I finally got my first plane yesterday!!! Ive wanted to fly since I was in high school, of course I didnt have the money to do that then, well that was over 6 yrs ago, now Im back in NY and I have a job so I can start flying. I got a Hanger 9 Arrow, included everything so all I had to do was put the wings together and attach the tail. went to the hobby shop again today with the plane and he went over it to make sure I did everything right. we switched out the 3 blade prop and put on a 2 blade prop, he said the one that came with the trainer wasnt that good, that it would make me have to put more throttle on the plane to get it going the same speed I would with a 2 prop at less throttle. so we went outside and he showed me how to fuel it up and he started it, made sure it was all good. wanted to go to the park after that but it was after dusk so I dont think anyone was there. Im gonna go after work tomorrow and take my plane with me. dont think Im gonna take it out the car, just wanna sit where the flyers are and see how everything runs, if I start talkin to someone that doesnt mind showin me a few things Ill take it out, but think Im still a little nervous about just taking it out there at all. lol
just want to get in the air soo bad, hope this isnt as hard as some people say it is, this winter i want to build my own, seeing as how most people say thats where you really get the excitement, putting a plane in the air that you actually built. got the trainer because im new and not really much time to be puttin one together myself yet. Ill see how the trainer works and figure Ill get to understand the planes better so when its time to build my own Ill know why Im going certain things. so yeah I started looking at planes on monday, think the bug got me kinda quick, then again, I was looking 6 yrs ago. Ill let you guys know if I get to fly tomorrow.

Welcome to the addiction. You got a great plane there, one of the best pri. trainers. I would suggest you put the three bladed prop back on for your first lessons, you really want the plane to stay slow. Plus it will help you slow down on landings. You can switch to a two bladed prop later on. Do buy a couple spare props though, you're probablly gonna need them.

If you go and hang around a bunch of r/c fliers, make sure you charged up your batteries overnight the night before, because your plane is going to get flown. One thing about this hobby, new guys are what keeps the sport alive, and for the most part, most fliers are very glad to help someone out. You might also want to invest in a buddy cord, one of the biggest plane savers to every come along. Makes training a whole lot less stressfull.

Andy

yeah that was the one thing I didnt get today that I was gonna get, dont know if it was the cord or an actual buddy box, but he said it was on backorder. the radio that came with the plane is a quattro, do they have to be the same radios, or company anyway, to have them connected?

I agree with a651, put the 3 blade prop back on. The first few flights are the ones where you may be the most nervous and that prop will keep it nice and slow and will act as a nice airbrake for landing. Once you get some time in and you start doing loops, rools, stall turns and such then switch to the 2 blade prop.

Once you get to the field, just start watching and learning, ask questions and just mingle in. The beauty of this hobby/addiction is that so many people are more than willing to help and in most cases even will come over before you ask. Never be afraid to ask for help. We have guys at our filed that have been flying for a LLLOOONNNGGG time and still ask for help in trimming a new plane if it is particualrly squirrely.

Again, welcome and take it one step at a time...

All the guys at my field are awesome and always there to help and talk to the guys there and somebody has to have a trainer cord I bet we have about 4 or 5 buddy boxes at our field ready for us first timers. I am new to planes and it already is a riot.

Nycha,
Welcome to RCU, it's a great place with a lot of good people.

Definitely charge your battery packs (all of them) overnight before you go to the field. If your club is anything like 90% of them, then you WILL at least get to see it fly.

Because you have a JR radio, the Buddy Box must also be JR. Hopefully someone at the field will have a JR transmitter and cord, and will be willing to get you up, but if not, they still might be willing to "pass the transmitter". Much harder, but if you're up high enough, it's still pretty safe.

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

Hello, and WELCOME Nychaoticrican! You wrote a great post. The way you relate your apprehension, mixed with enthusiasm to get started sure reminds me of how I felt when I got started. You will be flying before you know it, if the folks at your field are anything like they are at mine. You seem to have the right attitude, and you should have no problem finding a helping hand. Good luck to ya!

Jim

thanks
well I put the 3 blade prop on the plane, was all ready to go today after work but it rained a little bit ago so guess its out of the question, unless it gets nicer out and I'll stop by the field and see if anyone else was eager enought to fly today. If not guess Ill have to wait until tomorrow. I got a box from thunder tiger that has the fuel n starter so I guess Im all set, just think I need to get some more props, if that one I have on the plane gets messed up all I have is that 2 blade prop.

Don't worry about the 3 bladed prop. It will take you further than you will ever imagine. Just take your time, if you can afford it get a simulator, I use Realflight G2. It will help tremendously, and give you a fix on the rainy, windy days that are coming. You will really like that plane, you can do quite a bit with it. Have patience, the head takes a short while to train the hands to do what you want them to do. I had the toughest time learning how to do a figure 8 inverted, but you just have to do it. I would work at it a little at a time, going inverted and seeing how long I could hold it without flipping it over or starting to go too low, then a little at a time, I was able to start and do a 90 degree turn, etc. In the meantime, I flew hundreds of touch and go's, and full landings to where I would have to taxi to the downwind end of the runway to take off again. You will have fun. That's an order....

Welcome to our world. I wouldn't worry about it being to hard, flying model airplanes requires a little bit eye hand hand cordination and some reflexes. If you don't think you possess any of these abilties, they can be learned. The amount of eye hand cordination differs from person to person, which why some learn faster than others. If you wasted hours and hours playing video games as a kid, their about to payoff.

Couldn't have said that one any better....

as a kid? lol, I waste hours and hours playing videogames now. [>:]

You really should consider investing in the simulator if you want to get to flying fast. I crashed a 100 times at least on that thing before going to the field. Paid off hugely. Not saying you can't learn but with the sim you'll be doing better sooner. I would get G2 Lite. Don't need the full blown one. Just one that you can train on. I used AFP and it worked fine also. Sold it to after I was done with it. Only lost around $50. That was actually an investment. Get to know the people at the club, talk to the president and the instructors. See who you click with before getting in some sessions. Double check your plane. Make sure everything looks good and is fastened. There isn't any rush at this point. In RC if you rush you crash. 4 crashes under my belt...

yeah Im gonna get a sim, most people suggest getting it and like you said, at least I'd have some idea what to expect when I finally get it out on the field. stopped by the field today, but the hobby shop I went to didnt have a buddy box and this morning they were having some kinda competition/fun fly going on so I didnt really want to break my plane out with 50 people out there lol. went out again later in the afternoon and talked to the controler who was there, just went over some basic stuff, again he suggested I get a sim so I'll work on the sim until I get my buddy box and get the courage to go out there and actually take my plane out the car [>:]