Hello all, I am looking at getting a plane. I have no experience and will only be an occasional flyer. I don't want to spend a lot of money, but want a 'useable' plane. I have been looking at a couple of products from CCLEE. I have read some of your comments on the C17E Twin Wing Scale but have not seen any on the [link=http://www.raidentech.com/1retoflyrarc.html]Rambler[/link]

I would like to get a RTF plane for convience. Any suggestions for under a $100.

Thanks,

Do $160 and buy the Park Zone Stryer. Great flying plane. We all just got a bunch to play with at the flyn field.

$130 the AeroBird is a good flying plane.

These two planes have a little more control than the cheeper ones. The more control helps.

Thanks Tony, I see the [link=http://www.raidentech.com/ccj3grscrc3p.html]J-3 Cub[/link] at a lot of different sites. What do you think of this one. I am looking for something that resembles a real plane, the Aerobird just doesn't do it for me.

Brian

theres another thread exactly like this one...

but, I would recomend the Nexstar, Avistar, or Towerhobbies mkll

Thank you for your suggestions. I looked at each of them, but they appear to be gas engines. I am looking for an electric RTF. I would love to hear from someone who has owned a CCLEE model or the J3 Cub.

Parkzone Cub is good. The Parkzone Stryker is for intermediate to advanced pilots. I am not familiar with CCLEE, so I can't answer that part of your question. But the Parkzone J3 Cub is very nice.

Even though it's not RTF, the Hobbico Aero Cruiser ARF is a great electric cub, much better than the one you linked, It's $110 if you buy from Tower with the reccomended radio, and requires very little assembly. Just drop in the servos, attach them to the pushrods, screw in the wing, charge battery and fly. It's not very good at takeoff with standard servos (It works OK with micro servos, but nothing to get excited over), but also flies well with a hand toss. I've been able to fly it in areas as small as the park in the back of the local jr. high near me. I've seen sticks able to fly in places smaller, but it's a first for an actual PLANE (excluding kites, stiks, wings, etc). I'd reccomend it, it can be bought at TowerHobbies.com

Thanks for the input. I like the look of the Aero Cruiser, but was a little concerned because it is a 3 channel. I am a total beginner and don't want to get in over my head.....of course I also need something that is going to be durable. I have been leaning toward the [link=http://www.boondoggles.com/product.asp?ProductID=6752&source=goto&engine=over ture!1722&keyword=firebird+commander]Firebird Commander[/link] because of all the good thinks I have read about it and beginners. What do you think of this plane and how does it compare to the Aero Cruiser????

Thanks for your help,

Brian

Not to be rude, however IMO you are digging a deep hole for someone that wants to not get in over his head.

Being a total beginner, you think of RC airplanes like an rc car, a baseball bat/glove, basketball, etc. It's not all that simple. Batteries must be cared for, equipment maintained and above all you need to learn a skill unlike most others that most people have ever experienced. That skill is simply learning to FLY.
You don't want to get in deep and you want to be only an occasional flier. None of these go along with being a PROFICIENT flier. Non-proficient fliers spend even more on aircraft maintenance.
For your own well-being, check with your local H/S or the AMA web for a good club around you and ask them some questions. Be prepared that they may provide answers that you may not wish to hear. OTOH if you accept that you need to LEARN how to fly, well welcome to a great sport and hobby. Don't be surprised if t you lose that occasional thing.

2 channel flyers are generally quite hard to fly, and when they do fly, they don't fly well anyway. you will have much greater success on a 3 channel plane. as others have mentioned, the pod and boom planes (aero whatevers) make great planes, and are very durable. leave it for your second plane to get something that looks more scale. (don't worry, there WILL be a second plane, this is a very addictive hobby!!) [8D]

Thanks for your comments. I have been to a few HS in my area and think I have a pretty good feel for how things work. I will have to disagree with your comments on becomming PROFICIENT. I think you can be an occasional flyer and become proficient, it will just take longer. Thanks again.

Thanks for the advice Smokingcrater. The link is one I had not been to before , so that is much appreciated.

The problem with the local HS is that their supply is very limited. I can find serval planes that I like on line, but the HS is unable/unwilling to give advice on these planes, since they would not be selling them. The search continues, although I now have several good leads...and links.

Thanks to all,

vogelweh90,

Might want to reread Hossflys advice IMHO it was the best given so far.

Also remember you generally get what you pay for and most cheap planes fly well... like cheap planes. Since your new to this it might not be readily apparent but there are different levels of performance. One thing I have seen with the cheap "toy store" type planes is that they don't provide an accurate "feel" for the hobby.

If you are able to get a "demo" flight from the local club you will see the differences between the cheapy planes and others that are more traditionally accepted.

Parkzone Cub. Flies great out of the box and care of batteries is a snap. There not lipos so u dont have to worry about that stuff. I have one and love it.

Hossfly is right on. It takes most new flyers every weekend for most of the summer to learn to fly properly. If you only want to get out occasionaly then your flights will be short and you will need repairs often. An alternatve is to buy an electric flying wing called a Zagi. Its made of a tough, thick, bang resistant foam that stays together really well. Your flights will still be short but at least it won't break on impact. Most of the park flyer type planes mentioned are very fragile and made of thin walled foam that break apart almost just by looking at them. They also don't have much power and can only be flown in the lightest of breezes. That why I don't recomend them for starting out. [8D]

Fastsky, I think you are on the same page with me. However, your link "Zagi" didn't take me to any planes. I think maybe it was mislinked.

B

Hi vogel, I never actually posted a link to the Zagis in my other post so I will include one here for you to follow.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...I=LXGDX9&P=ML;)

Thanks again Fastsky, I think you have hit the nail on the head with what I am looking for. I checked with my local HS and they don't carry any of the Zagi Wings. I was thinking of the Zagi C5 Combat Wing for the sake of durability. Since this will be my first plane I am still a little unsure of everything that is needed, since this in not a RTF plane. I know that some sites offer packages, but they vary so widly in price that it is hard to know what is a good deal. Do you normally by online at towerhobbies ??

Anyone else know of a good site to by the Zagi C5 and accessories??

Thanks to everyone for all of the GREAT information!!!

Brian

I seem to be buying more from TH all the time as they have been very good to deal with and the shipping to my door has gone well. Due to security issues over the net with Visa cards I usually like to call direct to place my orders.

as one who has seen &trained a good #of beginners and observed a lot more , it WILL take you a lot longer(may be never )to just solo, much less become a proficient flyer,subject to some interpretation as to "proficient".certainly the park flyer may be the route to go if you just want a taste. learning to fly is not easy even for those who seem to get the knack easier than others. .age plays a part as well as equipment. even afterwards there are challenges. thats why you dont see everyone doing it. I have seen occasional minded flyers, years later still barely able to fly and unable to handle even mild events /wind etc simply because they dont get out there enough.if you spend all your time in the pits drinking coffee/ BSing, you wont get very far in the hobby.