I started flying 5 months ago. I had no interest in build models, so I went the R-T-F route. I think this is such a great way to get started.

I thought I would share my expereince so others might benefit.

I am a first timer. However I am also one of these guys that goes into intense research when I get interested in something. After several months of research, talking to people, flyers and non, I bought an Aerobird. It is a super value and very easy to fly.

HobbyZone AEROBIRD THREE CHANNEL ELECTRIC PARKFLYER

Very inexpensive and rugged for a three channel starter - $130-$160
The plane comes complete and fully assembled. Charge the flight battery, put on the wing, put the batteries in the transmitter and up you go! Even the batteries for the transmitter are included.

New flyers like me are going to crash, especially if you are teaching yourself to fly. You don't want something that will be costly to fix. The plane is very rugged, but there is a full line of parts available at reasonable cost. You can replace the whole main fuselage for $49 including the motor and all the flight electronics. A wing is $15 and the tail is $9. So, if you crash badly you can get everything for under $75 and you are back in the with a three channel plane.

If you are interested I have written up a tips sheet on how to fix the Aerobird.

Here is a review of the Aerobird
http://www1.wildhobbies.com/news/def...&articleid=853
On these pages you will find Videos of the Aerobird in flight
http://www.parkflyers.com/html/aerobird_video.html
http://www.modelflight.com.au/model_flight_videos.htm

With 50+ flights on the Aerobird, I fly in 15 MPH winds and fly with great confidence. Personally I am amazed that the plane still flies, but it flies great! I love it adn have recommended it to many friends who fly them now as well. They all learned very quickly!


From Electric Park Flyer to Glider


THE GREAT PLANES SPRIT SELECT 2 METER

The Spirit Select is completely assembled with all the electronics installed. It includes a 72 MHZ single stick radio. This is very easy to use and is very similar in look and fell similar to the Aerobird's radio so I picked it right up and flew. It is branded Hobbico, but it is really a Hitec radio.

Here is a link to the site where I purchased it for $139 complete!
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...I=LXVK55**&P=7

Here is a link to the ARF version where you can find links to two product reviews. If you want to do some building, the ARF is the route, but for an extra $40, I got the radio and the plane ready to fly. For me that was perfect.
http://www.greatplanes.com/airplanes/gpma1045.html

The plane has spoilers built in the wings, but you don't have to enable them. The Select model does not come with the spoilers enabled but the instructions tell you how to do it. I will do that soon.

I have about 20 short flights on it as I have been focusing on launching and landing. However, this plane has a reputation of being a great thermalling plane. I am looking forward to many long flights.

I would definitely recommend it.

Both planes have been a pleasure. If you are starting out and want to go the READY-TO-FLY route, consider these two.

I also went the RTF route for learning. Helped a ton by FMS and now AeroFly Pro simulator software.

I started with an Aerobird and got a Sky Scooter II. After I got the Sky Scooter, I sold the Aerobird for more SS2 batteries. The Sky Scooter is so much fun, I literally flew the engine off mine one day. Had to epoxy it back on, good as new. Also, the radio equipment can be reused in another plane if you want.

I have flown my sky scooter so much that it's looking ratty from landing on dirt and I don't want to put any more paint on it. (Getting heavy.) A whole new plane with motor (no radio gear) can be had for only $60! (Hobby Horse) Just put your sky scooter guts in with hot glue and go back to flying.

I'm building a GWS Tiger Moth now. I will run it off the 3-channel SS2 transmitter, so all I needed was a ESC, batteries, Rx and two servos to make it fly. Bonus.

Also, put ni-cads in the SS2 Tx, and it recharges with a Futaba recharger!. Double bonus.

Anyway, I am a huge Sky Scooter 2 fan. My third project, almost done, is a Wattage "Tangent," a F3A style speed 400 plane KIT (definitely not RTF). I'm putting dual aileron servos in so I can have flaps and spoilers. Should be a hoot. I have a Futaba 6X to run it. If I break it, the gear goes in a PIGI.

Happy flying to you. Regards,

Mike Ledbetter

My Friend just purchased a SS Pro II based on my recommendation. He only has a few flights but it seems like a great plane.

Any tips or tricks you can pass along for flying or fixing?

An update to my post on the Spirit select.

I now have about 60 launches on this plane and I truly love it. Today I was launching off my smaller up-start which is made from 7/16 tubing (25') and 100 feet of line.

I was launching in about 12-15 MPH winds today so I added another 50' of line to take advantage of the kiting effect. I pull the plane back as far as I can and still hold it with one hand.

I was getting full height launches with a little zoom of on the end for 200-250' launches. I added two an extra rubber bands on the wing mount to handle launching into a strong wind.

The plane handled the launches with no problems and no wing flutter at all.

I added a full ounce of ballast to help with wind penetration. I was not thermal hunting today, just working on strong wind launches, flying and landing. at 15 MPH the Spirit gets blown around but it is manageamble. Penetraion was fair, but I would not want to fly it in this kind of wind all the time. Thermals are pretty had to find and hold on-to in 15 MPH winds anyway at our field.

I have almost completed installing the spoilers. I have added servos in the wings rather than using the string method mentioned in the instructions. I am off to the hobby store to pickup some linkages to complete the job!

After 60 launchs, many speced out flights and now, some high wind launches, I still recommend the plane to anyone starting out in RC Soaring.