I was just thinin about getting into this kinda thing and would have a few questions about the various types of planes.

First of all, is a plane powered by one of those cool little glow engine things to hard for a beginner? I see many planes advertised as "begginer's planes," but no such glow engine powered ones. I also hear they use special fuel. Is it hard to get/expensive? I suppose its faster to refuel a gas tank then to recharge a battery too.

Also, i thought a multi-engine plane would be cool. what are you guyz thoughts on these. Are they harder to fly? Are they faster w/ the extra power?

I have seen few or no multi-engine glow engine planes. Do any exist?

And finally, many of the "beginner" planes i have seen say they have only "elevator, rudder, and throttle control" (3 channel i guess). Now im new to this but i know a thing or to about airplanes. Doesn't this mean you have no alaeron control = no banking or roll = only turn w/ rudder? Thats no fun! Any "beginner" planes w/ aeleron control? (i guess that would be 4 channel?)

Thanx for ur help guyz!

As a beninner you should get a trainer plane. Look at towerhobbies.com they have a very good selection. My trainer was a Goldberg Eagle 2 and it was a wonderful plane to learn on. Those engines aren't hard to deal with at least not the airplane ones. They do take special fuel but your local hobby shop should carry some you can use. It's called Nitro fuel and it costs me about 15 - 20 a gallon but a gallon last a good number of tanks. It is faster to refuel a gas tank. Over the years I've had electric and nitro models and i prefer nitro. All I have to do is refuel rather than recharge for 15-30 minutes.

As for multi-engine you probably don't really wanna tough one until you get pretty good. If I was going to get a multi it would have gas engines and those are made for planes too big for beginners. The big thing you have to worry about is if one goes out in mid flight you have a torque problem because instead of your remaining engine being in the middle it's off to one wing and this will cause major problems.

Some beginner planes have 3 some have 4 it's just a matter of preference. As I said I have the Eagle 2 and so did my instructor. It's a great beginner plane because the control surfaces are pretty small so it's harder to get in trouble.

cjmdjm,

Welcome!

Yes, you can start with a glow plane. In fact most people do (and have done so for a long time). The engines are not difficult to deal with at all. Just follow the instructions and you'll have a fun and safe time. Expensive is a relative term, but the fuel is not really a major cost issue. My trainer has flown about 12-15 times on a gallon of fuel. A gallon costs about $12-15 dollars, so your talking about $1 a flight. In a long day, you might get as much as 5-6 flights in. It is nice that you can fuel up and fly sooner. However, its also nice to take a rest, watch other pilots fly, and chat with others.

There are a few multi-engines around, but this is something you'd likely take up after mastering a single engine.

Yes you are right. 4-channel (which implies that ailerons) is definitely the way to go. All the glow trainers I know of are 4-channel.

Take a look at trainers listed on Tower Hobbies website (www.towerhobbies.com) and by Hangar-9 (www.hangar-9.com) for excellent trainer options. Many of them (called RTF, or Ready-to-Fly) take only an hour to set up for flying and even include a 4-channel radio.

Based on lost of recent post and magazine articles, the Hobbico NexSTAR is all the rage, but there are several others that are also quite nice. Each is at a different price point.

And last, there are many posts here on RCU where individuals, such as yourself, have asked the same questions. Do some searches and see what you find.

Good luck!

MrJB

A suggestion from an old timer.

Take a look at the www. Horizonhobbies.com website. I suggest Horizon because of their higher than average kit and radio quality. You will find Almost Ready To Fly (ARF) aircraft there of high quality. If you look into the Alpha Trainer, the engine that comes with the plane has already been mostly broken in for you. This is a common problem area for beginners.

The Alpha Trainer, and the Extra Easy if it is still available, come as a package with the radio and engine. Both of which are for the most part already installed. Final assembly of the aircraft takes about 1/2 hour to 1 hour with few tools required.

Twin engine aircraft are indeed flown in R/C, but I suggest you wait until you gain a bit more experience than you have now. Twins are not necessarily faster than single engine aircraft, but they do present unique problems quite often if one engine quits while in flight. A person with little or no experience will most likely crash the plane trying to land it engine out.

The "special fuel" you were asking about is available at just about any hobby store. It's cheaper by the gallon and if you are flying a lot it would be a smarter purchase than pints or quarts. Fuel comes in different grades, usually qualified by the percentage of nitro used in the mix. Most sport flyers and trainers use a "10% mix". Your hobby dealer will steer you in the right direction.

Get into the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) website at www.modelaircraft.org and see if there are any R/C clube in your area. If there are, that would be an excellent place to see how it's done. It would also be the right place for you to find an instructor, or someone to teach you how to fly. There is usually no charge for this service if you choose to join the club. DO NOT try to teach yourself. You will only destroy an airplane on the first ATTEMPT to fly it. That would be a foolish waste of time and money, all of it yours.

While you are visiting the AMA website, look into the basic safety rules for radio controlled airplane flight. They work pretty well for keeping you and everybody else relatively safe. R/C airplanes are really not toys. they are smaller sized versions of people carrying aircraft and can, and have, caused serious injury when not flown properly and safely. Have as much fun as you can, but use common sense and a little caution. All clubs have general rules that they want you to follow at the field, generally they are the same as the ones proposed by the AMA.

In closing, welcome to the world of radio control aircraft. Whatever area finally captures your interest, you can have a life time of fun if you stick with it. Learning to fly R/C aircraft does not happen over night. It takes time and practice. Don't become discouraged if you don't get out and "solo" immediately. Everyone learns at a different pace, so when you do finally solo, it will have been the right time. A good instructor will not let you solo before you are ready. It saves you a lot of money by not crashing your plane.

Enjoy and have fun!

Silversurfer

Find a local flying club,they will usually have an instructor or three and trainer type planes,will save you a ton of time and money.

everything i can concieve of to get you in the air... not cheap, but most of it can be reused on your next plane so its basicly a start up cost.



LL1251 Sig Kadet Seniorita Kit .15-.25,63"
Accessories Needed Combo Available
1 54.99
LXAN91 Magnum XL-25A BB ABC FSR
Accessories Needed
1 59.99
LXZ908 Master Airscrew 9x5 Wood Propeller

1 2.09
LXPV5359 Airtronics VG400 4-Channel FM/3 94102Z Servos 59
Accessories Needed
1 111.99
LXL499 Hobbico Custom Sealing Iron

1 12.99
LXHV48 Top Flite MonoKote Transparent Red 6'
Accessories Needed
2 11.99
LXA380 CBA/Tatone Chicken Stick

1 5.19
LXA297 Wildcat Premium 10% Fuel Quart

A 1 6.49
LX0540 Aerotrend Blue Line Fuel Tubing Small 3'

1 1.90
LXC024 Devcon 5-Minute Epoxy 9 oz.

1 14.99
LXK310 Great Planes Pro Wood Glue 4 oz.

1 2.39
Sub-Totals: In-Stock Items: $296.99
Back Orders: $ .00
Combined: $296.99

Check with your local hobby shops and clubs. They will provide you with a wealth of info just as RCU will. Yes I use mail order companies, but they are not the ones who will be a short trip away and support the product you but from them. Pilots and instructors at the local clubs will usually be very willing to help out a new person. You will get the chance to see several different trainers fly first hand. Many pilots have a trainer that they would be willing to take you up on. When we do a demo, I always have a trainer at hand to take people up on (mostly kids, but some adults). Try to hook up with an instructor and see what they recommend. I have an LT-40, AirMaster 40T (learned on this one), Tower Hobbies 40 Trainer (bought second hand), and a Seniorita. Overall the LT-40 would get my vote for a trainer. The NexStar might just change all that though. If you want something to play with, buy a park flyer cheapie, if you really want to learn, then look into some of the suggested planes on this thread. Trainers with ailerons will usually be the best way to go. Multi engine park flyers do not use radios like that used in "Standard" rc. The controls are different and might pose a problem if you then switch to a regular 40 or 60 size trainer. They also do not have a buddy port available. Again a local club or shop can help you with all of this as well as support equipment. Good luck.

So, you are interested in RC airplanes? You have come to the right nut ... I mean place, but I warn you, you got me started, so get a cup of coffee because there is a lot of stuff to follow. I hope you are really interested.

I had been dying to get into RC planes since I was a kid, but it was always so expensive. In November I ran into a friend who said he and his son were having a ball flying electric planes at a local field. Then he said they came as a complete package and the plane was RTF, ready to fly. Now I was really interested!

Then I learned that the whole thing was under $200. I was hooked and I hadn't even seen it yet.

So, I went into deep research mode. I joined my friend's club in February, the Long Island Silent Flyers, and bought my first plane in March. I have been flying since and having a ball. I now have 7 planes; three electrics and four gliders.

Here is the club web site: www.lisf.org

What follows is some info on the some of my planes. If you would like more on RC flying in general, I have tons.


AEROBIRD - a Ready to Fly Package - RTF

This was my first plane, the Aerobird. Very easy to fly. People who have failed with other planes have been successful with this one almost immediately. It costs about $150 at hobby store. I have 100+ flights on this plane. I love it and I fly it as often as I can.

This is a three channel starter plane. It has T/E/R control. That means throttle, elevator and rudder control. If you start reading up on planes, you will see many references to the number of channels and what controls they have. This is also a pusher type prop which means that the propeller is behind the main body, not in front. Also you will notice this has a V tail as opposed to the usual inverted T tail.

The newer model is the Aerobird Challenger which is even better. The Aerobird Challenger also has options for air to air Combat and can drop streamer bombs and a parachutist. Lots of fun!

Here is a review of the Aerobird - which is predates the release of the current Aerobird Challenger.
http://www1.wildhobbies.com/news/def...&articleid=853

Two videos of the Aerobird in flight - best to have a fast connection
http://www.parkflyers.com/html/aerobird_video.html
http://www.greatmodeldeals.com/videos/aerobird_512k.wmv


Sky Scooter Pro II - A RTF that I don't own, but often recommend

I almost bought this plane instead of the Aerobird.

When I got the Aerobird, this plane was $260. Now the Sky Scooter Pro II is about $160, ready to fly. If I was starting today I might have bought this one, but I still love the Aerobird and recommend it to new flyers. I just like this one too. Like the Aerobird, it is very rugged and very repairable. Completely different type of plane. This one has a front prop and looks more like a real plane. Three channel like the Aerobird, but it is a T/A/E plane which means it has throttle, aileron and elevator controls. No rudder control but a standard inverted T tail. More aerobatic than the Aerobird, and still targeted at new pilots, but I think it is a bit harder to fly. I may still get this one some day.

Sky Scooter home page
http://www.hitecrcd.com/

Videos of the Sky Scooter Pro
http://www.megamotorusa.com/videos/Sky-Scooter.htm
http://www.hitecrcd.com/Funtec/Skyscooter/ssclip.WMV


From Parkflyer to Sailplane

SPIRIT SELECT - An RTF Sailplane
My first Sailplane or a Glider, which are the same thing.

This is a Great Planes Spirit Select 2 Meter
(wing span of 2 meters or about 79 inches)
http://www.greatplanes.com/airplanes/gpma16.html

At $139, ready to fly, it was a bargain. In order to fly the plane you need a launcher called a hi-start. I paid about $60 for that, but that is all I need to add, and I can use this hi-start with other gliders.

I have about 65 flights on this one. Very different from an electric. There is something graceful about how a sailplane floats on the air like a sailboat on the sea.

As I said, this is an unpowered glider that has to be lunched with a hi-start (think big bungee)
If you are interested, here is a link that explains what a hi-start is and how it works.
http://www.labyrinth.net.au/~learmont/HiStart.html

The idea behind the glider is to find thermals, or columns of warm rising air. You ride the air up to gain altitude and extend your flight. A good pilot can stay up 10 minutes and if you are lucky, you can stay up for hours, riding the updrafts like a hawk.

I have since started flying a second sailplane, a Segitta 600. I am really longin these planes.

ENOUGH FOR NOW

So, that is the depth of my madness at this time. In addition to these I have two more gliders, which I have not yet flown. I also two more electrics on the buiding table, one of which is made out of foam board building insulation.

Have I gone nuts over RC planes? You bet!

If you are interested in gliders/sailplanes but not flying them yet, you might find this thread of value:
http://lisf.proboards13.com/index.cg...num=1070740602

the 3 channel trainers are normally electric parkflyers. this is how i started and i learned on my own-trial and crash,uh i mean error. its a matter of personal preference. first you need a radio-get a good beginner 6 channel computer radio-it will work with any plane you get unless its a helicopter or a very complex plane. i suggest the futaba 6 exa. ok you have a radio. now you need to choose a trainer plane
-electrics are fine but if you want more quality, power, and flight time, they can get more expensive than a basic glow plane. parkflyers with 10 dollar motors are also a blast. the new, more expensive electric motors get up to 300 dollars and can power big glow planes. if you like quiet and clean, go with electrics to start and go to hobby-lobby.com-they have a wide arrangement of trainers, sport, ducted fan, scale, etc. planes. they also tell what you will need for each plane to complete it.

-many people suggest going with a 4 channel glow trainer plane-these are great if you like a lot of different and exciting planes. the noise and large size of these planes makes it fun to take off, fly and land, at the expense of noise and engine exhaust grime building up around all your plane stuff. its not too bad. i have gone from electrics to glow because noise and dirt doesnt matter for me. the electric planes of the same capabilities can be up to 2x more expensive.

each plane will require its own engine,radio(transmitter,receiver,servos, and battery), and support equipment(tools, building and fixing supplies, etc.)

if you like electrics get the mini piper or wingo fron hobby lobby. they are easy to fly and build, and repairing a broken wing takes 5 minutes-mini piper is about $250 basic+misc items=$300

if you like glow planes get a sig( i think) kadet lt-40 or lt-60. i think its the slowest one out there. the nexstar and other trainers are also great. a basic package(brand new) will run about $350, plus accessories, plus tax, plus more accessories=$400-$450

the way i reccomend it (with a 6 channel computer radio) is a little more expensive but definitely worth it-you can use the same transmitter for several planes thanks to the memory chip in the transmitter that stores the plane's settings

also, second hand planes can go down to half the price of a new one

2 keys to success
1.read read read magazines, RCU, etc.
2.get an rc flight simulator, if it doesnt teach you how to fly, it will at least teach you the basics-turning in the air going different directions, setting up a landing, etc. this is very useful

i think i covered most of the stuff. hope this helps. have fun!!

As for the 3 channel planes ... Trainer planes have Dihedral built in to the wings (The wings have a 'v' shape). This leads to greater stability. Trainers also have a high-lift wing. The combination of these factors together with basic physics means that when you turn left with the rudder, then the right wing is going around the outside of the circle, therefore it is going faster, therefore it is generating more lift, therefore the plane rolls to the left as well....

... i.e. Rolls with 3 channel planes are still possible. The mechanics are different, but 3 channel planes can still roll, loop, fly inverted, etc.

gus