I want to get off to a good start in the hobby. Do you all think it is possible to learn to fly well enough on a Simulator (AFP) and make my first plane a P51D? ...or do you really recommend buying a trainer? I really enjoy scale planes and think this is where I want to be ultimately...

I am trying to make my way to warbirds as well. But I think you really need to get a trainer,instructor and use the sim as practice between sessions. I have been doing that and on the sim I seem like a master but when you do it for real with other people are around, it is a different story. The sim also does not simulate everything that happens in the real world. If you go here [link=http://www.rcwarbirds.com/techniguespage.htm#t1]rcwarbirds[/link] there is a good article on scale flying. They claim you must be able to fly with the rudder and use flaps for landing.

Both.

Start with the simulator. then start with a trainer. You'll soon find that the simulator is pretty good, but dosen't match 'real life' it'll help, but cannot replace 'real life'.

then advance to an 'intermediate' plane, then a 'sport' plane, or your P-51..

Most (if not all) warbirds are considered to be 3rd or 4th planes... (hi wing loading, stalling, nosing over, etc..)

Hi.... I have somewhat of a similar set of aspirations as you. New to the hobby, and interested in scale planes (and other planes).

Let me give you a heads up of what is really important to ME. I want o make scale planes, and to me, the build process is as much fun as flying... so, given that, I want to make really good scale planes. Now, good scale planes require lots and lots of investment of money, but even more investment of time. I do not want to crash a scale plane due to "pilot error". So, I styarted with a trainer, and mopved from that to a sport plane. I still do not consider myself ready to crash a scale plane. I am currently building a sporty version of a spitfire (it almost looks like a spitfire, but flies like a sport plane). I am using this kit as a learning curve leap to actual scale building. In reality, though, I need to know more about flying before I can build scale. Basically, I need to know what can be adjusted without affecting the flying style, what needs to be functional, and what can be decorative. What weight can be tolerated, and what can not.

As much of the process is learning *how* models fly to be able to use experience in scale decision making, but as important, you need to have built a few kits before you can build a decent scale plane.

So, although your ideals are good, you will find that your scale P51-D will either fly good, and look wrong, or fly wrong and look good. It takes an experienced pilot and builder to make scale planes. So, get the experience if you want your scale to look good and fly well.

Flying is a life-time hobby. Don't rush it. YOu have the rest of your life to get it right. Stop along the way and smell the roses.

gus

Definitely put in plenty of time on the sim, and then get the trainer. From what I understand, the trainers are much slower and more stable than planes that don't have a flat bottom wing.

Find someone who can help you with engine set up, tuning the rich/lean settings, setting the throws on all your control surfaces etc. I tried following the instructions that came with my engine and my trainer, but it didn't really make any sense until someone had helped me set it up and explain more about what you need to do and how you set it.

You can learn plenty from the simulator, but I found there were some aspects I was completely unprepared for when I went out to fly for real - like take off. It seems far too simple and easy in the simulator - just hit the gas and go. I found that my Tower Hobbies 40 trainer is a real nightmare to take off - the faster you taxi to near take off speed, the more loose and sensitive the nose wheel steering becomes. Trying by myself I think I broke about 6 props! I then had some lessons with a friend and sussed the amount of control (tiny!) I need on the rudder in order to keep it straight! This is something I couldn't have learned from the simulator.

Setup of the plane is something else that they don't cover in the simulator, so you'll definitely need someone to help you out with that.

Good luck!

If you have a sim, get a trainer. If not ,you could buy the Hobbico Nextar that includes a simulator. But one is not substitute for the other in the learning process. Its like most things in life, one must first crawl and then walk, or ride a bicycle before a motorcycle , unless you want to learn the hard way, and spend a lot of money.

Since you will have learn on a buddy-box anyway, and if you have sim time flying a P-51, why not try to find an instructor who will give you buddy-box time flying your P-51 model?

We will let anyone including beginners fly our P-51, Fokker Bipe, and many other aircraft types in our club, even though we don't use a buddy-boz for training.

Nascarjoe

Something else to keep in mind is that there is "Scale" and there is "Stand-Off Scale"

A "Scale" P-51 would have the original dimensions and airfoil scaled down, where a "Stand-Off Scale" P-51 might have slightly larger tail surfaces, or a longer wing, and almost always have a different airfoil. The Great Planes "Mustang 40" is a good example of a Stand-Off Scale P-51. These planes can make very good "3rd" planes, and they can help to satisfy your need to be flying a warbird.

start with a trainer and learn how to fly before stepping up to a plane that you'll be trying to control instead of flying.

I agree that you will find many differences between the sim and the trainer... If you are new to this hobby - do get the sim... The sim will allow you to practice the 'concepts' of rc flight. What I mean is that you will not be able to choose a plane on the sim, build the same plane and fly it the same... it doesn't work like that.

But what the sim will do for you is allow you to practice these concepts of rc flight. For example you will become familar with inverted flight and the coordination needed to fly towards you vs. away. The sim is a great begining tool.

No No way. don't try. all you will do is break your shiney new P-51.
(one person in 1000 MIGHT get away with it... so don't post about having succeeded, you are special {and brain dead}.)

You WANT to learn to race cars do you start at the Indy 500 or do you start with a go-cart on a dirt track?