Hello i have recently took a big interest into RC planes. I live in Ireland so the hassle of getting a RTF plane here is quite a pain. Is there anyone who knows of somewhere that will ship a plane to here without the huge costs. As i am young (15) i wanted to take this up as a serious hobby but seeing all the crashes and accidents i am guessing it might be a big waste of money spending it on a plane. Your replys are really appreciated. Thanks in advance Jack

I found these web sites. Maybe they can give you better information. Sorry if I gave you too much information, but I'm not that familiar with Irish geography.

Model Aeronautics Council of Ireland
Website: http://www.maci.ie/
(The official governing body for RC flying in Ireland)

Irish Slope Soaring PSS and RC Glider Group
Website: http://www.greenhobbymodel.com/slopesoaring/index.htm
Location: Slope Soaring flying sites located all over Ireland



Dublin Kestrel Model Flying Club
Website: http://uk.geocities.com/kestrelmfc/index.htm
Location: Off Blessington Road, near Brittas, Co Dublin

Dublin Model Flying Club
Website: http://www.airvideofred.com/dmfc.html
Location: Bray, Co. Wicklow

Ennis Model Flying Club
Website: http://homepage.eircom.net/~ennismodelflyingclub/
Location: Ennis area, Co. Clare

Longford M.A.C
Website: http://homepage.eircom.net/~justsounds/
Location: Longford town, Co. Longford

Newbridge & District Model Flying Club
Website: http://www.simpley.com/mambo/
Location: The Gallops, Curragh, Co. Kildare

Shankhill Radio Flying Club
Website: http://www.srfc.net/
Location: Bray area, Co. Wicklow

Shannon Model Flying Club
Website: http://www.smfc.org/
Location: Shannon

As far as shipping from here goes.

www.towerhobbies.com or www.horizonhobby.com would be the best places to start.

Try here if you want to stay local.

http://www.greenhobbymodel.com/index.html

I hope this helps.

jckck,

Tower hobbies will ship Internationally. Don't let what other people say about crashing a plane bother you. When you first get a trainer you'll have a few mishaps here and there but far the most part they will withstand a little ponishment. It's no different than someone talking about crashing their car. That won't stop you from buying a car will it? I have been flying for over 15 years and have had many planes and I can really only remember one going down that was my fault that was a total loss. I've had a lot of others that had a bad landing, flying in to much wind, or someone else causing a problem but it was all repairable. That just comes along with the hobby. Have fun.

http://www.towerhobbies.com/

I don't ever let "crashing" keep me from enjoying the hobby. I lost count of the number of times that I've crashed but now I'm probably one of the best flyers at the field and continue to push myself to get better. I think it's best in the beginning to buy the less expensive type planes to learn on. That way the money part of it isn't too bad. Have fun learning to fly........[8D]

I don't know how things are in Ireland in terms of materials, but you could always build a SPAD ( www.spadtothebone.com ) They can take the punishment regular balsa/ply trainers can't withstand and repairs are easy and cheap. By no means they are indestructible, but are a bit more tough than other planes.
Just my 2 euro-cents

I've crashed every one of my planes. It's part of the hobby. You are going to crash. Some of them last 3 seconds. Some of them last 3000 flights. It's unpredictable.

There are 2 types of planes:
1-Those that HAVE crashed
2-Those that WILL crash

If you don't think you can handle crashing--then don't get into this hobby.

Thats the cold, hard and honest truth. You are going to crash airplanes. If you can't afford it or you can't handle it--then take up golf or sailing.

See my signature:
They all have expiration dates. I'll give you $50,000 if you can find it printed on one of them from the factory.

If they fly, they will die! But what a thrill while they last. If you don't push, you don't crash, but you don't learn past the basics. Find a good repair manual you will need it. Good Luck, have fun, that is what it is all about!!!!!!!!!

Let me add a thing or two. Crashes are almost always avoidable. There is a reason for every one of them. Sometimes, it is not clear a first, but they all have a cause. They are all a sad thing to behold, although sometimes entertaining. Personally, I get a huge charge out of avoiding a crash or a save from a mistake or some type of equipment failure. That happens as well, but we don't talk so much about these events. I have had many planes over the years, that flew, and flew, then were sold, never having been involved in a crash. Indeed, the majority of my planes have never been crashed.

However, as some folks have already stated, the reality is that crashing is likely to be part of this hobby for anyone who flys long enough. I have crashed from radio interfearance, mechanical failure (maintenance), a bird strike, mid air, dumb thumbs (several times), engine failure, improper radio programing (poor preflight), and more. This over a period of some 35 years.

I stop short of thinking that every plane WILL crash in time. I just don't believe it has to be this way. As with anything, learn all you can about the hobby, seek help from older pilots, get a good simulator and practice with it in your spare time, press your skills with the sim first, then at the field, build well and maintain even better, plan your flights and your manuvers ahead of time to avoid the unexpected as much as possible, fly in all kinds of weather to hone your skills, and also choose your plane to fit your skill level and don't leap into complex aircraft too soon. Make gradual advancements. And lasty, don't fly too many airplanes in a season. You will make more progress with one good airplane at a time. Fly it till you can do all it is capable of, then move on to one more capable. A very good pilot will likely emerge from this process.

Have fun, and be safe.

[8D]Start with a trainer and locate a local club. Most clubs have instructors that will help you get started either with a "buddy box" or by getting you up and trimmed out. All models will crash, but you want to learn all you can from a model before it dies. Enjoy.

Hello Jack
Don't let talk about crashes bother you.
Our planes are made of wood, just so we can glue bits back on when we do have a bumpy landing !
It's no problem, except you don't get to fly again on that particular day.
But next day the planes is repaired and ready to go again. Except it's a little heavier (with more glue inside) !

Where are you in Dublin?

On the South side of the city it is dublin Kestrel Model Flying Club. They fly a couple of miles past the Square at Tallaght.
In the centre it is Leinster model Flying Club and they fly in the Phoenix Park.
If you want to go to the Dublin Mountains to try slope soaring, you don't need a club. the slope soaring contact is Ireland Slope Soaring Site though the planes for slope soaring are different in design. You can take a look at the soaring website and see what the guys fly in the local area to you. there are over 50 Irish flying slopesoaring places listed with pictures, and maps and directions on this website.

The local hobby shop - I mean the main LHS that does most model airplanes in Ireland is Green Hobby & Model, Harolds Cross, Dublin and they are flyers themselves there so they know what matters. You should really call into them and have a chat first, they would tell you what is suitable for flying in ireland ... it's very windy here for example .... and our choices of suitable models reflects that.
They keep a book of flying places on the counter in that shop with contacts in the clubs all over the country. You will surely find a place to fly nearby.

There is also some information about flying model planes in Ireland on my own webpages here Norm_Flyer . Mainly about slope soaring off the coast and mountain slopes, but my website is also the planes I fly from club fields too. So that might be a help.

Hope you find this helpful.