I just got looking into the rc airplanes and I seen this one J-3 CUB. I was wondering if it was any good for my first one. If anyone knows anything about it could you guys let me know.[sm=confused.gif]

You need a trainer, I suggest:

Hobbico Superstar RTF - gives you everything, engine, radio, plane, all assembled.
Hanger 9 Alpha RTF - Probably a better deal, again, everything.


There is the avistar , a more of a 1 step-up plane, thats the plane I learned on though, if you have it on low rates its okay, but I now run everyting on 140% D/R on my 7C fut...

You have got to look into a club, or an expirenced flyer to help get you going. If you can't find one locally, post an ad in the paper.

You're going to need a field box setup, a good way to start is chicken stick, glow ignitor, six shooter fuel pump, and fuel.. 10% CoolPower is good, once you get into RC more you can have a more fantsy set up like mine, electric start, onboard fuel pump, glow etc..

Shane

Absolutely not!. Most will agree the Cub of any kind should be around a third plane. They are a tricky plane to fly and don't let the high wing fool you.

Thank you.

Yeah that's a great plane for beginners. For as electric they have the Ready to fly version by park zone. It runs aout $149-$159USD. And there is the J3-FC cub J3-SC by Gws. They are the almost ready to fly versions, therefore needing all the electronics except the motor.

Here some the sites to check them out..

http://www.atlantahobby.com/shopexd.asp?id=1501

http://www.modelflight.com.au/rc_mod...ws_j3stick.htm

http://www.mirax.cl/detalles.asp?codigo=11840

The J-3 Cub is basically a trainer that's converted into a taildragger. I personally, would not recommend it for a first plane because of this. They'll nose over on ya and they can be tricky to keep on the ground when landing. Go for a good ol' Hobbico Avistar trainer, or any other trainer that offers a nosegear. You'll be much happier with that to start with. Just my opinion.
Clinton

dont get a park flyer, get the real deal, .40 size glow or bigger.

I introduced a park flyer because it's the most econimical for beginners. There's absolutley nothing wrong with starting with a gas trainer, but you're looking the minimm of about $400USD to get flying. After buying a RTF hobbico superstar or whatever, then fuel, starter, igniter/and or panel/ flight box. I just think when beginning, take it slow and easy as possible because if a crash happens, he won't be out of a lot of money. You can always move up after while.

Get a Tower 40! Great plane and cheap.

I agree with snoop dog,

Although Cubs are nice and slow, and give a pilot plenty of time to think, there is plenty to think about. They have a flat bottom wing which makes them respond to every little gust and bump. Gust and bumps tend to alter the planes course and attitude when landing. And they require a bit of coordination of the rudder and aileron to fly. They are fun to fly. But they are deceptively difficult to fly.

Airplanes like Avistar, although they land at a higher speed, have a wonderful semi-symetrical wing that makes the plane more stable in a windy condition. You have less time to think, but there is much less to think about.

That is the trade off. Time to think vs. how much to think about.

I Cub will require authoritative inputs all the way to the ground. Newbies will have no room for error.

An Avistar is more or less set up for the approach and then almost monitored with small corrections when landing.

As you start learnig to fly, you will learn that the biggest and most important trick that you will learn, is landing.
And landing isn't achieved in the manor that many people think. You don't chop the power and glide her in.
You will learn that the elevator is used to control the pitch attitude of the airplane which essentially means its airspeed.
Rate of desent is controlled with throttle.
Sometimes a faster and heavier plane may be prefered, at least by experience flyers and they will find such an airplane actually easier to land. However, they have achieved a hand to eye coordination or a muscle memory reflex that makes landing much easier. The new pilot must overcome the lack of such reflex response by actually observing the planes actions, then actually thinking about it , anylizing it, decided what the correct response is, and then getting thier hands to do it.
For a seasoned pilot, he seems to simply think what he wants to happen and it does. It is as if the plane were connected straight into his brain.
Acheiving this requires simple repetition or practice. The question is simply what airplane will most likely survive this period in the fledgling pilots early hours, when he cannot rely on an automatic response.
Another dissadvantage faced by the new pilot is "planning". A seasoned pilot is not so completely immersed in the task at hand at any given moment that he cannot plan his next few moves. The newbie is not "planing several moves ahead. You will hear the term, " I was way behind the airplane". That refers to the pilot being so overwelmed by the simple task of flying the plane that he had no spare capacity to plan his future moves. In fact he was chasing it.
Just for example, in the past I flew a twin engines arplane for anumber of years. Before take off, I would imagine in my mind, OK what if the left engine dies on take off, which way will I have to go, etc and then imagine the right engine failing. It only take a few seconds before departure to imagine what you will do. Once in the air, similar thoughts are constantly being formulated in regaurds to lining up for the next pass after this one etc.
I am telling you WAY MORE than you need to know. And I hope that this doesn't sound intimidating. Get an instructor. You will become aware of this skill set developing. It is easier than it sounds. But just be aware, it might seem different than what you expect.

Okay, lets go this direction. I have been flying my gas speed planes and all for a few years now. Last year I decided to get an electric just to keep in the truck and pull out and fly it in some off the wall place at the spur of the moment type thing-like at work or something. The cost of going or starting electric is darn near the same as going gas. When i added it all up, I blew it off and bought another plane!

Your going to need a few battery sets, chargers, speed controllers. One other thing is that it is easier to go from gas to electric than electric to gas.

Sums it up quite well!

The two biggest issues with my Cub are it's ground handling, or lack thereof, and the adverse yaw. Both of which make it fun to fly, but would make a not so fun plane to learn on.

I went through a similar exercise earlier this year. Came to the same conclusion and added a few more engines and kits to the fleet.
Don't forget micro servos, smaller receivers, etc...

You could even try J J Freestyle. He's always selling stuff. I'd try emailing him!
Clinton

I had bought the Multiplex Micro Jet and had it for several weeks before I started pricing out the rest of it. Then I gave it back to the LHS and got another WM -P-51. I think its the cost of the actual plane that can sucker you in. Those electric are cheap but the systems are not.

For me the gas planes are much less expensive. Put together a Speed 500 airplane, .25 powered, radio, field equipment and all. I spent $300 on the whole setup. Nothing is the latest and greatest, but it is relatively fast, and does basic aerobatics. To get a plane that is electric powered and is about the same size and weight, it would run well over $500. I could get a small electric plane together for a couple hundred, but it would be small, very light, and most of those electrics don't look like a real plane anyway. The lighter airplane is thrown around by small changes in wind direction, and if a gust comes up, sometimes you land with negative ground speed...crash. Now, I too, bought a Multiplex Micro-Jet, and have $500 worth of batteries (2), charger, mid-grade brushless motor and controller, on order. Very expensive, but it will go fast.