How to Make a DIY Radio Controlled Soda Can Airplane: Transform Aluminum Cans Into an RC Flyer

We made this Radio controlled Soda can airplane using two 22 oz. beverage cans, 110lb card stock, scotch tape and a RC module from a paper airplane kit. Looking to test the feasibility of powered flight with soda can airplanes, we opted to use the Powerup 4.0 to power our airplane. We tested this airplane design with absolutely no experience with RC and we were able to get it airborne on the first attempt and fly like a pro over long distances.

Two tall beverage cans preferably 22 0z

PowerUp 4.0 Paper airplane kit

Scotch Tape

110lb Weight Card Stock

Delta Wing Soda Can Airplane Template

Using a hobby knife and a pair of 7 inch precision scissors, shell your cans until you have two workable large sheets to work with. Insert the hobby knife into the bottom of the can and rotate slowly to remove it. Then use your scissors to cut up the seam of the can as shown. Finally, cut off the top of the can. Remove 1/8th of an inch from the top and bottom edge until you have two flat sheets of can to work with.

For this RC Soda can airplane, we will be using a Delta Wing design like the one that we used with our two soda can glider designs also posted here on Instructables. Once you have downloaded the template for the delta wing RC soda can airplane, trace the wing onto one of the can sheets you created in the previous step. Cut out the wing as shown in the photos. Since weight will play a huge factor in the flight dynamics of our RC plane, you should weigh teach of the wings. As seen in the photos, it should weigh approximately 3 grams.

Use the template provided to trace and cut out the second delta wing from the remaining can sheet that we created back in step one. When you have a pair of delta wings as seen in the last photo, we are ready to proceed to the next step.

Place the delta wing template over our can sheet and fold the winglet back as shown. Next, mark off the leading edge of the wing at 5 millimeters and fold it over as indicated. Repeat this step with the inner edge as well as the trailing edge of the wing until the first delta wing looks as shown in the photos. As seen in the next to the last photo, you will need to snip the winglet to make the folds at the trailing edge and leading edge of the wing. Finally, reverse fold the winglet so it is facing the silver side up of the can.

Overlay the wing template on top of the can wing then trace the flap onto the can material. Use your scissors to snip the ends of the flap as shown. Use a ruler or straight edge to carefully fold the flap up slightly as shown. Flaps that are bent too steeply will cause your airplane to stall. Repeat Steps 4 and 5 to complete the remaining delta wing.

Weigh each of the completed wings to ensure that they are within weight. Each wing should come in at no more than 3 grams in weight as shown here. Finally, remove the PowerUp RC motor module from the box and test fit the first wing to the module to make sure it fits as seen in the last photo.

First, snip the front edges off of both wings as seen in the first photo. Next, place both wings together silver side down and tape them them together using scotch tape. Now insert the delta wing assembly into the clip at the front of the PowerUp RC module. Lay the soda can airplane silver side up and secure the RC module to the wings with two strips of scotch tape. Turn the plane over and add a piece of scotch tape to the underside as needed. Finally, turn the airplane silver side up and secure the cross bar to the wings with two pieces of scotch tape.

Cut out a narrow strip of 110lb wight card stock as seen in the first photo, then fold in half. Reverse fold back to create two tabs that we will use to attach the grip to the underside of our RC soda can airplane. Use two strips of Scotch Tape to secure the grip to the underside as shown. The grip should be centered along the airplane axis so that you can easily toss the plane for flight.

After completing the assembly of your RC soda can airplane take a final weight. As seen in the photo, the weight should be no more than 24 grams to ensure easy flight. Open the PowerUp app on your smartphone, connect to the RC module and test the props. If they power up you are ready for flight!

Take your RC soda can airplane out for a test flight. As seen in the embedded videos, we tested this RC soda can airplane delta wing design and had it easily flying on the very first flight as if we were pro Radio-control enthusiasts. Note that the plane is controlled through the Powerup app and the orientation of your smartphone will be critical to your soda can airplane's flight dynamics! Happy Flying!