It's funny, I'm 29 years old, I have been heavy into R/C cars/trucks and boats, but never planes until recently. Actually I have owned a firebird style plane, but lost interest cause I could never get it to fly. I have always drooled over the guys at the field, and hoped I would be able to successfully fly my own plane one day.

Well, I guess that day has come! I now have a stock Slow Stick with LiPo batts. Assembly of the plane was simple, and it seems to be very durable. The only thing I don't like about the plane is that I can't fly it in over 5mph wind. At least I can't, I'm sure a skilled pilot with more room could. I'm kinda flying my SS over a pond next to my house, so I'm trying to be very safe, and cautious.

What I'm all excited about is the fact I have over an hour flight time with my SS, and no incidents!!! I have even got so brave as to take my plane off from under my deck where I have a patio, fly between two trees in my back yard at about 5 foot elevation, and out in to the open flying field/pond (would make a great video). Like I said I have about an hour flight time, and less than 3 days experience under my belt. Landing this bird is about as simple as cutting throttle and making sure it comes in straight, and at a modest angle. So far I have absolutley no damage to the plane. Not bad for learning to fly with no help other than G2 (I guess).

Anyway, I thought I would share my first flight experience, and to also mention I am now hooked on my new found hobby, and have bought a second plane, one I hope will work better in the windy area I live in. It's a Wattage Hyper Wing. I'm currently building it right now, and hope to have it ready in about 3 days (using 72 hour epoxy). This plane like my SS is 100% stock, and hope it's not too much for me to handle.

I'm just so hooked on this hobby I had to go out and buy another plane... Still not sure what to get for my third plane.. I need to stick with electric since I'm not flying at an AMA field, and there are lots of houses near by.

I'd post video of my first flights, but I had nobody there to film it... infact I still don't have any witnesses to my sucessful flights. I guess that is where being a member to a local club makes it much more satisfying. I know they have very strict guidelines at the local field, and probably wouldn't allow me to qualify using my SS. I would think they would want to see me qualify on a traditional nitro trainer.

Hmm I fly my slowstick at the field and nobody has any problem with it what do you mean by qualify do you have to do something to be able to fly solo???

Yea.

http://1nvrc.com/NEWBIE.html

scroll half way down, and check out rule three under NVRC Rules

Hey Neo, welcome to RCU and to RC Flight! Great hobby, and RCU is full of great people.

I read through the club rules, and while you may be right about them wanting you to solo on a glow trainer, it's not necessarily the case. I saw no rule saying that the plane had to be glow powered. I would imagine that they would want you to re-qualify once you bought a glow trainer though; the performance characteristics are much different. (Think of the performance difference between a small Radio Shack electric car and a Traxxus nitro truck. )

Anyway, it would be worth stopping by when there are guys there flying. Tell them what you're doing and ask about joining the club. You're right about the benefits of a club, having people to share what you enjoy is one of the best parts of this hobby.

You might get ribbed about your electrics once people get to know you, but I'm betting it will be in good fun. I fly mostly glow, but have brought park flyers and a Simple 400 electric to the field. The guys make comments about the 400 sounding like a misquito, but I think they're actually impressed by it's performance. And they laugh like heck (as do I) when my GWS Cub sits in one spot for a full 4 minute flight because the throttle's wide open and it can't make any headway against the wind.

Good luck, and most of all, have fun!
Dennis-