Hello all, First post. Glad to be here!

Used to fly back in the late 80's. Went thru the whole process of flying a trainer than onto sport planes. My last two planes were the Super Sportster 60 and the Super Kaos 60. I was getting pretty good and very comfortable with high speed aerobatics etc.

Well. that was over 20 years ago and now I find myself wanting back in BAD!! I have always missed the hobby but have kept an eye on the sport and am pretty much aware of how much has changed, i.e. ARF's, RTF's,electricsand the new radio systems etc. Well, my question revolves on where to start? Is it reasonable to skip the whole trainer phase after a long absence? I would like to jump back in at the sport plane level if feasible. I have been playing around with Great Planes Realflight demo version and was flying the trainer aroundjust fine and greasing the landings etc. Felt just like I remember even though the demo version uses the keyboard for controls. I do have the latest fullversion 6ordered and on the way and I'll definitely be experimenting with different planes onceit arrives. Is it realistic to believe I can fly the real thing OKif I'm doing well onRealflight?

My interests are still in the glow fuel60 class sport planes and I have my eye on the following: (I will be using an O.S. 75 AX ABL)

Great Planes Escapade 61
Great Planes Big Stik 60
Sig Four Star 60
Goldberg Tiger 60 (only available in kit form but I LOVE to build so not a problem)

Will be ordering a Futaba 8FG Super 2.4 GHzFASST radio.

I know there are a lot of folks who have come back after a long absence and would like to here your experiences. I'm really hoping it'slike riding a bike!! Thanks

Randy

I was absent for nearly twenty years as well. I came back with an old plane from the attic and had one of the guys take off and trim it but it all came back quickly and I landed and needed no more help. You should expect to do fine, especially having spent some time at the sim.

As to planes... you know better than any one what makes your liver quiver and it seems to be different for each of us. And yes, there are certainly some changes. Four stroke engines, computer radios, electric flight, gas power, 3D, profiles, and of course ARFs and more.

Some things are the same, but some are different. One difference is that an ARF is cheaper than building and they are lighter and often fly and look better but for me, modeling was and is again a passtime and putting together an ARF just goes too fast and easy and much of the pastime is lost. Roughly... a 1.20 size ARF takes me two weeks to make air worthy compared to three months for a kit or scratch build. To keep something under construction then means adding two planes a month and soon the hanger has too many planes, storage becomes a problem and maintaining batteries becomes the pastime. Something is wrong with that... and I hope this doesn't sound like bashing ARFs as that is not my intent as ARFs certainly offer a lot for a great many.

While it took a little while, I've realized the ARF trap that exist for someone who likes to have a project going. I've found some satisfaction in rebuilding... but my current project is a self designed, scratch build eight foot wingspan plane and I'm having a blast again. Maybe it is just me... but this project has been more fun than the last four ARFs combined. It might not fly or look as good but in it is my pastime minutes, hours, days, weeks and months... and each one has brought great pleasure and enjoyment.

What I would suggest you do is this:

First of all, look over your planes very carefully and make sure everything is solidly connected - hinges, servo linkages, and so on. Next, check out your radio system to make sure you have something that you can use, meaning if 72 MHz, that you have the approved level of radio transmitter. You may consider moving up to 2.4 GHz. When and if you do, make sure your servos are compatible with your radio system. Some older servos are not.

For radio systems, I favor both Spektrum and Airtronics. But, that is a personal choice. All major radio systems are really fantastic. If you do upgrade your radio system, the majority of folks here usually suggest/recommend that you get the most bang for your bucks.. get enough channels and capabilities to take you well into the hobby. You don't want to have to upgrade in two years from now (for instance) to get more channels when you could do that now. Make sure you replace your batteries.

Once done, go to your favorite flying field and hook up with an instructor and have him/her look the plane over very well. Then have him/her fly the plane for you to make sure all is well.

I would then work with the instructor for a few flights with a buddy box so that you get caught up with your orientation, right / left turns and so on, then get in a good number of approaches, landings, and emergency (dead stick and so on) procedures. Once done, you can probably solo pretty quickly and then pick up where you left off.

Best of luck and welcome back!!

CGr.

G'day

I learned back in 1989 and flew until 1992. I was really still learning at that stage but when I came back in about 2002 (10 years not your 20) I found that I was pretty well where I had left off and I suspect you will too. I had sold everything so I had to start from scratch too.

The four planes you have listed are all great. I have the Four Star 60 with a Saito 100 in it and I also have the smaller version of the Stick with a Jett SJ 46. Insane. The other two are flown at my club and are good planes too. You will find the OS AX 75 easy to get along with but the Saito suits my relaxed flying style better. A friend has an AX 75 in a 60 size trainer and it really hauls it around. We have found it a little temperamental on occasions. Another friend has a clone of the Tiger with an ASP 90 two stroke in it. It really hoots but can be a bit hard to tune. Does not like lots of nitro too.

Any of the current crop of radios will do the trick. The Futaba certainly will though I have migrated recently to a Hitec Aurora 9 and am loving it.

Welcome back and have fun. I suspect you are on the right track.

Mike in Oz

PS That's my 6 year old kit built Four Star 60 on the left. Currently building a Four Star 120 from a kit for a friend. Fun.

I suspect you will be able to fly any of the planes you have in mind.

The radio you are getting will let you dial down the rates. It might also be a good idea to go to the local club/field. I'm sure you will run into someone who will give you a hand- like maybe let you take a club trainer up on a buddy box, or offer to buddy box or at least assist if you decide to go straight to sport plane.

You will be surprised how fast your thumbs come back to you. It's kind of like riding a bike. I flew a club members 40 size plane. A low wing something???? Never took off or landed it. My next plane back in was a CAP 232. All went well with the maiden flight. I was off for 10+ years.

Ken

Hi welcome back,

I took a 15 year leave from flying, after retiring and getting back in. It took only a few week and I am back. I started training again within three weeks. Just make sure your planes are ready for flight, and to ask for help whn needed . The new stuff is a real eye opener.

Thanks for the great replies

Your words of advice will be taken very seriously. I really have no desire whatsoever to fly a trainer again and will definitely be looking for a welll behaved sport plane. I have also made contact with the local club and will be attending a meeting in the next few days. I will definitely be approaching the IP's to help me knock the dust off and will most likely buddy box for my first few flights with whatever plane I choose. Really looking forward to getting back into the hobby for sure. (Kiddos are all grown and no wife to worry about!!)

As far as my current equipment goes, well there is nothing to worry about because there is virtually nothing leftas I sold everything off shortly after leaving the hobby. I will be starting from scratch and have been doing tons of reading and research which led me to this great website. I used to be a hard core builder and even built planes for the club president way back in the day as he would trade me radio equipment which to me was priceless when I first started. I have been looking hard at all the great ARF kits and will most likely be my first plane to get back into things a little quicker. Also, I'll definitely be building one also so it's the best of both worlds to me. I'm alsovery excited about the new 2.4 GHz radiosand can't wait to try all the great features. I am kind of a "techie" anywayand embrace new technologies.

Thanks again for the replies and I'll be posting stories/pics soon. Hopefully be up and running in the next week or two. Wish me luck!!

Randy

Well, Randy, I applaud your decision to follow a basic training schedule. I presume it won't take very long for you to get back in the groove. Good stuff.

My second plane was a Tiger 60. I had an old (I bought it at an estate sale) OS .61 SF engine. It needed bearings, but it ran perfectly. I flew it for several months when I moved to a Super Tigre 75 with a tuned pipe. It was truly fun to fly.

You stated you wanted to fly with an OS .75 AX. Great choice. I have one and love it. It has plenty of power and is easy to start, tune, and operate.

Best of luck with it.


CGr.

Thanks CGRetired (Coast Guard Retired?? Thank you for your service Sir) I did 14 years active duty U.S. Army. I came very close to transitioning into the Coast Guard back in the early 90's. I was a Blackhawk pilot at the time and the Coast Guard was short H-60 pilots so they were recruiting. Still regret not taking advantage of that to this day.

There is a club a couple of hours away that publishes an outstanding student pilot guide with a very thorough program consisting of phases which start from taxiing and progressively work up to the advanced stuff and everything in between. I'll be following this program but hopefully at an accelerated pace due to my past experience. We shall certainly find out!!

Anyway, I'm probably going to build the Tiger 60 from a kit as it seems to have been discontinued in ARF form which is actually fine with me. I love to build and this kit is supposed to build very well plus I can pick my own covering scheme so as to stand out from the ARF crowd! I have read some great things about the O.S. 75 AX and will definitely be going into the Tiger 60. I like fast and would rather have a little too much engine than not enough. I have a feeling the Tiger will like it very much. In the mean time, I'll purchase an ARF that I can start flying right away with the above mentioned student pilot program.

Well, I guess it's time to change my hobby room over as I'm currently heavily involved in scale plastic modeling (WW II aircraft and armor). Going to put up the plastic models for now as that is more of a winter time hobby and it's flying season now. Think I'll go ahead and order that Tiger kit very soon!!

Randy

That Big Stick .60 will serve you very well as a get back into the groove trainer. As a plus (assuming you've never owned one) they are outstanding in the wind so it'll still be your "bore holes in the sky" plane on days when you need to worry about wind gusts boogering up your landings. I think you'll find that the equipment we have now is outstanding and like the others, I welcome you back.

Thanks Jester. A Big Stik .60 is definitely in my future. I think I will build one from a kit.

After a ton of research and a bunch of time on Rrealflight 6, I'm fairly certain I can skip a traditional trainer and decided to purchase the Hangar 9 P-51 PTS (Progressive Trainer Series). It comes with an Evolution .46 engine and a Spektrum DX6i 2.4 GHz radio. There is a ton of reviews and 99% are very positive and I feel comfortable coming back in with this model. It will be here Monday March 26th and I hope to be flying it by Wednesday. I'll post stories and pics... wish me luck!!

Yes, US Coast Guard Retired CWO4. I retired after 26.5 years of active duty. I had four in the Navy on Nuclear Subs (boomers) then some broken service, then went in the USCG in 1975. It was an interesting career, to say the least. I now work as an engineer/analyst for a contractor for the FAA. Now, there's a switch.. ocean ops to air ops!!! I was fortunate to be stationed at an air station for several years. We had several DCA (Direct Commission Aviators) pilots, both Army and Marine Corp, at least at our air station. I knew a few Navy DCA's also, but not at Humboldt Bay Airstation, CA.

As I stated earlier, the Tiger 60 is one fine aircraft. It is a good "second plane" as a follow up on a beginners trainer, but at your stage, I imagine that it would be a great aircraft. I beat mine up quite a bit, as you can imagine, being a second plane after the trainer, but it taught me a lot and I never crashed it. I eventually sold it and, as far as I know, the new owner still has it and still flys it.

CGr.