My son really wants to get into RC. I am just getting back into it. I plan on picking up RF G3 for practice. I would really like to know your thoughts on the easiest to fly EP RTF for a 9 year old. I was thinking about an Aerobird Challenger, but after reading threads in this forum, that may not be the best choice. I am looking for ease of flight and durability. Oh, and I want it all in time for Christmas...

Thanks for your help!
-Ed

I learned on a Soarstar. Its a foam pusher prop high wing. Has elevator and rudder only. It is very self correcting in flight. The undercarriage is a bit fragile, it will bend on a hard landing, but you just bend it back!

If I had to start with an EP ARF or RTF trainer, I think I'd get the Hobbico Superstar EP...

RTF w/o ailersons:
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...=LXAWF5**&P=ML

ARF w/ ailerons:
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXGVZ3&P=ML

My vote goes to the Multiplex EZ Star. You can get it at Hobby-Lobby. Watch the video, it's darn stable! I have had one for about 6 months as one plane I let my friends, any of them, fly. Of course, with buddy box :-) But... now i fly with 2S2P Lipos and use a real charger... can fly forever!!!

Two votes for the Easy-Star. Hobby-People has them on sale for $59.00. I have trained three neighbor hood kids how to fly on the Easy-Star. One of them is a 7 year old girl.She will be 8 Dec. 15 ,and wants a Easy-Star for her birthday.Go together easy,and can be glued with CA glue.
I fly mine with a cheap three channel radio,and 10 cell nicad pack. Shop R.C.Universe for a inexpensive charger,and go fly--Good Luck--Joann --

I have flown that hobbico EP and it flies pretty ok, but the transmitter that comes with it stinks. If you are going to fly it at least buy a decent transmitter to fly it with. The problem is that the throttle is controlled with a diagonal thumb slider and the rudder/elevator are on the right stick. It may do ok, but I would recommend you get a normal transmitter so you get a real feel for the controls.

Make that three votes for the EasyStar - a stable, durable bird that's easy to repair - can't beat that in my opinion. Still have my easy star in one piece from my learning days. Can't wait to teach one of one kids on it

Ian

One other note - you can pick it up for $59 but you would have to add all the radio gear yourself. I believe mine was about $186 including the radio, servos, speed control and one battery - got it from hobbypeople.net

tower has the complete outfit for $187.00--Use this ad # and get $20.00 off --Ad #010R7 Got it from there tower talk Catalog

Humm.. at the risk of sounding like a parrott.... Easystar again!! Its great fun to fly, VERY easy to learn on, VERY stable, and VERY easy to repair (dont ask!) with CA glue. Hobby People has the RTF on sale for 149 right now.

Mike

I guess that makes it 5 votes for an EasyStar...what a great plane for beginners. And, from what I understand from more experienced pilots, a great plane for anyone. Very stable and incredible glide.

In retrospect,If the "Easy Star" has a fault--its the push on propellor.So far,ever one of our "Easy Stars " has lost the propellor. I recently starter buying the propellors for thr "Firebird",and so far--they seems to work just fine.I glue them on with some thin Ca.The larger ones need to be trimmed.(Little to long.)Take about 1/2 inch off the tip. Can not find a source for the Propellor from Multiplex.Get every part but--strange....Good Luck--

my first plane is the aerobird challenger, and it is fantastic! Very easy to fly, but for a 9 year old, conseder the firebird commander. it is much eisier.

I know a few flyers who can hardly fly a trainer but are so happy on an EZ Star!

Start with an Aerobird.
It's cheap and if he decides R/C isn't for him, you haven't wasted a mint of $$$$
(Take it from someone who has been down that path and has an unused Tx to prove it.)

Below I list electric planes, parkflyers and e-gliders for beginners. Some
come ready to fly, some are almost ready to fly (add your own radio gear) and
some are kits. All of them are electric. If you are looking for your first
plane, you should find something here to peak your interest.

I don't recommend two channel R/T electrics, so you won't find any on the
list. They can be very easy to fly and can be a lot of fun, but they can also
be very easy to lose. A three channel R/E/T is a better choice as a first
plane, in my opinion.

If you are totally new to RC Flying, these articles may be helpful in
understanding how these planes fly

RC Planes Are not like RC Cars
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=17

Stall
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=31

Launch into the wind
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=43

Parts of the plane and how they work
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=54

The RC Pilots Cockpit
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=59

Flying the Plane
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=64


READY TO FLY STARTER PLANES - Parkflyers
No building - they practically fly right out of the box
These also glide well so you can thermal soar
with them under the right conditions.

Aerobird Challenger - RTF Electric
I started on an Aerobird RTF. I love it and recommend it highly I have
over 250 flights on mine. I also thermal and slope soar this plane.
It is a ready to fly package which includes the
radio, charger, batteries, and all. $150
Flies well and stands up to hard landings
http://horizon.hobbyshopnow.com/prod...p?prod=HBZ3500
Review
http://www.hobbyzonesports.com/Disco...ID=1289#Page01
Discussion Thread
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147621
Video
http://www.parkflyers.com/html/aerobird_video.html


Slow-V from Parkzone
Best flown in still to under 5 mph breeze
Can also be flown indoors in a gym or similar space.
http://h1071118.hobbyshopnow.com/pro...p?prod=PKZ1300
Discussion Thread
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_20...tm.htm#2089493
Video
http://users.cwnet.com/dhsc19/Slo_V_Aerobatics.wmv
Night fly module on a Slo-V
http://rc-galaxy.com/messageboard/mb...ViewMsg&num=-8


T-Hawk - RTF - Excellent Value
Comes with extra wing, tail and battery
Flies well and stands up to hard landings
http://www.toytx.com/thawk3chrtf.html
T-Hawk - Without Radio - add your radio and receiver
http://www.readytoflyfun.com/wittran.html
T-Hawk Discussion Thread
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...ighlight=THawk
Videos
http://www.readytoflyfun.com/thawkvideos.html


Easy Star - RTF
Super tough foam
Good parkflyer and a good glider
Radio in RTF package can be used to fly other planes
http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/240025.asp
Easy Star - ARF - Add you own radio gear
http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/240009.asp
Discussion Thread on Easy Star
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=258656
Video - touch and gos
http://plawner.org/video/easygo.wmv
Video - Testing the planes's behavior
http://plawner.org/video/easystar.wmv


ALMOST READY TO FLY and EASY TO BUILD KITS - STARTER PLANES

Some of the planes in the previous group are available ARF as indicated.
Below are ARF and kit planes. You will need to buy a radio if you don't have
one, so you might want to read these articles on radios. Radios. The
articles are written for sailplane beginners, but all the info applies to
electrics too.

Entry Level Radios - If you have to go cheap
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=44

Computer Radios - The recommended path for almost everyone
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=65


ARF typically means you are not gluing balsa pieces together, then covering
with Monocote or some other shrink film. Below are ARFs and some are very
easy to build kits. In each case you must add your own radio, receiver,
servos, speed control, batteries and battery charger. They all come with a
motor.

Slow stick
Best flown in still to under 5 mph breeze
Can also be flown indoors in a gym or similar space.
The RTF Slo-V above is essentially a copy of this plane.
http://horizon.hobbyshopnow.com/prod...p?prod=GWS1040
Discussion Thread
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...hreadid=122951

Tiger Moth
Best flown in still to under 5 mph breeze
Can also be flown indoors in a gym or similar space.
Cool looking little plane.
http://horizon.hobbyshopnow.com/prod...p?prod=GWS1020
Review
http://www.backyardflyer.com/BY/articles/tiger_moth.asp

Tipsey
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/tipsy.htm
Review
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/pdf/gr6232.pdf
http://rcgroups.com/links/index.php?...at=198&id=3871

Magpie - Easy to build Foam kit
Has trainer wing AND an available sport wing
Master the first, then advance to the second.
http://www.mountainmodels.com/magpie.php
Video
http://www.mountainmodels.com/Magpie.wmv

Balsa Wood Kits - If you like to build with wood, these are highly
recommended.

Dandy
http://www.mountainmodels.com/dandy.php

Dust Stick
http://www.mountainmodels.com/duskstik.php


ELECTRIC GLIDERS

Have you considered an electic glider? Usually larger than the typical
parkflyer, they also tend to be quite stable and fly a bit slower, which makes
them easy to fly.

If you would like to try soaring with the birds, then an electric glider might
be a good choice. These planes are launched with an electric motor. They can
be flown around using the motor, like a parkflyer, or they can be flown to
height, then the motor is turned off and you hunt for thermals, just like the
birds.

They can do loops and simple aerobatics, but are really optomized for thermal
soaring. The Aerobird and the T-Hawk, which are often mentioned as first
parkflyers, glide and thermal pretty well, but they come with fixed props.
These planes include folding props which make the plane more streamlined and
so it can glide better than a fixed propeller plane.

Some are RTF which are fully built, include all the radio gear with everything
installed. Battery and charger are included with the RTF planes. Some are
ARFs where you assemble the simple package, then add your own radio equipment.
Some are available either way.

With these planes you get a good first plane, a good first electric and a good
electric glider. It may not have been what you were thinking, but it may be
exactly what you were looking for.

Easy Star - RTF - also listed above
This is a Park Glider - can be flown as parkflyer or glider
http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/240025.asp
Easy Star - ARF - Add you own radio gear
http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/240009.asp
Discussion Thread on Easy Star
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=258656
Video - touch and gos
http://plawner.org/video/easygo.wmv
Video - Testing the planes's behavior
http://plawner.org/video/easystar.wmv


Ascent - this is a park glider ARF
It can be flown as a parkflyer or a glider
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Shop/ByC...ProdID=EFL1075
Review
http://rcgroups.com/links/index.php?...at=237&id=4233

Spectra - 2M - RTF
78" wing span - perhaps too large for a parkflyer, but a good first e-glider
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...=LXVJ51**&P=ML
Spectra ARF -
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXADK2&P=7

Electra - 2M ARF
78" wing span - perhaps too large for a parkflyer, but a good first e-glider
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXDJB2&P=7

If you are not familiar with soaring, it is a lot of fun. Flights can be as
short as parkflyer flights, or can last for hours, if you find lift.

This article may be helpful in understanding lift and the fun that e-gliders
offer to the electric flyer.

Finding Lift
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=57

For a 9 year old, you might consider one of these as training aids.
Could save a lot of repair time.

These will not work with the 27 mhz planes like the Aerobird or the
Slo-V, but will work with any 72 mhz plane.

In simple terms, each of these devices uses the difference between sky and
ground to identify
straight and level flight. You release the sticks and it will quickly bring
the plane out of most
situations into straight and level flight if there is enough room. They use
different approaches but the goal is the same. If the pilot gets in trouble,
just let the sticks go and the system will bring the plane to straight and
level flight in about 1-2 seconds.

Take a look. They should work on electrics, gliders or glow planes.

The Futaba PA-2 PILOT ASSIST LINK AUTO PILOT SYSTEM - Approx $50
http://www.futaba-rc.com/radioaccys/futm0999.html
Manuals
http://www.futaba-rc.com/manuals/notes-pa1.html
Here is a newsletter review on the Futaba PA
http://farmclub.torqueroll.com/NewsL...Apr02-3rd.html



FMA Co-Pilot Flight stabilization system - $99
https://www.fmadirect.com/site/Detai...489&section=20
Co-Pilot with receiver $180 - may have extra features - not sure
https://www.fmadirect.com/site/Detai...722&section=29
Backyard Flyer Product review
http://www.backyardflyer.com/BY/articles/co_pilot.asp
Product Review
http://www.fmadirect.com/support_docs/item_1040.pdf
Inflight demonstration -e-glider
http://plawner.org/video/copilot_2axes.wmv
In flight demo - flying wing
http://plawner.org/video/copilot_delta.wmv
In flight demo - Helicopter
http://plawner.org/video/copilot_heli.wmv

For $50-100 you can get electronic assistance with your plane. As you become
more skilled, you can turn down the assistance until you can turn it
completely off.

I have not used either unit personally but everything I have read says they
work as advertised. I have spoken to people who have used them and they say
they work very well if you take the time to calibrate them and to understand
their purpose and their function.

Both can be adjusted from a 5 channel radio
so you can change sensitivity and assistance level from the radio while you
are in the air. Both can
also be adjusted on the ground if you only have a 2-4 channel radio.

I would go with Frag's opinion. I learned on the Soarstar myself also. It's a great plane that can take a beating. Just epoxy it up like I have plenty of times and it is good to go. Only problem I found is replacing control rods. Just my 2 cents.