I've been running RC cars for a few years now, and every summer I got to the local flying club's airshow and watch them do their thing with planes, and I've always wanted to do it. I got about $200, and im wondering if I can get a gas plane up in the air and flying for under $250. I'd prefer 4 channel, but 3 channel with rudder, tail, and throttle control would be cool too as a training plane until I get working papers and a job. Preferably also an easy to build kit, or a ARF, because im not too into modeling, just the flying aspect of it. So does anyone have any suggestions for me??

You can get in the air for about $300 minimum unless you know someone that can will sell you some used stuff for cheap.

try ebay.. its gonna be tight even on ebay.. do a search for trainers..

Welcome aboard. With that $250 budget, you're looking for used equipment. There are ways to do that, one would be to check with that local club. They probably have somebody retiring a plane, maybe someone leaving the hobby, willing to part with plane, radio, engine & fieldbox ready to go for that kind of money. One of the guys who just quit in my club sold his trainer, with engine & radio & fieldbox, still with a half gallon of fuel, for $300. The new guy's delighted.

There's another reason to get to know the club guys. They will set you up in a training program, so your new plane doesn't get turned into a kit again. It's best if that first plane lasts a year or so, and the odds of that happening are GREATLY enhanced when a good training program is used.

First things first, though. Get to know the club and members, see how they do things and who's willing to train a new pilot. Talk about their preferences, and see if you can find a good deal on some hardware.

Good luck!
Dave Olson

I know this is slightly over your stated budget, but this is what I bought and am pretty happy with it so far:

[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCXF4**&P=7]Tower Hobbies[/link]

Hope that helps

P.S., I used to race 1/8 scale buggies, and I enjoy flying airplanes much more.

Check ebay for good deals and even come by the forum and ask the members if its a good deal or not. At least that way you wont invest on a lemon.

Wing Ding,
He said $250 complete. The package you're sterring him too will still require another $75 to $100 for fuel and field equipment.

I agree with the "used" recommendations. If you try to buy new for your budget, you're going to end up with junk that won't fly well. You WILL need instructions to get going, unless you want to destroy that $250 investment., so a local club is your best bet.

Good luck, and Welcome!
Dennis-

if you go with a Herr, theire cheap and so are the engines, but like was previously said, you will need maybe $300 you cna do the plane itslef for $65-$70 then you are down the radio engine and field... but 200 could be done if you cna find some one with a old 4 chanel they want to lend/sell cheap to you. and scrounge up 4 STD servos as about $10 each.

A couple of things that should also be considered in your budget. AMA membership well worth the price and my be required for club membership. Club membership my be required to fly at the field. You should talk to people at area clubs they may have diferent programs available. I've seen clubs with what they call a social membership giving access to club activities. This can give you more time to save money and learn from other fliers. You will meet many helpfull people and more than likely some stik time with planes owned by the club or your new found friends. Club members are also buying and selling there equipment constantly and know when and where the best swap meets are in your area. Be a member, get involved and opertunities will present themselves.

I know this is totally out of the relm of what you asked, but have you considered electrics?

I am not trying to push them on you, Just make you aware of how far electrics have advanced. You can get into a three channel electric RTF packge for under $200, complete!!

Not a big powerful fuel plane, but you don't have a big powerful budget either.

These planes can be flown many places fuel planes can not be flown because they are almost silent. Since there is no fuel, there is no smell, no spills killing grass and no messy clean up aftewards. You charge the batteries from your car. Typically you have one battery in the plane and one or more extra. After you fly, you charge that one while you fly on the next one.

Many don't even need a runway. I have two flying that I fly in an open grass field. I hand throw the planes and just belly land them on the grass. I also fly sailplanes. I have a total of 6 planes.

Here are two examples of three channel electric Ready-To-Fly Packages for under $200. The planes come complete and fully assembled. Charge the flight battery with the included 12 V charger, put on the wing, put the batteries in the transmitter and up you go!

AEROBIRD Challenger THREE CHANNEL ELECTRIC PARKFLYER
I fly one of these. Lots of fun! Inexpensive and rugged for a three channel starter - $110-$150

As an option the Aerobird Challenger has an air to air combat module, a bomb drop module, or a sky diver drop module. Each about $20.

Here is a review of the Aerobird ( before the new Aerobird Challenger model)

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 love it and have recommended it to many friends who fly them as well. They all learned very quickly!

SKY SCOOTER PRO II

I am helping my buddy learn to fly one of these. You can get it as an ARF or as a RTF package with a 72 MHZ Hitec 3 channel radio for about $160. This one is more aerobatic than the Aerobird.

http://www.hitecrcd.com/Funtec/Pro2.htm
Videos
http://www.hitecrcd.com/Funtec/videos.htm

Electrics go large as well. Electics are avilable or can be built in the 10-20 pound range. There are models aviailable off the shelf that will break 75 MPH and some go over 100 MPH.

There are tons of articles about people taking their .40-.90 planes and converting them to electric. It is not hard to do.

So, if glo is your way to go, I can't offer you any help. Electrics are just another option for your consideration on your tight budget.

Interested in sailplanes or electric gliders?

For budget airframes, you should seriously consider SPADs, http"//www.spadtothebone.com

It takes a little extra work at first to get flying, but there is a lot of information out there, and lots of great people who can help, and really show you some great ways to save money.

Good point. I forgot about the field equipment. Duh. Can't he just bum the field stuff (except for fuel) for a while until he can afford it?

Thank you for all the information, Im either going to check out the local club (only problem is its a giant scale only club) and ask them about membership, and if anyone has any planes for sale fairly cheap, or I might just go electric... looking at my options right now, i can get close to $300 prolly, but im not sure

Sorry for the double posting here, but this plane looks real nice, but the comment was made about field equipment, what would field equipment entail, i know fuel, but what else?? Because if i can scrounge up enough money for the proper field equipment then I might look at this plane...

If you visit this link you will find a list of all the AMA chartered clubs in New York.

http://www.modelaircraft.org/templat...5E31DE4FA6F552

Don't know what your area code is but this club has a 607 area code:

460 MODELERS OF BINGHAMTON INC

These also have 607 area codes

CORTLAND AEROMODELING SOC*

FLYING SPARKS INC

CORNING TRI RIVERS RC MODELEERS

TRI COUNTY MODELERS

APALACHIN AIRWOLVES RC SOCIETY

BINGHAMTON AEROS

GIANT SCALE AIRCRAFT ASSN

ONEONTA RADIO CONTROL FLYERS

AEROGUIDANCE SOC INC

Hopefully a couple of them are close enough for you to visit. Perhaps you can find one that has a membership that will meet your interests and your budget.

OK, last post for a little while, but what do you guys think of This Plane ? Its only $250, and maybe i can convince my dad to retain part ownership of the plane and pay some of it, and it has the four channel system all installed, along with everything else. Any comments, good or bad??

Thank you very much

Thats a good plane I checked out two newbies with that plane at My field, it was a good flying plane. all you'll need is a jug of fuel. fuel pump. glow starter, and a chiken stick.

The Hobbico Superstar 40 looks good to me. As I recall, I went with the Tower Trainer because of their crash guarantee. It's something like if it crashes for any reason while flying with a qualified instructor and following safety procedures, they will replace the plane at no charge to you. At least that's the way it used to be. Of course the grantee lasts for a specific length of time (a few months?)

As far as field equipments, at the very minimum you'll need: Fuel, fuel pump (manual or electric), fuel tubing from the fuel bottle to the pump and from the pump to the engine, a glow plug ignitor, glow plug wrench, extra glow plugs, either a safety stick or electric starter, a way of securely holding the plane while you start the engine, a wrench for removing and installing propellers, screwdriver for removing and installing the spinner. You will also want a field box in which to put all this stuff.

I mean guarantee. That's what I get for mis-using the spell checker.

Hey Skit...,
I started out with the Hobbico SS 40. Wasn't looking for that particular trainer but got lucky on ebay and bought that combo package from an individual for $225 including shipping. The plane had never been flown. Maybe $249 isn't a bad price since the going price is $300 or a little less. It is a docile trainer that is easy to learn on. Field equipment is going to be extra but there are inexpensive ways to go "bare bones" until you're ready to move up or decide whether to stay in the hobby.
As others advised, get the application into AMA for a membership. Also, check all those local flying clubs someone mentioned in another post. I'm in the Rochester,NY area. Some clubs have their own trainer planes for instructional purposes. You may want to check if one in your area offers that before making a purchase of your own.

Im actually not too far from you, in Binghamton, NY. The only local flying club i know of is the Binghamton Aero's Giant Scale Club. Do you know of any in this area??

I have had one guy offer to teach my dad how to fly for free on one of his planes, and im trying to convince my dad to learn how to fly with me, and then to buy our own plane so we can go whenever we want. I'll also look into AMA membership. Thanks for all the help, and keep it coming if possible

Check a few posts back and you will see a whole list of clubs and a link to a bunch more. Phone numbers and e-mail addresses are provided for most of them.

Wow, that club you pointed out is actually right down the road from my house, i checked mapquest to see where it was, and saw my street name on there lol. I think im going to give the listed e-mail address an e-mail and see what i can find out from them. Once again, muchas gracias

Aeajr has a good suggestion. Go to the AMA site and search for "Chartered Clubs". Many clubs have an official website and some only have an email address for a contact. If that's the case, I'm sure your email will be answered promptly. Even here in Rochester, there's a few local clubs but no flying fields within the city limits. So, you have to search your general vicinity. The AMA search enables you to put in your city, zip code,etc. Also, our area is listed at AMA as an area or zone "II". Here's a link to an email contact for Aeromodelers of Binghamton, Inc.

[email protected]

sorry for all the questions, but I have yet another one. Since I don't want too use all my money, and my dad is seemingly resistant on helping me out, I'm now considering electric even more, can anyone tell me if this plane look any good?


And BTW: I e-mailed that guy asking for more information, there was no website listed, but the I did use that e-mail address. Thanks for the help again.