The flying field is OPEN.
There are currently no R/C hobby shops in Waterloo or Cedar Falls.
McCumber's R/C Hobby House in Waverly, IA carries R/C cars, helicopters and drones. Check their web-page or phone 319-352-1867 for hours as they have limited hours of operation.
The biggest selection of R/C equipment in Iowa is at Hobby Haven in Des Moines - Phone 800-697-1213 to order - one day delivery to Cedar Falls - Hobby Haven is a full-service hobby store that carries Horizon Hobby, E-flite, SIG and several other product lines.
Flite Test was started in a garage in North Canton, Ohio by a couple of guys passionate about model airplane flight. They built inexpensive electric airplanes and drones and posted some really fun videos on YouTube. They now sell airplane & drone kits and everything necessary to get an R/C aircraft into the air.
National Model Aviation Museum - at AMA Headquarters
History of Model Aircraft Engines
Radio Control Hall of Fame - Early RC Equipment
Beginner's Guide to Aeronautics - NASA website
These full service online stores carry a wide range of R/C products.
Note: When ordering from Banggood or HobbyKing, you can specify warehouse location. When ordering from overseas, your order can take anywhere from one week to several weeks due to shipping times and US Customs clearance. Ordering from a US location has normal shipping times of one week or less.
Note: ARF = Almost Ready to Fly - EDF = Electric Ducted Fan Jet
Engines & parts
Bearings
Fuel & Smoke Pumps
Fuel Tanks
Fuel Dots - used to plug the fuel fill line on the airplane
2-Cycle Oil - mix into gas for gasoline engines
Stripped Glow Plug & Engine Repair - Lee Custom Engines
no web site or email - see ad in "MA Marketplace" in Model Aviation magazine
Lee Custom Engines
10112 Woodward Ave.
Sunland, CA 91040
Phone: 818-352-3766
Battery Chargers
Revolectrix - formerly FMA Direct - Frederick, MD
Batteries
Batteries America - All battery types and adapters - Sauk City, WI
Buddy RC - LiPo batteries - Glacier, Gens ace and Tattu Brand - Columbus, OH
Electro-Dynamics - A123 battery packs and accessories - Livonia, MI
ProModeler - All battery types and adapters - Sanford, FL
Radical RC - A123 single cells & battery packs - Dayton, OH
Taildragger RC - A123 battery packs - Park City, KY
Electronics
Tech-Aero-Design - Ignition Battery Eliminator for gas engines
Radios - Transmitters & Receivers
Spektrum
Futaba
Hitec RCD - includes MultiPlex
FrSky - Taranis brand
Cal Orr - conversion & repair of antique Kraft radios
JR PROPO - (Note: the original JR Radio Company went bankrupt in 2018 and Konishi Mokei Company of Japan bought the name.)
Servos - There are many online stores selling servos
ProModeler - Servos, Motors and Electrical Components - Sanford, FL
Servo City - Hitec & Futaba and servo extensions
Sound Systems
Model Sounds Inc - Engine and Gun sounds
Wiring & Switches
Booma RC - Mechanical & Smart Switches
Electro-Dynamics - Ultra-Switch, Wiring, A-123 Batteries & Lighting Systems
Hanson Hobbies - DIY Wiring & Connectors
Maxx Products International - Mpi - Wiring Extensions, Y-harness, Switches, Voltage Regulators and more
Bomb Release - RC bombs, not real bombs!
Adam Bomb - by Dymond USA - similar to the original Vortac bombs - Monroe, NC
Aero Accessories Bomb Release - bomb not included - Port Saint Lucie, FL
E-flite Servoless Bomb Release - bomb not included - Champaign, IL & Ontario, CA
Candy Dropper by HobbyKing
Cowls & Wheel Pants
Fiberglass Specialties - parts for kits & plans - Garfield, AR
Fasteners
RTL Fasteners - owned by an RC pilot
Micro Fasteners
K&J Magnetics - Neodymium rare earth magnets
Hardware
Du-Bro - a wide range of RC products
Sullivan Products - Electric Starters, Fuel Tanks, Push Rods and more
Robart - Fuel Systems, Control Horns and Wheels
Pilot Figures
Aces of Iron - 1/8 to 1/3 unpainted Scale Pilot Figures
Best Pilots - will custom make a pilot figure that looks like you! - Tucson, AZ
Slimline Xtreme Pilots - painted 1/6 or 1/7 scale
Warbird Pilots - 1/6 to 1/3 scale -- options for servo-controlled head - Cheshire, CT
Williams Brothers - Unpainted Pilot Figures, Dummy Engines & Machine Guns
Retractable Landing Gear
Robart - Air and Electric Retracts
Schulman Aviation - Electric
Scale Parts
ScaleRcParts.com - 3D printed decorative parts for scale aircraft
Spinners
Wheels, Floats & Snow Skies
Adhesives & Sealants
Bob Smith Industries - CA & Epoxy glues - Atascadero, CA
Foam-Tac - flexible foam adhesive by Beacon Adhesives - Mount Vernon, NY
UHU por - flexible foam adhesive - Baden, Germany (can be purchased on Amazon or eBay)
ZAP by Pacer Technology - CA & Epoxy glues - Ontario, CA
422C - Silicone Conformal Coating by MG Chemicals - Ontario, Canada (protect ESCs and receivers from moisture) - available on Amazon
Caddy & Tool Racks, Magnetic Latches, Ammo Box Racks
Retro RC
Carbon Fiber & Foam
The Composites Store
ACP Composites
RC Foam - Foam & Carbon Fiber
Covering Material
Coverite - sold by Tower Hobbies - Champaign, IL & Ontario, CA
Flite-Metal - 0.0018 inch thick self-adhesive aluminum for replicating a full size aircraft finish
Horizon Hobby - Brands include Top Flite MonoKote and Hangar 9 UltraCote - Champaign, IL & Ontario, CA
Oratex - the same stuff that's used on full-size aircraft
SolarFilm - Solartex, Solarfilm, Solarkote, Solarspan - located in the UK, but available from a few retailers in the USA
Fasteners
RTL Fasteners - owned by an RC pilot
Micro Fasteners
K&J Magnetics - Neodymium rare earth magnets
Graphics
Callie Graphics - custom graphics for R/C models
B&E Graphix - stock and custom vinyl graphics
Plastics
High Tech Plastics