ORIGINAL: FiveO
OK, as I stated in my first post here I am a noob. I have many, many (like MANY, I am hooked) flights with my ABC park flyer and have "mastered" it, even in too high winds, I have some full scale time (very little but I get it, you know) and am a recovering flight sim addict. Last week I got my first stick time on a gas trainer with a local club. My friend took his Sig trainer up high and gave it to me, no buddy box. I flew racetracks and figure 8s for a good long while.
Well the guys in this club say that I am very good for my time in the hobby and say that with more time on the trainer, up to a few solo circuits, I can just skip buying a trainer of my own and go straight to a U-Can-Do. They recommend the .60 size.
Most of the guys in this club own one and they swear by them.
They say that with low throw rates and low engine speeds the U-Can-Do is as docile and slow-flyable as a trainer and should carry me through my beginner stage through intermediate and into some pretty advanced stuff all on one airframe.
My budget is very tight and I like the idea of one plane that can do it all so I am tempted. Another part of me sees this plane as pretty high end and I'm a bit intimidated by it.
So what say ye? Is the U-Can-Do mild enough when toned down for a newbie like myself or would I be biting off more than I can chew?
Thanks!
FiveO
I am going to skip the normal "you need to start on a trainer" speech. You already know that.
Now, I actually do not own the UCD but II have flown both the 60 and now the new Giant size (that's what GP calls it). On low rates for me, it's very docile. For a new pilot is can be a handful. "Easy to fly" is a relative term and is based on what you know.
So ask yourself the following questions which are based on your trainer time that you mentioned.
Were you completely comfortable with the glow plane to the point that you were able to do everything you wanted with ease?
You did not mention it but did you land and takeoff (glow engines have engine/prop torque tendencies which make the plane turn left as power is increased?
Are you able to do inverted flight for at least 3 full "laps" around the field?
IS you orientation good, meaning you have very little to no problem telling which way the plane is going.
Flight SIMS are a great help but do not emulate the plane totally. I takes a lot of adjustments on the sims to get a plane close. They also do not teach the proper way to start, tune, charge, trim and a whole lot more.
So, I'll go out on a limb here and say that yes, the UCD is a great plane and very easy to fly with the proper skills. I would suggest that if at all possible you get some more time on a glow plane and when you are comfortable with the above list and anything else someone may add then and only then get the UCD. If you go the UCD route right away, get an experienced pilot to do the maiden and buddy box you for the first few flights. Remember, it is a point and fly plane and will not try to recover to level flight should something go wrong. The UCD can last you a good long time if you approach it correctly.
Keep us informed and welcome to the madness of RC flight
