Hi everyone,

Well as I stated, I'm re-entering the hobby. The first rc plane I ever owned was a electric super aviator RTF 3 ch and came with a training video. I think it's made by dragonfly now, but at the time it wasn't. Anyways, it was a horrible experience for me and that's why I left the hobby for 5 years. The first time I tried to the "super aviator", it would not stay in the air. In the video, it says to toss the plane straight ahead and then throttle it gently. Whenever I tossed the plane, it seemed like the front of the plane was too heavy or underpowered because it always lost elevation, even with the elevator stick pulled down. Anyways after 9 attempts and $100 down the drain for repairs. I gave up on the "super aviator" and on the hobby. I never did ever get to experience actual flight, unless the 10 second crashes counted.. haha.

But now I'm back with a new fund and I'm going glow power now. I just bought a SIG LT-40, OS engine, and a 6 channel Futaba Skyport radio with the needed accessories. Well I'm in the process of building the plane right now, but I just need some advice from the experts. I'm a college student and I live in the city, so I sort of don't want to travel out of the city to join clubs. I also don't want to crash my first glow plane either, so do you think a flight simulator would help in the landing and flight control learning process? Which rc flight simulator programs would you recommend? How about the FMS freeware program? Is it any good? I'm not too worried about take offs with a glow plane, though. Thanks for any input.

I dont know anything about the FMS software but I do reccomend the great planes simulator. I was out of the hobby for 15 years and it helped a lot to familiarize myself using the simulator. Hey if the software is free it cant hurt to try. In any case welcome back. I dont know where you are from but all of the clubs I have been in were in the city. Theres a lot of experience there that can help to aviod costly mistakes. It my well be worth the extra effort to find an experienced instructor. I'm not saying you CANT do it on your own, Its probably less expensive to get someones help. Besides glow powered planes can be pretty quick compared to a park flier.

If you think flying that small electric and crashing it was a bad experience, just wait until you try to fly that glow trainer on your own. Oh, you'll likely get an honest to god 10 second flight, followed by the possible total destruction of the plane

I also highly recommend that you NOT try flying that in a local park like you might have with the electric. That would be a very dangerous thing to do. If you have to, leave the city to find a club and an instructor. No amount of simulator time will fully prepare you for that first flight.

Now, all that having been said, welcome to RCU and RC flight. There are a great bunch of people involved in this hobby, and some of them even show up here once in a while! You can find great advice, as well as terrific answers to almost any question.

But seriously, you'll have a much better time, and a lot safer one, if you get some local help.
Dennis-

Agree 100% with DB! The LT40 is a great plane and can land at a slow walking speed when you know what you are doing. On the other hand the plane is big and can cruise at around 40 mph! This makes the plane dangerous to someone that isn't sure about what they are doing. I used to fly full size Grummen airplanes as a weekend flyer. I knew the theory of flight and thought it would help me learn to fly RC airplanes. It helped a "little" but not much. Ask at RC hobby shops for contact numbers of RC clubs. There may be one closer than you think. Training for new pilots is usually free just for joing the club because they want their members to know how to fly safely. Its also a great way to meet friends with common interests. [8D]

Thanks for your inputs. But the reason why my electric kept crashing was because it wasn't very well balanced and overweight, now that I think about it. Whenever I hand tossed it without the battery, the plane would glide really well, but once I put in the 7.2 volt battery pack, the plane wouldn't glide anymore. It was like trying to get a rock with wings to fly. Another thing that contributed to my unsuccessfulness, would be due to the weather. If memory serves me right, I remember it was a very windy day, but I was so eager at the time I just didn't care. Right now, I'm just logging in simulator time and looking for someone who actually knows how to fly these things. I don't want to make any more hasty decisions and I really do appreciate all of your advice.

Great! And welcome aboard, LordLo!

Here's a thought, and it's not original : When the plane is completed, contact the closest club, and ask for an experienced flyer to do the maiden. More than likely a knowledgable, friendly, experienced flyer will examine the plane from end to end, show you how to do the range check, and put it through a gentle test flight. You may even be offered some stick time with the tandem transmitter method, where the other flyer can take control if you get mixed up when the plane is approaching you.

Best wishes,
Dave Olson

I'm happy to hear that you're seeking assistance. Here's something that may help; I'm going to add a link to the AMA's website. The AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics) is a national organization that provides liability insurance for us. (They also lobby for our right to keep the frequencies we fly on, and provide a fairly decent monthly magazine.)

At the site is a page where you can input your Zip Code. You will then be given a list of the closest AMA chartered RC clubs. The vast majority of RC fields in the US are AMA chartered (because the AMA also insures the owner of the property), and you must be an AMA member to join those clubs.

It's all about liability today, because we've become a bunch of greedy, "it ain't MY fault", "Sue 'EM!", litigious fools. We complain about the escalating cost of everything, yet the courts are filled with frivolous lawsuits, costing US (tht's you and me kids) billions every year and tieing up the justice system. Now it's costing doctors, manufacturers. service companies, and yes, RC flyers through the nose to insure our selves against the possibility of being sued by us. [:@] Guess what? It's the Insurance companies and the Lawyers that are getting rich. Sorry, end of rant....

Anyway, here 's the AMA site. http://www.modelaircraft.org

I wish you good luck starting out. Be patient and find help, and this will bring you years of good times!
Dennis-

LordLo,

I started back into this hobby the same way that you did with 15 years away. I bought a simulator cord from ebay and used the FMS simulator last winter. Simultaneously, I built a LT-40. I think you will enjoy this trainer, as it is easy to see and flies slow enough for you to learn. Excellent choice. I thought the FMS allowed me to get a good feel for the plane and how to react when it is coming at you. I mostly used the SuperCub. Once you get pretty good with the simulator, you should be able to handle your plane pretty well. I would still highly recommend finding a club member to help you with your first flights. Get an AMA card and then find someone to help you out. I just helped someone get airborne that crashed on his first attempt. I was lucky and had a successful first flight without help. Enjoy this hobby.

I'm new and thought I might be able to fly my Xtra Easy 2 trainer around a bit on my own. Lucky for me I went to a club first. A bunch of great guys there looked my plane over, adjusted it, pointed out I had servo reversal turned on for my rudder [X(] and a few other things. Then one of them took it for a short flight and pronounced it a decent flying plane. They did all this for me, and I wasn't even a member! I saw right away what an advantage all of those seasoned friendly pilots could be. I joined AMA and their club (CARDS of Lansing Michigan) right away. Heck, just watching some of them who are IMAC? champions doing incredible stuff with their planes was worth the membership. - Joe