I am COMPLETELY new to RC flying. I know pretty much nothing about it, but this item caught my interest http://www.hobby-lobby.com/f16.htm It is the fighting falcon f-16. It is supposidly pretty fast and cool, but apparently still for beginners, with slow landing and good speed to control. Is this a good plane? I was looking for something modern looking, and relatively quick, but i know that flying can be difficult with these. Thanks for any help.

I have not seen this fly, but it looks like it would be pretty twitchy and quick. I would not recommend it for someone who has not flown RC before. I think you would be better off with a more conventional high-wing trainer design. Just don't want to see you spend a couple hundred dollars only to smash it after a 5 second flight. If you do get it, have a more experienced flyer help you set it up and teach you to fly it. Let us know how it goes!

THis is not a beginners plane. At least get a sim first and learn to fly it.

The total cost of that plane is just over $400.

Its life expectancy will be about 10 seconds.

So I'd have to say no, that is NOT a good plane to start out with.

Thanks for the help guys. How much is a decent beginner flyer? And which is a good one, at a reasonable price? Also, later on when i get better at flying, is there any more types of modern flyers out there? like an f-14, or f-15?

You need to do a little homework first. There are many aspects to this hobby, and if you go down one avenue, you may find that you'll have to replace a lot of equipment before going down another.

For example, the plane you were looking at is an electric. Do you want to fly electrics or go with Glow Power (Glow is what is often referred to as "Gas Engines")?

Electrics require large battery packs plus charging equipment, and the radios usually require mini servos to move the controls and an electronic speed control, whereas glow powered planes use standard servos and are capable of much more power and longer flight times. Neither is more expensive than the other, but if you bought an electric (With Motor, mini servos. chargers etc) and then switched to Glow power, you wouldn't be able to use most of your elec equip.

With either, there are many planes like F-16, F-15 etc. and you have choices as to whether you want to use a regular propeller, or have a glow engine (or electric motor) drive an internal ducted fan, or you can even go TURBINE power (If you have more money that you know what to do with).

Take a stroll through the RCU Marketplace. That's a good place to see lots of pics and get lots of ideas.

Then come back to the forums when you're a little closer to knowing where you want to end up, and we can tell you where you'd want to start

I'd also suggest reading a lot of the questions posted in the Beginners forum about getting started, then go to the FAQ's page and read a bunch more. This site is filled with great information, and asking questions will usually get good answers, but most of the questions you're going to have right now have been answered a couple dozen times. You can also do "searches" for answers to questions.

Try a search on "Trainer" or "Beginner", or "second plane". You'll find more info than you can read in a week. [X(]

Welcome and good luck,
Dennis-

Down load a copy of FMS (Free/Flying Model Simulator) and have a play, check out www.spadtothebone.com ask a lot of questions.

for an electric trainer i like the GWS slow stick, for glow SPAD all the way

Thanks guys, i appreciate it. And thank you for being patient and understanding of my idiocy.