My neighbor's son, who just turned 6, is showing interest in planes and modelling. I'm curious what people would suggest be the best way to develop this interest? Just curious on some suggestions.

A frind of mine has a 4 year old. He has been playing on the sm for a while(likes crashing the planes) and my friend has frecently been teaching his son to fly with his minimax. He'll get it up high enough then let his son take over.

Sean:

See if your neighbor is willing to buy the GP G-2 sim. and let him
practice on that. If not, invite him over to try out yours. With some of the trainer planes on G2, it will let the father know if he
has the interest in the hobby without spending the 3 to 400.00
to get the actual trainer now. Helping him build a small hand-
launch F/F glider would be a good place to start.

Randy

Just bring him out to the field and let him try it!

If oyu have a 8U or 9C you can give him elevator or aileron only and allow him to control that part of the flight.

That's great,
at our field we have installed a small auto track for the kids,max age 14,and electric motors,ama legal products only, also one instructor has an electric para type plane that the kids fly,we started that to keep the kids quite while the parents flew, now most of the time when the parents are ready to leave the kids want to stay at the club.some of the kids enjoy the sim some don't. All in due time

Get a Zagi or FMA Razor. They are fun, easy to fly, nearly indestructable and cheap. If he does break it, he shouldn't be flying at all.

My son is 5, Zane. He has been flyn since 3. No sims.

He is an airplane FREAK!

Biggest challenge is attention span. I had him on a Firebird at 3 and he would stop watching the plane or just put down the transmitter and try to walk off.

He has a Hobbico Super Star Select and is doing very well. But, we still run into an attention span. Think about it, watch only one plane, other people flyn, the sun, plus holding the transmitter thinking of what to do and dad talking him though the flight. It gets to be allot of a little kid.

He has crashed a few and understands that it happens. He doesn't get upset.

Take him out to the field and get that kid in the air. Some additional patiences may be required.

My son is 7 now but has flown a Firebird XL at the local school. The club field is too busy and flying my zagi, well it is too fast. I would suggest getting a slow park flyer (you can fly it also), I think this is a good first step. If he show more interest, then think about getting him on a trainer. My son also like to fly the sim, he switches from plane to plane, and lands them better than I do. I think the sim is a great way to let the kids fly without the disappointment of crashing.

If you have a sim let him try that and make a game of it. My son is 4 1/2 and loves to see how many circles or figure 8's he can do. I showed him what to use to make the plane go in a circle and not crash and it took him a while to get it, but now he can do it without problem. I just make sure he is having fun at all times because if you make it not fun for them they don't want anything to do with it.

I say get him a kids book on "How airplanes fly", and a bunch of gliders, maybe some with a rubberband motor. To this day, I still have fun playing with these, trying to get the longest flight I can. If he demonstrates that he wants to learn more about aeronautics, then go on to more advanced forms of modeling. I've seen one kid and my impression of him is if he's not doing it, he's not interested. He's off wandering around the field messin with the cattails and not paying any attention to the flying. I think this kid just thinks RC is just toys. Certainly I have fun with my RC planes, but I also feel there's more to it. Its a hobby and a sport, a way to be creative, as well as being truly incredible. Minature aircraft.

Personally, I wouldn't just give him a RC airplane. Time on a buddy box, to wet his appetite, you bet. Find out if he really has an interest. If he's truly interested, he'll study any aeronautical item he can get his hands on. Small steps in the beginning, is the way to go.

Good flying, Tom

Make him look at RC airplanes in books or magazines and let him fly .

The friend with the 4 year old that dsjbean is reffering to is me.........my son just turned 4 this month....and as Doug mentioned, he flies on the sim and can fly my MiniMax electric at altitude....but like YNOT stated, attention span is the biggest thing....if he's into flying at that moment, you can forget about it.....when he is into it....he flies pretty well. You just can't push them when they're in a "not into it" mode. When they are ready, they'll let you know.

Mike