Hello all -

I have always been interested in rc flying. Been rc'ing on the ground for a while. Been to my local airfield to hang out, watch, ask questions etc...
Just purchased a simulator over the weekend. I've been flying (on the the simulator) a trainer and am beginning to get the hang of it. Working on landings! Getting pretty good at the landings, just can't land on the runway yet! I guess that's a start.
I have not yet purchased a plane. My approach is to learn on the simulator before making a purchase. Basically because I would not be able to control the urge to attempt flight without being fully trained first!

I would appreciate any advise...<br type="_moz" />

G'day

The best advice I can give you is to find a club and talk to the members. Find an instructor (mentor, teacher etc) and ask for his opinions on planes, radios etc.

You will get a lot of advice here and some of it will be good and many people will tell you the same as I have told you.

There is a lot of good equipment out there for a fraction of what it cost even 10 years ago. There is also a lot of junk coming from China though some of the stuff from China is quite good and certainly cheap. Whatever you buy, keep in mind spare parts, service and warranty. Gear from China often does not have any of these. Your local hobby shop will be more expensive but you should get better service and spares backup.

Have fun, welcome to the madness. I've been at it for over 50 years and can't seem to give it up. It can be particularly addictive.

Cheers

Mike in Oz

Welcome to RC Find a Club ..Many clubs will have their own trainer planes and all you will need is your own fuel...You will need an instructor..Much better to learn with an instructor ..we have what is called a buddy cord and it ties two radios together..The instructor will let you have controle untill you dont and then he will take over and regain controle and a safe altitude and attitude and give it back to you ...There are so many different trainers out there and each instructor will have a preferance..They will want to guide you in your first purchaces to best help you learn to fly...I like a Sig LT 40 ... They are a great trainer but there are many more...You will also need a radio if you dont already have one..I would get at least a 6 channel 2.4 Radio...Futaba , HiTec , Spektrum .. something along thoselines..I think most of the radios are pretty good and its hard to say this one is better than that one..You will need to decide for yourself when the time comes...I have both HiTec and Spektrum...I find the Spektrum easier to set up but I have had it longer...

Next time you hang out at the field, ask about training. Be honest about where you are in the process and with a little luck you'll get to talk with an instructor (or at least find out how to get in touch with one). The fact that you have bought something, anything, shows that you are serious about it so that should get you some help.

A sim is a good tool to hone skills that you learn while with an instructor on a buddy box. A sim is not an instructor but a sim of actual flying. I have never used a sim that is quite right with takeoff and landings,
Plus one on getting with an instructor now

Practicing landings on the sim is not very helpful because you have no depth perception, it's hard to land on the runway.

Are you wanting to get started with electric or glow? todd

I'm going to start with electric

Welcome to the site Drisaldi.

A simulator is a wonderful adjunct to learning and it is best used concurently with flying the real thing and not attempting to reach some level in your mind before ever getting involved.

Now like many of the fellows are hinting at, get involved with your local club and find a mentor as soon as you can and even more importantly let your mentor guide you in choices of equipment you use. Doing this is possibly the most important step that will contribute to your success.

Agine allow your mentor to help you make your decision in the airplane choices but here is one that I happen to recommend to most of the fellows that choose to go electric and I have have had experiance with this ship and a number of students. Its one of the good ones out there in a sea very bad choices.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXCKWL&P=RF


Enjoy the adventure

John

A great electric to learn to fly is the Easy Star II. I would just fly it with the rudder and elevator at first. Put the rudder on the aileron stick. After you learn to fly you can set up the ailerons. The Easy Star is my trainer of choice.

There is a great thread on this plane over at rcgroups.com.

If you are serious about flying RC get a good computerized 7-8 channel transmitter. And you will need a good Lipo charger. Remember to treat your lipo batteries with respect.

todd

G'day

I will second the Easy Star II as a trainer. I think it is a much better plane without the ailerons and you can add them later. The trick, as has been said, is to put the rudder on the aileron channel of your radio so that later, when you switch to a plane with ailerons, the change will be minimal.

I have recently bought another Easy Star II. I built it without ailerons and with the standard motor. My previous one had a hotter motor which was fun but which made it harder to fly. The Mk II is also a better package in many ways. Mine came pretty well already built. I just added a speed controller, battery and receiver and I was away. No glue was needed either.

The Easy Star is my "I can't be bothered to get anything ready" plane. Just toss in a battery (I use Hobby King Turnigy 1800 mAh 3 cell packs) and go flying.

The Easy Star will also thermal brilliantly for such a simple plane. Sometimes, the hardest thing is to get it to come down.

Cheers

Mike in Oz

I really appreciated all the responses and the great advise.<div>
</div><div>Thanks again</div>

1. Try to stay in the middle of the air.

2. Do not go near the edges of it.

3. The edges of the air can be recognized by the appearance of ground, buildings, sea, trees, wires, and interstellar space.

It is much more difficult to fly there.

I am coming back after being off over 5 yrs. Although I may not need it, I bought a Hobbyzone glasair. It has a "virtual trainer" system and also comes with a4 channel radio. It isn't the best radio out there, but can sure move you along toward a much better one. I plan putting a review on RCU in the beginners section with my thoughts after I fly a couple of times. Would have by now, but the weather just will not cooperate.

if you want to enjoy this hobby,,go to a few club feilds and meeting,,,,,,,you will learn who will help you and who will try to sell you the world.........stay away from hobby shops till you UNDERSTAND more about the hobby,,,,,,there out to make a buck and trust me they can smell a newbe miles away..........remember dont fall in love with your frist plane,,,,you will not pass it down to your son,try to have 2 planes ready to go..........you fly your plane and not look at the guys who do all the tricks,,,,they were new to.....even if they say hell any one can do this why cant you..........follow the clubs safety rules there to keep every one safe.these are not toys,,,that prop travels at 10k and it cuts long and deep....buy as you go.buy what you can fly and what you wish you could fly.......if your married tell the wife what you plan to do,,,,,,,,,dont hind stuff from her VIA the ups truck,,,,,,,it will bite you in the ass............look, read and listen.............and most of all its fun and keep it that way.........