Hey everyone...

This is my first post and I am a total noob to rc airplanes. My question is; Witch would be the best choice for a RTF electric plane? T want a plane thats able to take off and land on wheels(no belly landers) and a rigid wingspand. I was looking at the megatech skyliner...Is that a good beginer plane? I am open to any suggestions...thanks.

a simple IC (glow) trainer. dont know what you have in the US, but they all fly very easy and stable,
make sure its a high wing

I wouldn,t mind getting a glow plane but I don't have the money or the place to fly it...I looking for electric...thanks anyway

Stay away from all the Megacrap stuff. It's not worth the cost of the matches to burn it.

If you want something that will fly fairly well, comes complete with very little assembly required, and can be repaired (because you WILL crash it and break things numerous times), then get an Aerobird. They're about $150, a bit less on sale.

Do NOT buy anything that costs less than $125, do NOT buy anything that has only 2 channels. You MIGHT get something that will actually fly, but your chances get slimmer for every dollar less that you pay.

Good luck, welcome to RCU, and most of all, HAVE FUN!
Dennis-

Thanks for the welcome...Although about megatech...I'm sure that they are crap because their cars are also(I have been into cars for about 5 years). But is the aerobird one of those stick-goofy lookin planes...I was sorta goin for realism also. Could anyone post a pic or link that shows it and maybe some of its pros and cons. Maybe if some of you own one yourself you could give me some details.

Thanks

Just do a Yahoo or Google search for it. But yes, they are those goofy looking stick type planes with a front "pod" and a "V" type tail.

The only other real option is something like a GWS Pico Cub. But you have to buy everything separately, it only comes with the electric motor. You have to buy the radio equipment (micro servos, receiver, battery pack and cahger as well as a micro ESC).

There's another one that's more like a glow trainer or a Cessna, and I think it comes complete, but I don't know the name.

Good luck,
Dennis-

just keep in mind anything in the reasonable price range for electric is NOT going to be able to do this on anything except nice smooth pavement. no grass or dirt what so ever...

Grass or dirt doesn't bother me...I live right near a perfect park that has a tarmac road where we always see guys with their electric planes. How does the texan in the video archive here look for a noob?. It is the one made by FTM.

...Is the megatech really that crappy..they seem the most appealing to me; But if I hear from numerous people that megatech is'nt worth it, I will take experience over appeal.

If I decide to get a glow plane...

-Are they any harder to fly than electric trainers?
-How fast do they go? (average RTF speed)
-whats average cost for durability and dependability?
-can it handle dirt/grass take-off and landing?
-Anyone know of a glow capable field in rocklin California?

Thanks for any suggestions

first time in the forum
I received all the prop jet plans that pavel bosak has drawn and are placed in RCM but,.. last night someone in a forum mentioned that he also had a jaguar and mirage F1 along with others,.. where can I get these plans? anyone know? I have the DF F-4, Harrier and Mirage all the plan drawing are awesome and I cant wait to build!!! WOOHOO

Best Regards,
Blueangels4

That was super duper off topic ????????????????

yah sorry about that!
can you point me to the right direction either about setting up a new discussion or if you happen to hear about those particular plans could you let me know? Thanks,... hows the weather out west?
Best Regards,
Blueangles4

blue,
Hijacking threads ain't nice.
Just go to the forum page (like "Beginners"), and click on "new Post". (Or something like that.)

Sushi,
To start with a 40 size glow trainer, radio gear, engine, and all the support equipment (plus AMA and club memberships), you can expect to shell out around $500.

Now, you should NOT fly a glow powered plane at any public park, soccer field, baseball diamond or football field; they are just to fast and too dangerous. While seasoned RC pilots COULD do it, they won't, because they KNOW how dangerous it could be.

A glow trainer will typically cruise at 40 to 50 mph, that means it would cover the length of a football field in about 3 seconds. Picture that speed and a 20 minute run and you can see it could travel quite a ways if you lost control. These planes also seem to attract crowds of kids who don't know enough to stay out of the way. Add the fact that three people were killed by these things last year, and it's just not worth the risk.

That's why I mentioned AMA and club memberships. The AMA membership buys you $2 million in liability insurance when flying in a safe location, and while following AMA safety rules. A club membership will get you free instruction, usually on a "buddy box", and almost always without crashing your plane ONCE.

They are harder than small foam electrics to fly because they are faster. Faster flying, faster turning, and you have to think ahead of them which is difficult for someone just starting out. (Staying ahead of the plane is true with small electrics too, but it's a bit easier because they're slower.)

If you try to teach yourself you WILL crash. Probably repeatedly. Small electrics, especially foam, are more forgiving and can be repaired more easily. A glow trainer will very likely not survive your first crash if teaching youself, and your first flight may not last more than 5 to 10 seconds.

Oh yeah, a glow trainer will easily handle grass and dirt runways as long as they are reasonably flat, and the grass isn't too long.

The AMA website has a "club locater" page. Just plug in your Zipcode. http://www.modelair.org/

Good luck,
Dennis-

sweet!! thanks!! sorry 'bout the hijack
blueangels4

You just highjacked his reply...whatever. Anyways, thanks for the info and all the safety and club suggestions. I'm guessing that you are pointing me more towards an electric plane and I appreciate that. But I still have one question...How crappy or uncrappy is megatech??? Is the skyliner a good plane or not? All suggestions are appreciated.

sushiboy,
Not trying to point you towards electrics, just saying that for glow you should really join a club and find an instructor.

I don't know about the Skyliner in particular, just have NEVER heard anything positive about anything Megatech makes. You can take that for what it's worth, or do a general search on RCU for Megatech and read the stuff for yourself.
Dennis-

ok, i have the Multiplex Twinstar, its just like a high wing trainer, but its powered by two 400's. it is a mostly foam contruction, with a 56" wingspan and for 4ch radio. and its cheap $87m inculding motors and wiring loom, give it a go! It flys great, slow and fast, the only bad thing is: i dont like belly landing, but some people have put a UC somehow!


[link=http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/240000.asp]Hobby People[/link]

[link=http://www.volkan-dil.co.uk/twn.htm]My Twinstar Gallery[/link]

All that follows is my opinion only, and not meant to offend anyone.

Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, for me the best part of this hobby (addiction) is being at the field talking to the other guys in the club. I was out there last Saturday. No one else was there! I still flew my trainer, but missed the conversation. The usual OS-Super Tigre ribbing, etc. Also, when my prop nut loosened, I learned the hard way that I forgot to put the right tool in my box to remove the spinner. If one of the more experienced guys were there, I could have borrowed the tool and been flying more. Some of the guys have field boxes that need wheels on the bottom, they are so heavy!

I am going to get a park flyer one of these days. Mainly for times when I only have an hour to fly. The club field is 30 mins away. A city park is 2 mins away. If I had a park flyer, I could be flying those "short" days.

Don't knock joining a club until you visit all the clubs in your area. Here there are 2 clubs within driving distance. One is a private club with their own field. They are mostly pattern fliers with large, expensive planes. And you need an invitation to come out to the field. I still wonder how they get new members? The other one is a private club that flys at a city park just for hobbies. You do not have to be a club member to fly there, as it is a city park. But I did not think twice about joining that club.

Like I said, this is my opinion. I do not have ill feelings about pattern fliers or expensive planes. I just gravitated towards where I fit in better. But the club atmosphere is definitely for me!

The comraderie of hanging at a the field with a bunch of guys that share your interest in RC is one of the best parts of this hobby.

Of course flying is the best part, but whenever I go to the field and no one else is there, I just don't have as much fun.
Dennis-