i was thinking about getting into electric flying too. what is the best way to get started ??

I dont think there is but there are kits that have every hing you need in them.Here are some elec complete kits http://www.hobby-lobby.com/beginner.htm

Hobbico makes a electric version of the Super Star that is RTF and flys great!!
It comes with 4 channel radio and looks just like the regular Super Star glow plane just smaller.
JIM

My God! I don't understand how they can justify the cost of those electrics. The prices are ridiculous.

scratch build it if you dont like the price, its not like it has to be cad drawn to maximise strength to withstahnd engin vibs. note: see sig for my opinion of arf and rtf

I started flying in March of 2003. I had no interest in build models, so I
went the R-T-F route. I think this is such a great way to get started.

I am a first timer. However I am also one of these guys that goes into intense
research when I get interested in something. After several months of research,
talking to people, flyers I decided to start with an electric parkflyer. I
looked at lots of planes and packages and selected the Aerobird. It is a
super value and very easy to fly. The new version, the Aerobird Challenger
looks to be an eaven better performer. Also, it has two flight modes - Sport
for the beginner or relaxed flyer and Expert for the more advanced or agressive
flyer.

HobbyZone AEROBIRD THREE CHANNEL ELECTRIC PARKFLYER

Very inexpensive and rugged for a three channel starter - $120-$150
The plane comes complete and fully assembled. Charge the flight battery, put
on the wing, put the batteries in the transmitter and up you go! Even the
batteries for the transmitter are included.

New flyers like me are going to crash, especially if you are teaching yourself
to fly. You don't want something that will be costly to fix. The plane is
very rugged, but there is a full line of parts available at reasonable cost.
You can replace the whole main fuselage for $49 including the motor and all
the flight electronics. A wing is $15 and the tail is $9. So, if you crash
badly you can get everything for under $75 and you are back in the with a
three channel plane.

If you are interested I have written up a tips sheet on how to fix the
Aerobird.

Here is a review of the Aerobird ( pre new challenger version)
http://www1.wildhobbies.com/news/def...&articleid=853
On these pages you will find Videos of the Aerobird in flight
http://www.parkflyers.com/html/aerobird_video.html
http://www.modelflight.com.au/model_flight_videos.htm

With 100+ flights on the Aerobird, I fly in 15 MPH winds and fly with great
confidence. Personally, after all the bad landings I am amazed that the plane
still flies, I love it and have recommended it to many friends who fly them
now as well. They all learned very quickly!

A good alernative RTF Electric is the Sky Scooter Pro II. You can get it as an ARF or as a RTF package with a 72 MHZ Hitec 3 channel radio for about $160. When I bought the Aerobird, this package was $260, now it is $160 and well worth your consideration.
http://www.hitecrcd.com/Funtec/Pro2.htm
Videos
http://www.hitecrcd.com/Funtec/videos.htm

From Electric Park Flyer to Sailplane - My second plane

THE GREAT PLANES SPRIT SELECT 2 METER

If you are interested in sailplanes the Spirit Select is completely assembled with all the electronics installed. It includes a 72 MHZ single stick radio. This is very easy to use and is very similar in look and fell similar to the Aerobird's radio so I picked it right up and flew. It is branded Hobbico, but it is really a Hitec radio.

Here is a link to the site where I purchased it for $139 complete!
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...I=LXVK55**&P=7

Here is a link to the ARF version where you can find links to two product
reviews. If you want to do some building, the ARF is the route, but for an
extra $40, I got the radio and the plane ready to fly. For me that was
perfect.
http://www.greatplanes.com/airplanes/gpma1045.html
Video
http://www.greatplanes.com/gallery/gpma16.mov

The plane has spoilers built in the wings that are not set-up when you get the
plane, but you don't have to enable them if you don't want to. Makes a good
project for later, and but the instructions tell you how to do it. I will do
that soon.

I started flying the Spirit in Mid July and have about 60 flights on it. In
the begining I focused on hi-start launching and landing practice. I now have
that down pretty well. However, this plane has a reputation of being a great
thermalling plane. I have had flights of 15-20 mintues and had the plane so
high it was a dot in the sky. I would definitely recommend it.


SPECTRA MOTOR GLIDER

I don't have one of these, but if you are more likely to buy a motor glider
than a pure sailplane, there is a verison of the Spirit called the Spectra.
Essentially the same plane, but with a motor. Again, tower has it for $199
RTF - Add $10 for everreadys and you are set.
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...I=LXVJ51**&P=7


Both the Aerobird and the Spirit have been a pleasure. I would recommend them
to anyone starting out in electrics or gliders who would like to go the
ready-to-fly route rather then building.

Dang. That Aeorbird looks like the ideal plane for my very intersted in flight girls of mine (8 and 12). Too bad the sticks are all messed up. I don't want them to learn on a single stick, then try to re-learn on a 2 stick system. Otherwise, that aerobird looks like the ticket.

The sticks on the Aerobird are not messed up at all. Totally standard. You have rudder and elevator on the stick and the throttle on the slide. That is exactly how Hitec, Hobbico, and Futaba have their single stick radios set-up.

This standard arrangemetn makes it hard to things confused while they are learning. Stick for flight control, slide for throttle. When you move to a dual stick, for a three channel plane, Pitch and turn still on the right stick and the throttle is on the left stick instead of the slide.

Standard in North America is mode 2 layout. You have the pitch and primary turning control on the right stick. Exactly the way it is set-up on an Aerobird.

In mode 2, on a rudder/elevator plane, these are on the right. On a aileron/elevator, these are on the right. If you have R/A/E. Then the rudder is the secondary turning surface and it goes on the left with the throttle. Right stick is always the primary fight contol stick.

Believe me, they will learn easier on a single stick, especially at that young age. It will also feel more like the computer joy stick with pitch and turn on the stick and throttle on a slide. It will be very clear to them what to move and when.

Nothing is messed up.

And, you will be hard pressed to find a more crash tollerant three channel plane than an Aerobird. Especially if you implement a few reinforcements that I have posted all over the boards. I would be happy to send them to you.

Progressive learning.

The Aerobird Challenger is set up for very mild behavior right out of the box, which is what new pilots need. They tend to over control the plane. And, for rudder commands, only one of the surfaces moves on the tail. Again, the design is to be mild for new pilots.

As they progress, you move the control lines down the control horn which gives more surface throw, and the plane becomes more responsive to elevator and rudder. Loops and turns can be tighter.

When they get really good, then you switch into pro mode. Now, rudder commands become even more responsive as both tail surfaces move in response to rudder commands and turns get very sharp. Coordinated elevator/rudder stunts get very crisp.

This is a perfect first plane, in my opinion. And, when they INSIST that you get a second one, the price is right and you can put the combat modules on and let'em fight. Now they have real motivation to get good!

You are going to have so much fun. Dad will eventually get his own Aerobird. I promise you.

the fun that experienced pilots are having with air to air combat with the two channel plane.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...708#post1441708

With the challenger it would be even better.

Sky Scooter Pro 2. Has everything you need, and a good 3 channel radio. 159.99

Jetts

I can endorse the Sky Scooter Pro II package as a good value for a good plane. I recommended it to a friend. I have flown his. Very nice plane.

However, I think the Aerobird Challenger is easier to fly and offers more fun options that the other planes just don't have. This month's Backyard Flyer has a review on the Challenger, if you are interested. The loved it! Links to Aerobird info is above.

Sky Scooter home page
http://www.hitecrcd.com/Funtec/Index.htm

Also takea look a the Multiplex Easy Star - RTF available
http://www.multiplexusa.com/models/P...s/EasyStar.htm

a great thread on the Easy Star
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...5&pagenumber=1