Hey Guys and Gals,

Ive been out of RC Planes for about 5 or 6 years and want to get back in. During my time away from RC I earned my own private pilot wings and currently fly a Cessna 172 in SOCAL. Now to the point, i have a 6 channel radio and a 60 OS motor. I want to purchase an aircraft that is realistic looking and possibly with retracts or flaps. Ive seen the 182 and warbirds but i cant make up my decsion. What directions do you think i should go considering my status. O Yeah, it would obvisouly be and ARF.

I would suggest the Great Planes 40 size Cessna 182 Skylane. I have one, and they look great, and fly wonderful. They don't have flaps, but you could set it up with flaperons if your transmitter has that function. I don't see the need for flaps on mine, it lands great without them, even with no wind to land into.

Get a "stick" of some sort first. Get your fingers and mind back into flying. It wont take too long, then move on to a scale model.

I think you might enjoy one of the nice "Sport Scale" Super Decathlons that are available as ARFs:

http://www.ehobbies.com/ttr4570.html

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXKAG4&P=7

http://www.ehobbies.com/sea2075.html

Any of these three would be more forgiving and easier to fly than a true scale kit version of the Decathlon. They're nice looking models, very aerobatic and fun to fly, and a good introduction to tail draggers before you step up to a more-difficult-to-fly-and-land warbird.

Even though these are supposed to be .40 sized ARFs, they all weigh in at the 6.5 to 7.5 lb mark instead of the usual 5 to 6 lb. mark like most .40-sized ARFs. Your .60 sized motor should fly one of these nicely without being overkill from a power standpoint or creating a CG issue.

Thats why I said to get the Cessna, it flies just like the Avistar I learned on. There's another idea... A new Avistar is only about $300.00 from Tower for everything, and is ready for flight in about 30 minutes. Semi symetrical wing, and a OS 40 LA engine. The Avistar is the best plane to learn on in my opinion, but the Cessna flies just like it and looks better.

I don't recall many scale or semi scale ARF aircraft that are .60 size with operating flaps. The older Top Flite red kits used to have flaps but no provision for gear. The new TF gold kits have flaps and gear provisions, but they are a kit, and would really be hard pressed to run well on a .60.

On the otherhand, Hanger 9 makes several scale ARFS. I think the new Spitfire has flaps and retracts. But I would hesitate to fly something that large on a .60 size engine. Don't you think you should probably get the feeling back before jumping into something scale that would need flaps? It could be a short time flying otherwise.

Bob

Get a Goldberg Tiger 60

There is a delux version that comes with retracts, or you can just bash them in. Ditto for Flaps, that's an easy mod.

But the Tiger is an EXCELLENT flying plane that will let you get your chops back in shape, and yet it is a very nice aerobat once you're ready to have fun with it!

60 size ?
retracts ?
flaps ?
semi-scale ?

Hangar9 Spitfire

http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=HAN4250

I think the question that hasn't been asked is how much RC experience did you have before the 5-6 year break? If you were an experienced, competent flyer then you'll be one now, once you knock the rust off. If you were didn't have much for skills or experience then, well, you won't have much success with a somewhat heavy, marginally powered scale ARF.

If he flew 5 years ago, it should take him about 20 minutes to get dialed in. It's like riding a bike or swimming...

I have some stick time on a H9 A-6 Texan. It belongs to a friend and is a great flyer. His is Saito 1.00 powered. It would be a good plane to get your thumbs back in line with. It can take a little practice to take off. It is like taking a Cub off. The landings are easy and it flies great.

david

My skill before i quit were pretty good. I built and flew many different planes from a Cub to a P-51. I personally believe that wouldn't take me to long to get it back. Its just like flying a real airplane or riding a bike once you learn it, it pretty much sticks with you.