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Old 02-09-2006 | 12:30 AM
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Jeremy Z's Avatar
Jeremy Z
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,527
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
From: Chicago area, IL
Default RE: Looking for a first Airplane

First, let me say that you started out right by using FMS and buying a quality radio. Bravo!

As a result, you can probably skip the 3 channel planes and go right into something that will last you a while longer. Before I go any further, may I ask what your budget is?

OK, I will go further anyhow, hehehe.

Get an Ultrafly Cessna 182. It is $80. It comes with two wings, the trainer wing and the expert wing. It is four channel, and either wing can be set up with flaps. (though the plane doesn't need flaps at all.) It looks great in the air, is stable, and floats well. Start with the trainer wing and a 10x4.7 SF prop. Then, move onto the 8x8E prop and the expert wing. Believe it or not, this plane flies well with the stock motor/gearbox setup. (Falcon 400) (up to about 15 mph winds, with some experience) Go with a couple of 8 cell Intellect 2/3 A size, NiMH, brick configuration battery packs from cheapbatterypacks.com. Get four HS-55 servos, and a Micro 05S receiver. An Electrifly 25 A brushed ESC should round out the package nicely.

It is designed to either have the wing bolt on, or to have dowl rods driven through pre-cut holes in the fuselage to strap the wing down with rubber bands. Although this installation doesn't look as clean, it will save your wing if you have an unplanned landing.

My last tip is to hand-launch & belly land. (after you maiden it doing ROG takeoffs from pavement, to make sure it is trimmed properly before taking the leap of faith.) Put clear packing tape on the bottom of the fuselage and on the leading edges of the wing and horizontal stabilizer. It is just too much of a shame to limit yourself to pavement when you could be out on a grass field, risking much less to fly. Just make sure you cut the throttle right before you touch down, and you won't have any problems.

Although I already have a floaty trainer (3 ch. T-Hawk) and faster & more aerobatic planes, I find myself coveting this one.