So, you are interested in RC airplanes? You have come to the right nut ... I mean place, but I warn you, you got me started, so get a cup of coffee because there is a lot of stuff to follow. I hope you are really interested.

I had been dying to get into RC planes since I was a kid, but it was always so expensive. In November I ran into a friend who said he and his son were having a ball flying electric planes at a local field. Then he said they came as a complete package and the plane was RTF, ready to fly. Now I was really interested!

Then I learned that the whole thing was under $200. I was hooked and I hadn't even seen it yet.

So, I went into deep research mode. I joined my friend's club in February, the Long Island Silent Flyers, and bought my first plane in March. I have been flying since and having a ball. I now have 7 planes; three electrics and four gliders.

Here is the club web site: www.lisf.org

What follows is some info on the some of my planes. If you would like more on RC flying in general, I have tons.


AEROBIRD - a Ready to Fly Package - RTF

This was my first plane, the Aerobird. Very easy to fly. People who have failed with other planes have been successful with this one almost immediately. It costs about $150 at hobby store. I have 100+ flights on this plane. I love it and I fly it as often as I can.

This is a three channel starter plane. It has T/E/R control. That means throttle, elevator and rudder control. If you start reading up on planes, you will see many references to the number of channels and what controls they have. This is also a pusher type prop which means that the propeller is behind the main body, not in front. Also you will notice this has a V tail as opposed to the usual inverted T tail.

The newer model is the Aerobird Challenger which is even better. The Aerobird Challenger also has options for air to air Combat and can drop streamer bombs and a parachutist. Lots of fun!

Here is a review of the Aerobird - which is predates the release of the current Aerobird Challenger.
http://www1.wildhobbies.com/news/def...&articleid=853

Two videos of the Aerobird in flight - best to have a fast connection
http://www.parkflyers.com/html/aerobird_video.html
http://www.greatmodeldeals.com/videos/aerobird_512k.wmv


Sky Scooter Pro II - A RTF that I don't own, but often recommend

I almost bought this plane instead of the Aerobird.

When I got the Aerobird, this plane was $260. Now the Sky Scooter Pro II is about $160, ready to fly. If I was starting today I might have bought this one, but I still love the Aerobird and recommend it to new flyers. I just like this one too. Like the Aerobird, it is very rugged and very repairable. Completely different type of plane. This one has a front prop and looks more like a real plane. Three channel like the Aerobird, but it is a T/A/E plane which means it has throttle, aileron and elevator controls. No rudder control but a standard inverted T tail. More aerobatic than the Aerobird, and still targeted at new pilots, but I think it is a bit harder to fly. I may still get this one some day.

Sky Scooter home page
http://www.hitecrcd.com/

Videos of the Sky Scooter Pro
http://www.megamotorusa.com/videos/Sky-Scooter.htm
http://www.hitecrcd.com/Funtec/Skyscooter/ssclip.WMV


From Parkflyer to Sailplane

SPIRIT SELECT - An RTF Sailplane
My first Sailplane or a Glider, which are the same thing.

This is a Great Planes Spirit Select 2 Meter
(wing span of 2 meters or about 79 inches)
http://www.greatplanes.com/airplanes/gpma16.html

At $139, ready to fly, it was a bargain. In order to fly the plane you need a launcher called a hi-start. I paid about $60 for that, but that is all I need to add, and I can use this hi-start with other gliders.

I have about 65 flights on this one. Very different from an electric. There is something graceful about how a sailplane floats on the air like a sailboat on the sea.

As I said, this is an unpowered glider that has to be lunched with a hi-start (think big bungee)
If you are interested, here is a link that explains what a hi-start is and how it works.
http://www.labyrinth.net.au/~learmont/HiStart.html

The idea behind the glider is to find thermals, or columns of warm rising air. You ride the air up to gain altitude and extend your flight. A good pilot can stay up 10 minutes and if you are lucky, you can stay up for hours, riding the updrafts like a hawk.

I have since started flying a second sailplane, a Segitta 600. I am really longin these planes.

ENOUGH FOR NOW

So, that is the depth of my madness at this time. In addition to these I have two more gliders, which I have not yet flown. I also two more electrics on the buiding table, one of which is made out of foam board building insulation.

Have I gone nuts over RC planes? You bet!

If you are interested in gliders/sailplanes but not flying them yet, you might find this thread of value:
http://lisf.proboards13.com/index.cg...num=1070740602