I,m new at this r/c thing and I just want to find out what is the best plane for a person on a tight budget.[sm=drowning.gif]

check out some of the spad trainers,bout as cheap as you can get witout stealing someones plane.

If you are interested in glow power....The School Boy from Hobby People with a AP .09 would be my choice for an easy to fly trainer. Any of the .40 size trainers are good flyers if you have a large area to fly from and around $300. If you really want to fly cheap, build an Ace Whizard with a .049 Black Widow(less than $100). You can fly it with a Futaba 2 channel radio which cost around $50. You don't need an electric starter with this simple engine. It starts easily with a spring starter....just some 1/2 A fuel and a battery is all you need to go with it.

Check your local club and ask arround, there is always someone selling a trainer very cheap and in flying condition. If you're in Miami, Fl I sell you mine.

I started on a tight budget, check out the Tower Trainer 40 kit... its cheap and extremly easy to build, and flys good too. But as Lynn S stated, you will spend around $300 to get it in the air. IMO I would go with a 40 size trainer because you can use the radio gear and engine in a second plane.

I would go with the Hangar 9 Alpha trainer. It is very stable in flight and easy to start with the Evolution 46 engine. The needle valves are "beginner proof" so you can't mess up. It assembles in about 30 minutes and costs less than $300. It comes with a JR transmitter which is a definite plus. Once you get the hang of it ditch the 3 bladed prop and go for a 10x7 2 blade. The plane looks nice and is tough as a tank. Trust me I know!

See previous post on same subject http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_11...tm.htm#1116272. Of course, that foamy 2meter glider at www.nesail.com looks kind of cool (and tough enough to see you through) too.
Perry

It depends on the definition of the "tight budget" and the type of the plane you like to fly.

Gas (or glow) planes - there are some relatively "cheap" (under $300) "everything included" kits. Add to this some minimum required "extras", e.g. glow plug battery, starter, fuel etc. and you are looking at $330-$350.

I herd about SPAD's but have no opinion.

Electric - everything included you can get for about $100 for a small plane (about 35" wingspan).

And there was already a very good advice about asking around - in the club or local hobby shop - they might have something good at a very acceptable price.

Good luck and welcome to the hobby!

I started off with a fighterbird 2 channel. Then went SPAD. www.stadtothebone.com
I build an electric Debonaire. First time building a spad and it flew great. A few clicks of right Ailerons and a couple clicks of up elevator and it flew straight as an arrow.
I never flew a 4 channel plan before and after practicing on FMS (free RC flight sim), I was able to go from 2 channel to a 4 channel. I did have a veteran flyer there with me. I definetly recommend that.

Below is the scaled down Debonaire (48" wingspan).



happy flying,
sahoy

If you are on a really tight budget. I might suggest you shop around on the auction web sites. For example: I picked up a like new Fox .45 for $26 and a Futaba 6 ch radio complete for $85. Of course these deals don't come along every day and you must shop around for a couple of weeks or so to find a deal like this, but they're out there! The best deals are auctions that end late at night when only "nite owls" like me are up. If you don't know much about the equipment I suggest that you ask a friend in the hobby to double check the auction for you so you don't get taken for a ride and of course double check the seller's feedback/rating. The ARF trainer kits are getting pretty cheap. I saw a nice trainer new in the box at Tower Hobbies for $89. You may even find a used complete setup for around $200. I see that your living in Puerto Rico which may make it a bit more of a challenge, but I trust it can be done. Good luck in your search and happy Flying!