hey. do i have to use a flight simulator to start off? im thinking of starting with the flyzone playmate. also, how likely is it that my rc motor will stall? thanks sorry if these questions are stupid.</p>

Simulators are really good tools to help you fly the real thing with less crashing. The electric motor on an RC airplane almost never quits.

okay but would it be okay to just fly the plane a little low in the start than get a simulator? because i really do not want to spend money on the simulator.

There is so much to learn, no questions are stupid.

There actually is a lot to learn, and a sim can't cover even half the details. If you plan to learn on your own, plan to be replacing airplane parts unless.......

Finding a teacher who will buddy box can save you money and time. He will show you a bunch of stuff that a sim can't. Setting up the equipment, dealing with the engine, and such. All a sim actually simulates is the part where you wiggle the sticks. Most of the rest can kill airplanes. With a buddy box, there is someone backing you up who will save the real model airplane in flight, the one that costs more than the sim. And who probably will save the real model before you try to fly it.

Check out the RC Simulation forum here at RCU. Look at the threads that mention the free sims. You might use one of those. But sims won't teach you much more than stick wiggling. And that isn't all there is to it.

Electric motors don't often "quit", but "stalling" is a different matter. Some of the Flyzone planes are almost too underpowered for true beginners to fly succesfully the first time out. It takes some skill to fly a plane that barely has enough power to fly. As DaRock said, a sim will not help much with this. An experienced pilot with a buddy box will save you lots of time, money, and frustration!

In my opinion, you need both the sim and the teacher as Da Rock said. While the sim cant teach you setting up your airplane, it will teach you muscle memory. That will help you react faster when in a tight spot. Provided, of-course, you take the sim seriously.

I do disagree that the sim cant teach you to fly an underpowered airplane. In fact I learnt that way. You dont need to setup your airplane on the sim to be underpowered. Just try to do all your flying at 40% power on the sim. Such a small excess of power will have the same effect as an underpowered airplane.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Ameyam

While I usually recommend them, in this case, I would say you could skip the simulator.

The Playmate is such a small, light, easy-to-fly plane that a sim would almost be overkill.

Get they Playmate and have a ball! (just watch out for trees!)

http://rcdeskpilot.com/

ok thanks for all the replies guys!!! really helped. but minnflyer so you are saying with the playmate i just set it up, (charge the battery) taxi it around a bit and start to fly? thanks

Correct. Although the wheels are so tiny that unless you have a paved backyard, you won't be doing too much taxiing

I did a review of the Playmate last spring, check it out - and check out the video.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...rticle_id=1248

Minnflyer, where did you find such an ugly modelI'm not talking about the plane[X(][X(][X(]

You should be so adorable Gene!

Probably should have change my screen name to "Pretty Boy"[sm=wink_smile.gif][sm=wink_smile.gif][sm=wink_smile.gif]

A perfect instance of a pot calling a kettle black.

shouldn't he be getting something with "Ailerons"..?

I guess I am partial to the way I learned, not that I am anything special....but I had some old timer buddy box with me on a NexStar trainer and the same exact plane is on the sim......which flies very acuratly on the PC......real flight 3.5

I guess it's more money that way, but you get what you pay for......

Also I would HIGHLY recommend the 1st R/C Flgiht school books, starting with 5 days to solo.....good to know theory

http://www.rcflightschool.com/Solo_Manual.asp

Best $25 I ever spent!


Tom

No. He's getting a Flyzone Playmate to fly around his backyard. This doesn't mean he'll eventually be flying glow planes, gassers, or even bigger electrics.

The Playmate is about as simple as it gets. If, someday he wants to go into bigger and better things, then he can worry about ailerons.

Besides, I have always advocted the use of a 3-channel plane for those who have no experience and want to go it alone. Without proper instruction, ailerons can get a beginner in trouble very quickly!

If the rudder is on the aileron channel, his training experience will be close to a 4 channel plane. Most people learn the rudder last anyway. Some never do!! We have a fellow in our club that never hits the end of the runway on takeoff. He lets the engine pull the plane to the left and consistently takes off at about a 45deg. angle to the end of the runway. Even does touch-and-gos that way.

you are right about that.....intermediate pilots can get into trouble fast

I never flew 3 CH so I have no idea......My latest micro or park flyer is the Beast MBX.... so I guess I am all about 4 channels.....or more

I can't stand those small to medium EDF jets that have no rudder [:@]

How you gonna land that thing in a cross wind....not to mention you are supposed too "Use" the rudder based on what my teacher said.......

Now that being said here I am 4 years later still trying to learn



not to mention he can't get a nexstar and Real flight for under $100......

yea im just thinking of buying the playmate and thats all. i just need one to fly when i get bored :P

To have fun in your backyard you dont need a flight sim, but if the bug bites you, then you need both.
 A flight sim and an instructor with a buddy box. We all crash but with the buddy box the chances are less. The sim get you stick time at all hours in all weather. Welcome

One of the biggest misconception/mistakes for new Rc pilots is to fly low. Altitude is your friend when your starting out. I realize we are talking about a "park" flier, but if you make a mistake, you want a some altitude so you can correct your mistake.

Again, that's good advice under normal circumstances, but if you get the playmate up too high, you run the risk of losing it.

It is a tiny, micro-lite airplane. a slight breeze will carry it for miles!

Besides, I have bashed mine into everything imaginable and she's still flying.

Your biggest fear is not crashing it, but getting it caught in a tree!

Looks kinda like Bruce Campbell's (sidekick on 'Burn Notice') older brother. Much older...

You'll enjoy that Playmate. I agree fully with scooter about altitude, better to have a bit too much than too little. Another thing is to make small corrections, especially when landing. Keep the wings level when near the ground, or bank just a tiny bit. Let us know how it goes, and have fun!
Ed

Man are you right about that.....I got my Micro P-51 caught in the neighbors tree and my wife almost killed me

That's because when she came home, I was on top of a 20' extension ladder with a 15' painters pole swinging wildly trying to hold my balance on the top step (Not smart) and knock this thig out of the tree top before it rained [X(]

Needless to say I think she has up'ed my life insurance since I started R/C .....so just be careful with too much altitude, as MinnFlyer said, those micro-lite planes get caught in a gust and they are gone......and it takes less wind than you think.........

alright thanks guys im thinking of starting in the spring instead of the winter but this information will really help me out in spring!!!!!! thanks again everyone!!!!!