ORIGINAL: flymeaway
I've been flying Hobby Zone planes for several months - the latest an Aerobird Extreme. I believe this has given me great 3 channel experience. My ABX recently puked a servo and the electronics are not replaceable - only by buying an entire new fuse complete with new guts. I can fly all day long without crashing and can even perform simple aerobatics, but I still have a phobia for landing. I have heard that gas planes, even trainers are much faster and harder to handle than your typical electric trainer. I have two nitro trainers built and ready to fly, one equipped with ailerons. Am I ready for the next step? Is it true that gassers are faster and thus harder for a beginner to handle? I am very confident in my ability to take off from the ground and fly, but am still lacking when it comes to landing. Any help would be appreciated.
As several others have said, get an instructor for the nitro planes.
Yes, they are faster, however, they have several pluses.
Nitro planes are not any harder to fly. In fact I find them easier than electrics.
They are larger, therfore can be seen better.
They have the ailerons (no big deal learning to use them)
Wind that would make MANY electrics quite a handful to fly normally will not bother a nitro plane.
Landings - all it takes is practice. The easiest way I have found is to fly the plane to about 3" from the ground, then reduce the throttle while applying a LITTLE up elevator. You don't want the plane to climb, just bleed off speed. The plane will settle right in.