No, Most of them are built from EPP foam. they are virtually indistructable(except the control linkage and small amout of balsa control surfaces) you can get started for around $200, which includes the Plane(chevron wing AKA Combat wing), Tx, & Rx. but thats just starting. like any hobby it can cost as much as you got. I most likley have around $2000 in slope gliders and around $4000 in powered planes. it is probably more but I don't think about it. that is over the past 17 years. :shock: