To the Group –

I’ve been lurking for a while and recently registered. This is a great community you have here and I am happy to have found it!

Like so many others, I am about the take the plunge into R/C flying and I am putting together my “action plan” on how to do it correctly. I welcome any and all feedback on whether this makes sense …

I am a 42 year-old divorced dad of a 9 year-old son. We do the every-other-weekend thing as well as 2-3 afternoons a week together. Like most kids his age, he is a video-game aficionado although I try to keep that to a manageably moderate level.

There is an R/C club with a flying field about 5 minutes from my house and we stopped by there a couple of months ago “just to see.” The club was out in force with everything from trainers to delta-wings, to giants. To my surprise (and delight) my son was like, “Dad – this is COOL!” I filed that information away for future use.

A few weeks later, we took a trip to the local hobby shop, again, “just to see.” Again, my son was very excited. What made it even better is that the shop has a HUGE plane workshop in the back. (Huge, as in ‘big enough to work on several automobiles at once.”) The owner was nice enough to take my son and I back there, show us some planes, and just chew the fat with us about R/C.

On the strength of that day, and my son’s continued interest, I’ve decided that he and I will pursue the hobby. (It is important to note that I have been a plane nut since I was a kid and I am probably more juiced up about this than my son! ) All of that is background. Here's the plan ...
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1) Buy the Great Planes RealFlight simulator right now:
I am a website designer with some pretty serious computer gear. Between that and the fact that my son is a video-gamer, I figure that the simulator will teach us some basics about spatial orientation, control coordination, etc. I also figure that since winter is approaching, this will be a good way for us to stay in touch with the hobby even though we can’t fly. Finally, if the spring comes and he (or me!) is no longer interested, my only investment will have been the cost of the software.

2) Join a local club:
There are several excellent clubs in my area. I’ve met (and spoken with) members of all of them and everyone has been wonderfully supportive. As a matter of fact, one just had an auction that my son and I attended and had a great time. More importantly, I’ve met several instructors who have volunteered to help us when we’re ready.

3) Next spring, buy a plane:
I’ve gotten tons of advice on this topic (both in person and via the web) and I’m pretty sure I’ll buy either the Hobbico Superstar 40 Select or the Hangar 9 Alpha Trainer. Both have been highly recommended and they seem to be priced similarly. (There are lots of Futaba and JR radios at the local clubs so I’m not worried about compatibility.) FYI, I have decided to go the RTF route because I don’t really have the workspace to get into any heavy-duty construction right now. What’s nice however, is that the local shop owner has promised that he’ll help us get our plane trimmed correctly after we get it out of the box and assembled.
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With a little luck and some work, I’m hoping by next summer my son and I will be progressing well and enjoying ourselves – assuming the plan is sound and it works. If anyone has thoughts to share, I’d love to hear from you!

Thanks!
- DCD

P.S. And if the plan works REALLY well, next fall I’ll buy that big honkin’ Sig Rascal 110 as my personal “second plane.” Those giants are PHENOMINALLY COOL to me and I can’t wait to get good enough to fly one!