Need some help selecting a RTF airplane. I have been looking on ebay but I am not sure whats what in planes & I don’t want to waste my money on something that isn’t worth it. I have never owned a model airplane of my own but I do have a couple trucks (t-maxx’s & rustler), small cars for the kids, a boat & a 22D dragonfly heli. I have flown one plane years ago it was a friends. And I have taken some aeronautics classes a few years back so I understand the basics etc. I have also been flying the planes in FMS on the PC and I do pretty good at flying those & landing them. I get bored and try to land on roof tops sometimes lol.

Anyways would some of you recommend a good RTF plane I can try to look for? I was looking at the $150-200 dollar price range for now. Because I am sure I will crash a few times. Also I live on 30 acres of land with a large field so I will be taking off & landing in the field mostly. Or maybe the front yard it’s about 300+ feet long I guess. I’d also like for it to look like a fairly decent model also. I don’t much care for the ones that look like kids toys. Any help or good advice will be greatly appreciated thank you for your time.

I'd go for the hobbico avistar. But if you go this route you must seek instruction. If you want to go it alone, check out the slo-v on www.horizonhobby.com

Fastertanlife is right, Hobbico Avistar or Nexstar RTF's would be a good way to go. They would cost you between $300.00 and $400.00, I believe any gas powered RTF will cost you more than you are looking to spend, and they would require the help of an instructor. However an electric RTF would be a good choice in your price range. I have a T-Hawk that I still fly to this day, have had it for a year and a half. Handles the wind well and a real forgiving airframe. Also comes with extra wing and tail surfaces.

An electric plane would be fine for me for a first. I have read that it might be better to get a 4ch now so I could use some of its parts later on something else if need be. Also I have been flying 4ch in the simulator for a few months now so I am used to it. Also my heli is 4ch. I’d like something fairly durable & that could handle some wind. I live on a large hill so the wind blows here sometimes.
I was looking at the parkflyers 4ch planes the 182 cessna & the Begin-Air 4ch. They cover my price range. The Begin-Air sounds more durable (but looks silly) The Cessna looks good but being made of styro-foam sounds like it would break easy.

I`d take a serious look at the Avistar and Superstar RTF`s. After almost 3 years, I still fly my Avistar and love it. I did switch out the 40 that it came with for a 46. Made it a much better airplane, IMHO. Others are right though, if you go with either, you`ll need an instructor, most assuredly with the Avistar especially.

I`d take a serious look at the Avistar and Superstar RTF`s. After almost 3 years, I still fly my Avistar and love it. I did switch out the 40 that it came with for a 46. Made it a much better airplane, IMHO. Others are right though, if you go with either, you`ll need an instructor, most assuredly with the Avistar especially.

I just learned on a hangar 9 Alpha 40, easy to assemble, and fly, was soloing after 3rd flight. You may want to consider the new P51 Mustang trainer, I wish it was available when I was shopping for my RTF!! For me it would have made sense since I want to go to scale flying and eventually to warbirds.'
Oh, be sure and look through not only the RTF forums, but the "beginners" forums, there are all sorts of pro's and con's to different RTF's that others have experienced, like engine problems, assembly problems etc. reading these boards are what steered me to the Alpha over most of the others (price had something to do with it too ).
Cheers!