This is Charlie, a new RC guy on a limited budget. I do have allot of flight time on computer SIMS, but none with RC. I've been surfing and came up with a couple deals that seem to be well priced and complete, to get me started into this hobby. First on is the Wilga 2000, it comes with everything including a training simulator. The 2nd one is the EXTRA-330L by E=power.

Can anyone offer a few suggestions??

CT

You've got to be more specific on the limited budget, some guys think that means less than $50, others under $500.

Sims are nice, but I'd still say start with a trainer, Sig LT-40 is the best IMNSHO, one of them with a low end radio, LA.40 or .46, and ground support would be easy to do for $400.

find the local club and ask for help. there are always guys willing to help you get started. spending time on a good sim is the best way to start by far but when you get ready to fly your first model you should get help checking the plane and radio from some one that has beed around rc for a while before you fly it. i had some great people help me get started and show me the ropes and i love this hobby, i hope you have as much fun as i have.

good luck and keep up posted

randy racer

soarrich:

The two planes i mentioned both can be had for under $200, and included everything needed to fly now. so I guess this would be a good starting point. I guess my question is are they worth it? or would it be better to invest more to get a better value.

Charlie

Randy:

I live in a pretty remote area, and there aren't any clubs around that I'm aware of. But on the other hand, I have a lot of room to fly. I have a small farm, with about 8 acres cleared that I'm not using. Is there a source for locating a local club??


Charlie

in my opinion u should get started with a 40 size trainer... a nexstar or sometinhg like it

u do need someone to help you throught some flights before u can fly alone

Can you give us a link to the two planes you're looking at? That way we're on the same page.

I can't imagine a Extra 330 lasting a newbe more than 15 seconds.



Try this link for clubs:

http://find.mapmuse.com/re1/map_bran...put=&select=10

Neither of the planes you suggested are suitable for a beginner, as far as I'm concerned. I"ve been flying almost two years now, and my Extra can STILL be a handful sometimes. You're getting some good advice here from the guys that are suggesting you start out on a .40 sized trainer with an instructor to help you. BELIEVE ME, you will progress in your skill level much faster, AND save yourself alot of grief with busted planes to begin with. I know this from experience, as do some others around here. Welcome to the hobby, by the way.

Hi Charlie - I tried to find a Club close to you, but your right, your up in the boonies. A lot like Wyoming I guess There is an AMA Club Locator tool that Bill Lee created and I am allowed to piggy back some info onto. The Web Link is, [link=http://www.ama-dist-8.org/Clubs/Locator.php]AMA Club Locator[/link]. What is wierd is when I type in Gulliver, MI or zip 49840, I don't get any results even entering the max of 250 miles. Experimenting a little though I found that if I entered Manistique and a radius of 75 miles it came up with 4 AMA Clubs. Now there may be some Non-AMA clubs around there as well but I can't find any, sorry. If you look at the results for the SANDS MODEL AIRPLANE CLUB for instance, you'll see an extra link in the upper right that looks like this - [link=http://Link to GPS and Aerial Photos]Link to GPS and Aerial Photos[/link], this is my info and will give you an aerial view as well as directions and a map option for that particular club as well as some other info.

I hope this helps you find someone to help you get started. I have to agree with the guys that one thing that discourages more new pilots then anything is trying it on their own, crashing and losing a few planes, getting disgusted and quitting. I spent a lot of time flying on the G2 sim before I went out and found a club and a great club member who helped me not only learn to fly, but how to pre-flight my plane and gave plenty of safety pointers along the way. The sim defintely helped a LOT, but it was truly different doing it for real. I can honestly say I would have gone through several planes if I had just gone out and tried it.

My first plane was the Sig LT-40 already mentioned with an OS 46 in it. I did get a pretty good transmitter to start with though, and still use it to fly (JR). I know the trainers aren't as sexy looking as what you've asked about, but I still fly my LT-40 once and awhile just to relax, and have even bought some of those cheap Walmart digital camera's, built a little aluminum bracket, and have made my first attempt at RC aerial photography.

I wish you luck and welcome you to this great sport! You'll be addicted like the rest of us soon

The Edit - Just thought I'd add this as well. If you have high speed internet, you might like this as well. It's called Google Earth if you haven't seen it already. This is a link to a file I keep pretty up to date that shows all of the clubs I've captured the coordinates of their runways during about the last 7 years. I think I have around 1200 Clubs located in here so far, most are in the US, most are AMA, but there are also Non AMA as well as what I call Foreign. If you've used Google Earth before you must already have the program downloaded, if you haven't, it'll take you to the site to download it when you try and click on the bookmarks at the top of the page in BLUE.[link=http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthreaded.php/Cat/0/Number/402368/page/]Remote Control (RC) Airplane Clubs & Runways [/link]. The cool thing is it's all free and the best color sat imagery on the web for the public to use. Hope it's helpful.

charlie, is there a hobby shop close to you? if there is they know who flys in your area. i also beleive that the LT40 is the best trainer plane out there but most of the others will do what you need to get started. if you can fly the sim without crashing for a long time and land on the run way every time you are ready to give it a go but you should still get some one to go over your plane for a pre flight check and to be there to help if a problem comes up. i skipped the trainer and started with a ultra stick 60 with a OS91 on it but as i said before i had good help. i also took off and landed several times the first day out but i had a helper on the budy cord to bail me out when i got in trouble.
you can always drive to kentucky and fly with us we would be happy to help.

randy

This actually needs to be in the beginner forum. Minnflyer and RCKen are extremely knowledgeable.
You definitely don't need to start out with a sport plane unless you don't want it to last more than one flight.
You need to start with a real trainer because they are so forgiving.

.
Thanks everyone:

I was very surprised how quickly, and the amount of help everyone is offering! The two planes I've been looking at are both being offered on Ebay. The first one (wilga 2000) is Item # 230057235406
The 2nd one (330 extra) is Item # 160056044651

Both look very complete, and they claim they are suitable for beginners.


Charlie

Greg:

Wow! Nice sites,, looks like you have done a LOT of work.

Looks like the club in Escanaba is the closest one, but it is about 80 miles out from me.. I'll try and contact them and see if there are any members somewhere in my area.

Thanks again to all who have been helping me.



Charlie

Did not see the beginner forum I will check it out also.

Charlie

Few folks realize just how tough it is to fly one of these RC planes until they try it. I've known some cocky young dudes that drive the RC cars/trucks tell me they could do it first time without a hitch. So,,,, hook up the buddy cord and let's see you do it brother "I would say." Needless to go on with this story ,,,,, those of you that are RC pilots know what happens.
Trainer gets the plane turned and onto a straight pattern down the flight line at 6 mistakes high. Flips the trainer switch/button and calls " YOU GOT IT NOW." Plane starts getting the newbie over-reaction handling and here comes your first turn. Plane heads for ground. Trainer releases the switch and calls.. "I GOT IT."
The story above pretty much describes every first flight I've ever witnessed including my own several years ago.
There are a few exceptions nowadays with computer flight simulators being the number one reason for success. But without that,, and with no trainer to help you ,,, there are just too many factors that will make your plane's first flight,,, it's last.
Trimming the control surfaces. Maiden flights are all about trim and timing. Sometimes we get lucky with our build and do such a good job that little if any trim is needed. This is rare. And I've never ran a tank of fuel on the ground to check flight duration and had it be the same once I started flying .
Trust us Charlie. We all went through the process. My instructor was a tough, mean , strict type who made me try things before I thought I was ready. Will never forget the first time he killed the motor and called "DEADSTICK !" "What ya gonna do now?"
My fourth flight was in 20mph winds. He said,,, "The wind is our friend." Crummy friend if ya ask me. Crosswinds really ache.
But my first solo from takeoff to landing hooked me and I've never looked back. And that old Hobbico MKII trainer .40 was still in one piece long after I quit flying it and moved onto more advanced planes. I then sold it to another who was just starting out.

I hope you'll find a local pilot who will give a little of his or her time to help you get started the right way.

Hi Charlie - Glad you liked the sites and info in them, and yes, it has taken a LOT of work It is just a lobor of love for this sport I guess. I guess I might be a GPS geek as well as an RC addict, but I think the info helps a few folks out every once and awhile, and besides, you should see the look on some Club members faces when I show up at their fields out in the middle of no where and they can't believe I was able to find them on my own

I looked at the two planes on eBay, and I honestly don't think you'll be happy with either of them. The little high wing might be closer to a trainer, but NOT the little Extra. Remember the old addage, "You get what you pay for". I would refer to these as almost junk I'm afraid. They can make them look and sound pretty good on the adds, but just be careful. If your going electric, be careful when charging the LiPoly type batteries. They can get hot enough to cause fires in a very short order if done improperly. You can get a lot of info on LiPoly batteries here on RCU as well, it's a treasure trove of info if you just start surfing and searching around it. I have one electric with a big LiPo battery in it, and with the proper charger I have never had a problem with it heating up yet.

I am honestly not trying to dampen your enthusiasim, just want you to be cautious about what you spend your hard earned money on. I would almost bet you that if you buy the eBay plane, you'll just be buying something better that actually flys like an RC plane is suppose to shortly after.

The [link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFG19&P=7]SIG LT-40[/link] from Tower is located at this link just to give you an idea of the difference. I know there is a lot of difference in the price vs the eBay stuff, but there is a reason for it.

However you decide to go, I would really hope you call one of the Clubs up and see if at least a member might be willing to meet you half way to check your plane out, or better yet, you can meet at the Field for a one on one, and at least get that first day with an experienced pilot to help out. It would be well worth the 80 mile trip. Besides, out here in Wyoming thats just an everyday trip.

We lived in Ohio for 5+ years, and we drove back home to Wy twice a year every year. We always took a different way back (most direct out however) and we one trip we swung up and came across the U P. Beautiful country you live in. When you get your wings and need a trip out West, I'll be looking for you to stop by and we'll go wiggle the sticks together

I have been flying for 9 months now but have acquired a lot of knowledge since then but am still learning much more as the days go on. This is an intriguing hobby. When I first cam on here I had just bought a Giant Scale TF Corsair. That was the only plane I had and was asking for ideas on it and was surprised how many people " jumped " on me about that. I was kind of pissed at first but heeded their advice. Bought a Hobbico Hobbistar 60 Select because it had everything you need to start and it is big. I nearly crapped my pants on my first flights but got the hang of it soon after. The moral of the story is that I am very, very glad I listened to their advise. The more I learn the farther back the Corsair project gets pushed.

DO NOT take what you read on Ebay ads as gospel truth. Neither of these models are "suitable" for a beginner, as they put it. This seems to be one of the hardest things to get across to beginners that are eager to get a plane. Sport planes like the Extra ARE NOT designed to be forgiving of newbie mistakes. They will go exactly where you point them, and if that happens to be straight at the ground, you get a rekitted plane. Trainers like the LT40 are designed to help get a beginner out of the tight spots that he or she WILL get into during training.

The Hanger 9 ALPHA is a real good trainer. I learned pretty fast on it. The most important thing i can say is GET AN INSTRUCTOR!!!!!!!!!! They help a lot and save money and time!