I got my first plane, a Firebird Outlaw, a few days ago. I flew it for about 10 mins and then it started getting away from me, i tried to bring it back towards me but it kept going around in circles. Then i just let go of everything and it finally came down at the bottom of a hill, right next to a main highway! Was I just holding it too long? Any advice would appreciated.

I have been flying that plane for a couple of weeks. No doubt that does not make me an expert, but on the other hand this is a forum for beginners and my opinion as a beginner who owns and flies that plane is worth something. First I would say don't fly on top of a hill. You said your Outlaw ended up at the bottom of a hill. Soooooo, I am guessing it started at the top. Possibly it started at the bottom and you flew it to the top and then it came back down to the bottom. That would seem like a successful flight and since you are not happy I am concluding the former is true, no? This plane does not like wind, good wind, bad wind, ill wind, a good fart will make it do a wing over into terra firma. Try not to sneeze whilst flying. I live in Louisiana so hills are not an issue, but those damn bayou thermals are a killer.

Tim

I was in a valley and it went over a hill. I'm wondering why it kept going around in circles and wouldn't land.

If it was a warm sunny day and the ground was cool, then you were flying in a thermal lift bubble of air. That was a dream situation for any sailplane pilot; but for a beginner with a light plane without elevator, it can be a scary situation. Just try to keep the nose into the wind with throttle off and turn back toward yourself once you regain steady flight. Being so light, they are hard to control in such thermals. The correct amount of turn control input will come with time.

It is possible you found a thermal or you encounterer mechanical lift becasue of the hill. I could be wrong, but I believe the FB's don't have elevator. If that is the case, the only way to land is to throttle back. My guess is that in your struggle to fly the plane back to you, you had too much throttle to land. As for going around in circles, my guess is you just need more stick time. Charge her up and get some stick time! Enjoy.

All those "bird" planes are kids toys and will do you no good toward learning to fly a real r/c plane. I am an accomplished flier. I have flown park fliers up to 40% monsters. I won a firebird XL at a raffle so instead of giving it to a kid (which I should have) I put it together and flew it.. or should I say tried to fly it! What a pitiful, hard to control excuse for an airplane!! A total piece of junk. It was not fun to fly, and in fact, was laughably poor. I am ashamed at Horizon hobby for backing this junk. It belongs at K-mart, not a hobby shop.

I tossed it in the trash after its 3rd so-called flight. Not sure what they cost, but it wasn't work $20 IMO.

Anyone interested in learning to fly r/c should not waste their time or money on one of these. If you just want a crappy toy to play with then its OK.

If you want to fly r/c - go on ebay or to your LHS and get Realflight G2 or even the other freeware. Learn on a sim, on your PC first, then go for a decent trainer (electric or glow).

If you think you are going to fly a real r/c plane after mastering a firebird... better be ready for a rude awakening!!

Don't say I didn't warn you!

DP

desertpig, Thats harsh dude. Tho I tend to agree about the low quality, but if thats what he wants to fly or all he can afford so be it. The way you phrased your advise seem rude to me. Just my opinion![:@]

I agree, Pig is a little harsh and yet there is some value in what he says. It seems to me that the Firebird Outlaw was designed to give the beginner pilot a positive experience first time. Now the trade off is that there is very little the pilot can do to control the plane. Remember this model has no moving control surfaces. Jeeeeees, if the beginner had more control then the risk of crashing would go way up. That is not what this plane is about. Of course it doesn't fly very well, no way it can compare to a three channel set up much less a four channel trainer. After a week and a half on the Outlaw I moved with confidence to a three channel Flying Styro Leonardo. Next I will work on a good electric four channel trainer. I could use some advice on that move including any full build kit options.

I like though what Pig says about the G2 Simulator. It is phenomenally realistic, even down to the way a trainer tips over on its wing if you try to turn too fast while taxiing. While on the surface the cost of G2 may seem high, I am guessing the cost is lower than the number of planes you would crash learning the same skills out at the flying field. I have spent hours practicing landings over and over again with the PT 40.

Tim

Hi Guys,
I am not trying to be rude, just real. What I am really trying to do is prevent the first timer from having a bad experience, and IMO, these planes are going to give one just that. There are a lot better ways to spend $100 and "learn" r/c flight.

I have noticed more and more of the hobby companies offering and marketing these low-cost junk toys and people are buying them up. The mark up on this junk is higher than on kits and ARFs as well, so distributors are marketing the hell out of it to sell them.

If a person wants to voluntarily waste their money that is one thing, but if they waste it unknowingly thinking they are actually getting a valid flying model to learn on, then I take as an obligation of experienced pilots like myself to educate them otherwise and steer them in the right direction.

Most companies offer a decent product. Is is us as users to hold these companies accountable (and reaming them publicly if that is what it takes) for trying to pass off a total POS for an r/c product.

I will stick with my original note. These planes are crap, they are not worthy of r/c and should be sold at toy stores, not hobby shops. I hope those of you who are honestly trying to learn R/C don't fall for the hype!!

Happy learning, this is an incredible and rewarding hobby if you do it right and are patient!!!!

Da PIG

Somehow Pig just managed to double the price of the Outlaw to $100. Perhaps he can be forgiven because he did not buy his.

I love his comments about this model being a toy. I am left wondering if that is a good thing or a bad thing. It is my feeling if you are on the ground and the plane you are flying is in the air then it is a TOY. Anyone believing otherwise just might be taking all this way too seriously. I have friends that refer to their 20K Harley as a toy so I don't think it is a monetary thing.

I think Pig is comparing this plane to every thing he has flown in the past. I have no such comparisons, all I know is that I bought it, I fly it, and I am having fun and yes it is a toy.

Tim

I to thing three or four channel glow is the way to go. It seems that goalie has already experenced the issues with that quality plane. And pig I wasn't disagreeing with your opinion just your phrasing of the subject. PEACE!!

desertpig, you told me what's bad about this plane but you never told me what would be a good plane. Since it's such a bad plane I'm going to the hobby shop on saturday to get a different plane. If any one could tell me a good beginner plane to get since it's only my 2nd plane but it it could be my first because the outlaw is just a TOY[:'(].

Goalie--

The HobbyZone line of planes are the rockbottom of starter planes. They will allow you to get your feet wet at a very minimal cost. PLUS, the support that you receive from Horizon Hobby on these planes is second to none. If you have any problems with any HobbyZone product, just contact them at 1-877-504-0233 and talk to the Product Support department or email them at [email protected]. They'll make sure you're taken care of.

Check out www.horizonhobby.com, and look at the other HobbyZone planes if you'd like to keep costs down. The Firebird Outlaw is one of the more basic planes. There are a couple more planes that are more advanced in features and capabilities. If you're looking to avoid the HobbyZone line altogether, might I recommend the Hangar 9 Arrow Trainer. It'll run you over $300, but it's gonna last a tad longer than a HobbyZone definately.

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Desertpig--

I understand what you said, and I also agree that it was quite harsh. Think about it though......after you've been driving a Ferrari for most of your driving experience, would you want to get in a Pinto or Festiva? Everybody's got to start somewhere. So back off a little bit. He's just starting out and YES he will get some experience out of flying a HobbyZone plane, but nothing that's going to cause him to magically learn how to fly a Hangar 9 46% TOC Ultimate.

I'm just saying that next time, take into account or think back to when you were just starting out. I bet you weren't flying Ultimate's out of the womb now were you?

goalie,
Try the Aerobird if you're set on going it alone and with electric. It runs anywhere from $120 to $150 depending on where you get it, but it's 3 times the plane that the Firebird Outlaw is. (And as a point of reference, a glow trainer is about 10 times the plane an Aerobird is. )
Dennis-

I don't know what the outlaw cost, I had a firebird XL, hobby people lists it for $119. It was bad enough, I can't imagine how poor the aerobird, fighterbird, outlaw, or the other so-called "birds" fly.

I guess it frustrates me to see people who fly these things and think its r/c becuase you are missing so much!! I'll give you the benefit of the doubt if at least you are having fun, but believe me, fixing, rebuilding, and constantly tinkering is not flying!

I agree that we can call any non-essential source of entertainment toys, but what I was refering to was that anyone over 10 years old could afford a real r/c plane, and actually get what they pay for, so why waste good money on these unless you get them for you kids???


DP

Hi Clutchburn,

OK. Truce! I agree to your point. I just have a hard time with lousy products and I think this is one. There are better ways to learn that do not cost much more. You are correct, we all start somewhere. I built my first plane though, and that is where I learned to love this hobby. My first r/c plane was a Goldberg Jr. Falcon 3 channel, no throttle. We did not have simulators, pcs, or any of the other luxuries, but we just did it, so we crashed a lot, but it was cheap.

I am 42, so I do give credit to you younger people out there who want to try flying. Just understand that these cheapo toys are not anything like the real thing. As long as you know that, but are still having fun... then I guess its not my job to change your mind!!


DP

If you let me know what your budget is, I probably can steer you toward something...

DP

I tried one of the Outlaw planes and found that I couldn't control it no matter what I tried. When it was just a few hundred feet from me I could hear the motors cutting in an out even when I was giving them constant full power inputs. I also found that if there was ANY appreciable wind, I didn't have enough control.

I solved the problem by returning the plane and buying the Aerobird. It costs more but it responds like a real RC plane.

Good luck.