ORIGINAL: mbt1760
Which Plane?
Which is the best plane to learn to fly? I have noticed that there a dedicated trainers such as Seagulls Arising Star, Thunder Tiger Trainer 40 and Irvine Trainer 40 to name a few. Is a fair to assume that all these planes will do a similar job? or is one better that the others?
They all more or less do the same thing, so personal preference is your choice here.
I started off with the Thunder Tiger trainer, - as good as any, the Arising star is a popular choice though where I live.
All trainers have a few things in common, - high wing (above fuselage) with plenty of dihedral and slow / stable flight characteristics.
I would also like to know what materials and tools I would need to complete the plane?
Basic hand tools, knifes, drill bits, clamps, rule pencil square, etc, nothing special.
Materials to complete include:
Epoxy glue 5 minute setting, 30 minute setting.
CA Glue (superglue -medium thickness)
Some foam to pack out your fuel tank, and wrap around your receiver & battery pack to eliminate vibration.
Radio Gear
Eventually I would like to fly some kind of scale model, perhaps a warbird with retracts etc. and to this end I need to decide what sort of transmitter would best suit and last for some time. I think, looking at the articles, I need to buy a computer radio set up, but which one should I chose, Sanwa, Futaba, Hitec? I think a deal that includes servos, receiver and nicads would be sensible as I could then use these in my trainer?
Again, personal preference here, but if you are planning on using a buddy cable system to train with, then you will have to buy the same make so that they are compatable with an instructors Transmitter, so it may be best to find that out first, before commiting to one.
Most guys here use Futaba, but not everywhere does.
You can buy all transmitters though as a set that come with servos, receiver, nicads, & charger.
Extras
What equipment do I need when I go to the flying field? Is there anything obvious that I have missed or need to know?
Now this lot can cost you nearly as much as the plane, engine and radio without realising ![X(]
Glowstart stick & charger (battery supply to make the glowplug ignite the fuel to start the engine)
or Power panel for a flighbox (supplies power to glowplug & starter motor from a single 12v battery)
Electric engine starter
Chicken stick (to start engine in the event of electric starter power failure from flat battery)
12 volt battery for your electric starter or power panel (minimum 7 Amp lead acid or gell cell reccomended)
Fuel
Fuel Pump (hand operated or electric to get fuel in & out of your plane)
Flightbox to store all your field equipment in
Receiver battery checker (essential for safe knowledge of battery condition)
model restraint (to enable solo engine starting safely)
Spare glow plug
Spare prop
Spare wing bands, or wing bolts
Glow plug spanner
Various tools to keep in flightbox, such as spanners, allen keys, screwdrivers.
And above all get some insurance !
Many club memberships also include this.
Hope this helps you out, and good luck [sm=thumbup.gif]
[/quote]