgiving model, and that’s always a bonus. The low wing loading means a lower stall speed and tighter turns compared to models with higher wing loading. It’s a fast plane—but not too fast—and versatile. Most enthusiasts who fly this bird agree that it’s a blast. It also looks super cool with its 3-bladed propeller.

The Not So Good

It’s another Plug-N-Play (PNP) seaplane. That means it needs some assembly and other parts not found in the box. These include a transmitter, receiver, battery, and battery charger. PNP is also a pro for folks who prefer to set up their radio systems. Another criticism is that the servos are not as good as they could be. Many users replace the stock servos with something better.

3. E-flite Timber 1.5m BNF Basic RC Airplane | Top Pick

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Editor’s Rating: 4.7/5

The E-flite Timber is how you expect a seaplane to look. It has realistic looking EDO-style landing floats complete with dual water rudders. It also happens to be an excellent all-around flier.

• Best feature 1: Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) capable
• Best feature 2: Shock-absorbing landing gear
• Plus points: Classic seaplane design, aerobatics, Z-Foam, brushless motor, LED lights
• Minus points: Not beginner-friendly, BNF (needs transmitter, battery, and charger)

Consider the E-flite Timber 1.5m BNF Basic if you’re looking for a fun and flexible park flier. The innovative design and impressive flight performance let this bird fly just about anywhere.

Flying the Timber 1.5m BNF Basic RC Seaplane

The main attraction of this aircraft is that it’s many things rolled into one. If you want a bush plane that can land on water—you’ve got it. Likewise, if you fancy something a tad sportier you’ve got that too. Aerial aerobatics are there for the taking. It’s also multi-terrain capable. That lets you fly off surfaces other RC planes find impossible. For example, water, thick grass, dirt tracks, and gravel, etc.

STOL Features Rock

Another advantage is the aircraft’s STOL features (short takeoff and landing). These include wing-tip droops, functional flaps, and optional leading edge slats. The STOL capability is 2ft or even less, helped further by the powerful brushless motor. The craft’s lightweight Z-Foam build adds to the agility of this beautiful bird. The Tundra-style landing equipment is also worth a mention.

The seaplanes landing gear comprises fully-functional shocks and oversized tires. Together, they absorb bumps and uneven surfaces to an impressive level. The landing arrangement keeps the rotor out of the way when flying off or onto long grassy areas. And when the runway is water, you use the float set with dual rudders and responsive steering control.

Light Work of Night Flights

The realistic LED lights that come with the E-flite Timber 1.5m Basic add to its appeal. The flight battery powers them all. They include wing-tip strobes, navigation lights, landing lights, and beacons.

The Not So Good

Alas, the beautiful and versatile Timber 1.5m BNF Basic AS3X is not beginner-friendly. It’s okay if you’re new to seaplanes and have experience flying regular RC crafts. But it’s better to get a little flight experience on less complex models first if you have no experience at all.

It’s also a Bind-N-Fly (BNF) model. you need to purchase the following items to complete the kit:

1. Spektrum DSMX/DSM2 transmitter
2. 3S LiPo battery w/ an EC3 connector
3. LiPo battery charger.

Some enthusiasts prefer BNF whereas others don’t, so it can be a pro as well as a con.

4. FMS Super EZ Trainer V2 RC PNP Sea Plane

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Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5

This airplane is another excellent RC multipurpose trainer. It’s the FMS Super EZ V2 with a 1220mm wingspan. It comes with wheeled landing gear and offers optional floats for the seaplane experience.

• Best feature 1: Optional floats available
• Best feature 2: Quick assembly time
• Plus points: Beginner-friendly, fast, stable, EPO, low wing loading, decent flight time
• Minus points: Tad underpowered, irritating sound, PNP version

The FMS Super EZ Trainer V2 scores four “easy” points. It’s easy to assemble (30 minutes or less), easy to fly, and easy to land. That makes it a superb choice for pilots at the advanced-beginner level. It’s also easy to transport and store thanks to the quick-release wing mechanism.

Flying the FMS Super EZ Trainer V2

The Super EZ Trainer V2 is an upgraded version of its predecessor, the Super EZ. It’s maintained all the best features with a few upgrades where there was room for improvements. These include an upgraded motor, optional seaplane floats, and a waterproof water rudder servo. The model flies exceedingly well and rewards pilots with fast, smooth, stable flight experiences.

This plane has some great flight characteristics as a trainer craft. It uses a super-lightweight, durable EPO foam for its build. The model sports a 1.2-meter wingspan, low wing-loading, large wheels, and first-rate metal landing gear. Pilots also praise the V2’s great rudder authority. The 10–15-minute flight time is good for a model in its class too. You may still want to invest in extra batteries.

The Not So Good

It’s fair to say that experienced pilots will likely find the FMS Super EZ V2 a tad underpowered. It’s not something first-timers would notice, though. Another thing that may irritate some flyers is the models annoying high-pitch buzzing sound. It’s especially noticeable around the half-throttle mark.

This aircraft kit is Plug-N-Play (PNP). You must buy the transmitter, receiver, battery, and charger separately. Some users prefer to choose their radio and power systems so PNP can be a pro or a con.