Hobbico RC Airplanes: The Brands, the 2018 Bankruptcy and Today
Hobbico was one of the largest US radio-control distributors, based in Illinois, and the company behind or distributing many well-known airplane brands such as Great Planes, Top Flite, Carl Goldberg and others, plus retailer Tower Hobbies. Hobbico filed for bankruptcy in January 2018. Horizon Hobby won the bid for most of its RC brands and intellectual property later that year, while some non-RC brands went elsewhere. Many classic Hobbico-era planes are now discontinued, but they’re still flown and sold used.
By Kyle HilsonUpdated: October 20263 min read
History in brief
| When | Event |
|---|---|
| Decades before 2018 | Hobbico grows into a major US RC distributor |
| January 2018 | Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing; company put up for sale |
| April 2018 | Horizon Hobby acquires most Hobbico RC brands and IP |
| June 2018 | Remaining business moves to Chapter 7 liquidation |
From news reports and company histories.
Airplane brands
- Great Planes: kits and ARFs like the Ultra Sport and Super Sportster; see Great Planes Ultra Sport and Super Sportster 40.
- Top Flite: large scale warbirds and classics.
- Carl Goldberg: classic trainers and sport kits.
- Flyzone and others: foam RTF and park flyers.
What it means today
Some Hobbico-era designs continue under new ownership, while many have been discontinued. Parts for discontinued models are found through used sales, old dealer stock and enthusiast groups. Plans for many classic kits are available in plan archives, so builders can still make them. Horizon Hobby’s own brands now fill much of the space Hobbico once did.
Buying a Hobbico-era plane
- Check completeness: hardware, manual, canopy, landing gear.
- Inspect wood for glue joint failures and oil soaking.
- Unbuilt kits are a good find for builders.
- Check whether the engine or electronics are included.
- Expect to replace old batteries and radio gear.
Flying classic planes
Many Hobbico-era trainers and sport planes fly superbly by modern standards. Converting glow designs to electric is popular and keeps them flying quietly. Follow the original manual’s CG and throws as a starting point.
Legacy
For many pilots, Hobbico’s brands were their first kits and ARFs, and the company’s catalogues and dealer network helped grow the hobby in the US. The 2018 bankruptcy was a major event, but the planes remain a big part of club fields.
Tower Hobbies
Tower Hobbies, the retailer associated with Hobbico, was part of the assets taken over in 2018 and continues as a hobby retailer. For many US modellers, Tower catalogues were where they first saw Great Planes and Top Flite kits.
Restoring a classic
Old Hobbico-era kits and ARFs often need some work: re-iron or replace covering, check and re-glue joints, replace fuel-soaked wood around the firewall, and fit modern servos and a 2.4 GHz radio. Electric conversion is popular for planes originally designed for glow engines; choose a motor and battery that match the original engine’s power and keep the CG where the manual specifies. A carefully restored classic often flies better than many modern foam planes.
Identifying Hobbico-era models
Look for brand names like Great Planes, Top Flite, Carl Goldberg or Flyzone on boxes, manuals and decals, and for Hobbico or Tower Hobbies distribution labels. Manuals often list part numbers that help when searching for spares or plans online.
Old manuals are often shared online by enthusiasts.
FAQ
What happened to Hobbico?
It went bankrupt in 2018; Horizon Hobby acquired most RC brands.
Can I still buy Great Planes kits?
Many are discontinued; used kits and plans are available.
Where do I get parts?
Used sales, old stock and enthusiast groups.
Are Hobbico-era planes still good?
Many fly very well today.
More on this topic: the complete RC Airplanes guide covers the basics behind this article.
About 20 years in RC. Mostly boats in the NAVIGA Mini Eco Expert class, with many self-made parts; also a King Motor Baja 5B, a home-built electric plane, home-built nitro planes he has flown, and an RC helicopter. More about SwellRC
