ORIGINAL: kimolop
I am an expeienced 1:1 pilot (ATP, 10,000 hours, yadsa, yada, yada). I have never flown a radio-controlled airplane, but I am very interested in taking up the hobby. I was wondering if any members could suggest a RTF or ARF model that would work well for me? Thank You.
All trainers pretty much the same. 1:1 flying time MAY help, but, learning to fly an RC airplane is different. Among other things, you have no tactile feed back from the controls and your perspective is totally different from being in the cockpit and adjusting to it may take some time.
I would avoid the RTF setups. The MAJORITY of them come with a BASE 4 channel radio (and not necessarily on the channel of your choice ) and a 40 size BUSHED BEARING engine. The bushed engines are USUALLY OK for the trainer, but not for use in MANY of the 2nd planes available as their power is only about 60% of a 46 ball bearing engine.
There are a few exceptions to the bushed bearing engines.
The NexStar has an excellent 46 size engine, HOWEVER, the AFS system (IMHO ) is probably the most useless piece of crap going. Many of the people who have a NexStar turn the AFS off or remove it VERY quickly primarily because it causes more problems than it is worth. Do a search here for Nexstar and AFS and form your own opinion.
The Tower trainer with the Tower 46. The engine is a powerful engine, HOWEVER, Tower engines have a well known and long standing problem with shutting down with the transmitter due to (primarily ) front bearing air leaks - they take 30 - 45 seconds (or longer ) to shut down. IMHO, this is a major safety hazard. The Tower engine is also not as "user friendly" as other engines.
I would suggest the following:
Hobbico SuperStar or Avistar ARF trainer $99
Thunder Tiger PRO 46 or Evolution 46 $89
Hitec Laser 6 radio $145
OR
Futaba 6EXA radio $190
Yes, this will cost you a little more than an RTF INITIALLY, however, you will have a radio that you can "grow into" and has the additional channels you will most likely want for your third or fourth plane (flaps, retracts ). The engines suggested are not only "user friendly" (99.9% run great right out of the box ), but will have plenty of power for use in your 2nd, 3rd, etc plane.
Since MOST RTF glow planes run $300 - $400, the difference in price is negligable for an initial purchase when compared to later on possibly having to buy another engine and/or radio.