This is most of my response to a PM from a fellow with limited funds, wanting to get into RC flight.

Thought it might be interesting to others.
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Looking in the Tower Hobbies catalogue there are several that you could start with, spending small bucks as you go.

The "Tower Trainer 40" kit is $60, add $15 or so for shipping, CA glue, and some sandpaper. This would be a good start, you'd be building a kit and getting the experience along with the introduction and an easy kit to build. Still needed would be the covering material, the engine, and radio gear.

A little more money initially would be the Great Planes "Electri-Cub." $75. But this one includes the drive motor and propellor. You'd still have to get the covering material and radio gear.

And since it is electric, a battery and charger are also needed. But no engine or fuel, it's generally cleaner to fly electric.

The ElectriCub isn't as easy to build as the Tower Trainer, but it's still within the abilities of a beginner.

With the ElectriCub your cost in the air will be around $225-$230, the Tower Trainer more likely $300-$325. With the higher price you also get a much more capable airplane. It will keep you interested longer, having moderate aerobatic potential. The ElectriCub is pretty much limited to level flight and loops.

If you can float a loan you might be interested in a "Ready-to-Fly"' deal, such as the Hobbico "Superstar Select." This is advertised as "Ready for takeoff in just 20 minutes." It includes the engine, prop, spinner, and a Futaba 4 channel radio set. But the price is $350. And you don't get to build the plane, it's already done.

If you just want to fly quickly and don't want to wait to build, and want to fly at a very low cost, Hobbico offers two more, both electric, and everything comes in the box. Along with an instructional video.

The first is the "Aero Cruiser." Wingspan is 37.5" and iot includes a three channel radio, with rudder, elevator, and throttle controls. Being just a three channel, the radio will be limited for future use, but this rig will get you flying. Its capabilities are about the same as the ElectriCub, but it wont fly in as much wind.

The second is the "Speed Pilot." Same plane with a simpler radio. A two channel rig with elevator and rudder controls only. Turn the motor on and fly, come down when the battery is discharged. But it's $120 ready to go. And it still includes the video.

You can also go to Wal-Mart or a similar store, get a minimum electric for $40-$60. I will guarantee total boredom almost immediately, and you wont learn much, if anything, from playing with it.

Bill.

also Sky Scooter Pro 2 and Avistar select.

for your first plane, unless you have an extensive background in building models, you want something like an arf because there are things that you want to learn about how they are built first. you want a kit second. here's how i see it: "you would me spending months building a plane to be flown by a beginner that doesn't quite have a hold on flying yet." remember,m you are most likely to crash when you are new not only because of pilot error, but you are new to linkages, choice of servos, and properly hooking things up. instructions usually have something really misleading in them such as hard mounting your tank to the firewall. every plane i have had tells you to do that.

Mike:

The Avistar Select is another $50 bucks, selling at $400, and the Sky Scooter Pro is not a beginner's plane.

Bill.

Having no experience with electrics I do not have an opinion on the electric suggestions.

Two things I would ad:

Check with the local club and see what they suggest. I know electrics are very popular, but no one at my club is into electrics and the help we could give would be limited. Purchase the brand radio equipment that others in the area are using. Someone may be willing to provide a transmitter to use as a buddy box, and being able to borrow other small items such as servo arms is a plus.

Consider purchasing a used trainer. Many hobby shops sell planes on consignment. Several buddies have found 40 size trainers in great shape, complete with engine and radio for around $250.

Eric

Also just saw an eagle II ready to fly with radio and engine sell for $180 ready to go. The used market bears some great deals if you are willing to look and ask people with exp about them. Don't go looking by yourself though. You can get screwed really quick by some people.

I just bought a Hanger 9 RTF Alpha Trainer complete for $275.

This is an awesome trainer plane with a good Engine and a JR Quattro remote. All istalled and ready to go.

Add some fuel and glow plug and your in the air.

Ebay has buy it now for $289 but you can send the seller a note and he will sell for $275.


Later,

Michael

Do not buy on impulse!!!!!!!!!A lot of people sell for way less than they have in it! Don't pay more than you can buy new at street prices.....1

Don't forget that belonging to a club offers some advantages to this thread as well.

Perhaps there is a member of the club needing to liquidate some items at a very reasonable price. I got help this way and I'm not ashamed to admit it!!

Great to have some one hear to know what is going on. Sorry I have not been at field lately, see you soon.

I bought a new avistar, new engine, and a new radio to get into the hobby and was no big deal to me.

But one day a few weeks ago at the local hobby shop they had the exact same ARF put together, with a field box, engine installed, same radio as mine, a lot of the field gear like starter - power panel etc.. for about $150 less than I paid and the plane was NEW - put together and only taxied never flown.

I was there when the guy brought it in on a trade, bought it for his 4 year old and turned out to be too much (the dad didn't even fly) for him so he traded it in on a nitro monster truck (duh).

Pays to shop around tho at times.

i hate that. when you go looking for something, and you wait a while just in case a sale pops up, you buy it, and a week later it is on sale for half price.