ok, i know i've been saying i'm going to get a plane soon and now that time has come. as it stands right now i'm going to get an avistar with TT pro .46 and futaba 6 channel radio.

1. should i get a computer radio or "regular" and why?

2. how durable is the avistar, really? i mean, how hard can you treat it (accidentally of course) and it still survive with minor repairable damage (as in not spending money to fix)?

3. can you tell i'm worried about crashing it and not being able to repair it? hehe

thanks alot guys!

For the radio; get the best you can afford if you think you will be in the hobby for a long time. Computer radios have extra functions you will probably not need for a trainer though but will be of use with more advance planes.

Don’t think that has helped much, oh well.

First off I hope that you will also be joining an RC club. Training is free at most clubs and you will learn more in 1 hour with an instructor than 6 months of reading on the net! ALso any decent instructor can train you on a buddy box which will prevent most crashes. Ok Answers: on computer radio, pros, the prices of radios like other electronic components have dropped dramatically in the last couple of years. The new radios are easier to program and have more features than previous models. Buying a computer radio now will give you a radio that you can use for more advanced planes. Cons, you won't be able to use more than the basic 4 channels while training or other features such as dual rates, expoential, ect. By the time you solo, and are ready to use the computer radio to its potential a newer, less expensive, more powerful model will probably be out making your radio last years model. I would just get a basic 4 channel for now. It won't become obsolete because you can always use it for a spare plane, for training your buddies, or sell it to new flyer.
2. The Avistar uses standard construcvtion which means that the fuselage is solid balsa and ply, not criss crossing stiks. The wing is held on by rubber bands which pop off if the plane hits something, I watched one go into a snow fence at the end of our runway. The wing poped off and the only damage was a few broken rubber bands and a broken prop. The fact that you are thinking about repairs is something most new flyers don't consider. Most Avistars are of the ARF version. Trouble with starting this hobby on an ARF is that you don't learn how a plane is built. This makes it hard to figure out how to repair it, even with minor damage. Thats why unless its flying season allready I suggest building a full kit such as a Sig LT40. It gives you something to do over the winter and you learn a lot! Then after that, get what you want. Hope this helps. Fast!

thanks for the replies! i have been using RF G2 for quite a few months now and feel comfortable, but i know its a whole new ballgame when it comes to the real thing. I am planning on joining a local club and getting proper instruction.

i chose the avistar due to the semi-symmetrical wing that alot of people seem to enjoy due to the increased manueverability. i've wanted to get into this hobby for years and years but am having a hard time taking the final step, buying everything.

i guess i'm just looking for words of inspiration for a noob.

thanks!

I'll see if I can answer your questions:

Radio- If you want a Futaba radio, I would get a 6EXA computer radio. It is only a little more than a basic Futaba 4 channel. I see no point at all in getting a 6 channel non-computer radio. If you need 6 channels (flaps, retracts) you would want a computer radio. Computer radios have a lot of nice features, even for beginners. The ones you will use most often IMHO are: servo reversing, multiple model memory, exponential or dual rates, and end point adjustment (adjusting your servo throws electronically). As someone pointed out, however, you won't be able to use these features (except reversing) with a buddy box, unless the buddy box is also a computer transmitter set to the same settings.

Durability- Any balsa trainer will take a fair amount of abuse. Mine has survived rough landings, punctures in the covering (patch with packing tape) and a low-level stall and resulting crash. If you nose in from high altitude, any plane will be pretty much toast, including some of those advertised as "indestructible". You've got a good combo in mind.

Make sure you get an instructor and do not try to learn on you own. I did and regretted it. Have fun!

-Scott

You replied while I was posting my last post. Words of inspiration: You're off to a great start! You're taking a smart approach and will do just fine. With your sim experience, you will probably pick things up quickly. Don't worry too much about crashing. Just don't get too cocky, then you're sure to crash. Seriously, I started flying at the beginning of last year and made it through the entire year with only minimal damage. That was mostly due to good instruction.

-Scott

thanks for the reply, i guess i'm letting my fear of crashing overwhelm my excitement to fly. i know i'll love it once i do it, its just taking that first step off the cliff....

Most club designated instructors have several years of flying experience with many different types of planes. He knows what to look for to check the air worthiness of a plane before he starts the engine. He can also get any trainer airborne and trimmed out fairly easily. With his flying experience a trainer is fairly docile, slow, and easy to fly compared to high performance planes. This greatly reduces the chances of your trainer crashing during your learning stage. With your G2 experience you at least know what the sticks do and that is more than a lot of other newbies! BTW, most trainers don't crash until after a flyer passes his wings and gets too cocky trying fancy stunts. MY LT40 never had a crash during my training, then my sons, and 3 of his friends before we sold the plane still in 1 piece.

The thing is, with a good instructor and a buddy cable, its not a "step off the cliff," so much as it is gently being lowered down the cliff by a rope. Go ahead and take the plunge and get that plane. Then keep asking a lot of questions.

-Scott

Hobbico's Sturdy Birdy II equipped with a Super Tigre .51 is a plane that can survive the demands that a novice will put it through. I would purchase the Futaba EXA 6 channel as a good starter radio. The airplane runs around $60 and replacement wings are $23 although I hit a four-inch post at full speed without so much as breaking the wing. I've rolled it down the runway, got it stuck 40' up in a pine tree and ground the landing gear off it more times than I care to recall, but I was able to teach myself........here in the proverbial "sticks" where no one flys RC. If you have a club nearby........by all means........utilize it! I can't imagine what it's like shooting the breeze with a great bunch of guys and gals that have this great hobby in common with one another. Go for it! Stick with it! You won't regret it!

Hi ScienceisCool.. On the Radio.. For me there are two thoughts here..
Get a cheaper radio, at least a 4 channel that way if the hobby does not
work for you, your out a little less money.. And if all goes good you
could always use the plane and radio to to help others get involved..
A computer radio is great and depending on the model not that much
more, even if "most" do not use all the functions.. But the functions you
do use makes it really nice and it allows you to grow more with the hobby
in the future!! So... if the first choice is of no concern... Get that best
radio that you can so it can grow with you without added cost for another
radio.. I started with the Avistar/la-46 and Airtronics VG 400 radio..
(instructor had Airtronics radios) it was a great combo for the money and
me.. The plane is a great flyer, and easy lander, it will take you further
along your learning path and is very durable from what I have done and
seen. I have used the combo to train others, and soon to be flying it on
the lake... I think your listed setup is good...

thanks to everyone who responded... i think i'll just go ahead and get the setup this weekend, because i know i'll like it. Can't wait to get flying!

About the Avistar,

I crashed my Avistar 3 times and it survived. With a little CA glue and tape, its fine. As for radios, I heard a rumor at our club saying that if you know how to set the clock on your VCR you can use a computer radio. FALSE. My VCR clock still blinks at 12:00 and I use my Futaba 7C radio. They are very easy to use. Also, not to make anyone paranoid or nervous, this is what happened to the wing when I stalled my Avistar. The rubber bands snapped off and went right through the wing.

Yeah, but with your transmitter you had decent motivation to learn.
Dennis-

what's a VCR? hehe.. just kidding, i'm not that young.

anyways, i went ahead and bought the avistar from tower yesterday. i'm so excited i've lost all bowel control!

i purchased a arrow trainer 2 months ago put it togeather nice looking plane got impaitent waiting for spring ie club/ instructor so I bought a sturdy birdy & os fx .25 had a laser hitec 4 ch from my electric plane i fooled around w last summer put it all togeather and out to a remote farm field took a deep breath and hand launched it flew great thanx to a trip to hobby shop for a pre flight insp. and tip's on eng. tuneing ive logged only 5 flights 2 broken props & a spinner but it's worth it trying to be patient take it slow have my ama going to get into club before arrow goes up this summer till then the sturdy bird seems like a step in the right direction.

Well let me chime in with my opinions here :

Futaba is a great brand of radio. I love them. I have a couple that are about 18 years old and going strong.

BUt I would avoid the computor radios at this point. You don't need them. You may never need them. If you get to the point in the hobby where you need that kind of equipment, you will likely have a half dozen radios.
Now, just to contradict myself, if you buy a top shelf computor radio, you will never need to buy another xmitter agian. They have memory for several models. Some even allow you to download digital photos of your plane into the xmitter to help you remember which program is for which plane. I just don't like to put all my eggs in one basket.

As for the TT engine. I wouldn't buy one. This is the key component that determines just how flyable a plane really is. Good throttle response and good power make or break an airplane. Although all brands are CNC manufactured now and have great tolerances, there is one very important difference. That is nickel content. Buy an O.S. Max. Their engines will last 10 years or more. The clones are trash in 2 or 3 years.

The Avistar is a very wise choice. It has a semi-symetrical wing that handles the wind much better than most trainers. The price is a slightly higher landing speed. But you will be able to fly on more days when the wind is blowing too hard for most trainers.