First off, this is my first post andI am excited to now be a part of the ******** community. I will be purchasing my first "real" RCaircraft in the next week or so. I hate to say this, but my flying experience consists of two foam AirHogs from Target. One being a 2-channel, the other a 3-channel. Both were fun at the time, butI soon realized that I neededsomething more.I have since been making weekly trips to my local Hobby store's simulator and feel very comfortable with a 4-channel high-wing trainer.
Having said that, I have my decision narrowed down to a couple planes. The Hobbico NextStar Mini EP and the E-Flite Apprentice 15e. Any suggestions? I'll go ahead and list my own pro's and con's for each model and let you tell me right from wrong after that...
<u>Hobbico NextStar Mini EP</u><u>
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Pro's:
-44" wingspan seems versatile (I will be flying in a soccer/football field)
-Reasonably priced
-Speed-limiting flaps appear to be a nice feature
-Air-foil extensions also appear to be a nice feature
-The pivoting wing design may absorb some of my early flying fumbles
Cons:
-Balsa-wood/monokote construction worries me. If I can consistently land a 4-ch on the simulator, do I have anything to worry about? I will not fly in any weather less than perfect to start off with.
-Repair. Are balsa-wood planes repairable?
<u>E-Flite Apprentice 15e</u><u>
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Pro's:
-Foam construction
-A number of positive reviews on the web
Con's:
-Size. I'm worried that the 58" wingspan will seem too large for my flying area.
-The price is on the high end of what I'd like to spend.
<u>Misc. Questions</u><u>
</u>Does anyone have any feedback on the DX5e versus the Tactic TTX440?
How large of a flying area is recommended for planes such as these?
What accessories are recommended to start off with? Extra
batteries, props, ACadapter, etc?
Thinking long-term...what would be the logical next plane after a high-wing trainer?
Are there any more good 4-ch models other than what I listed above?
Feel free to give me feedback!Again, I'm looking forward to acquiring more and more knowledge of this sport. I haven't even flown yet and I already feel obsessed.
-Mike