Hi Guys, this is my first post on RCUNIVERSE and I need some advice on buying this:
http://www.raidentech.com/allnew4ceskr.html

I'm on a really tight budget and I would like a 4 channel plane thats under 150 dollars. I would like it to be durable also

so is that a good plane for me to get? (This isn't my first one, I have a 2- channel Firebird Outlaw)

Go for the Multiplex EasyStar ... its a great plane to enjoy. Might cost a little more but its worth it. If you can fly decently then try the GWS planes, stay clear of the warbirds unless you fly well. I would say go for the Formosa, Funny Park, Tiger Moth 400 or even the Pico Stick for simple fun (does not do well in the wind, pure park flyer).

I haven't heard of this plane or the company, but I'll say one thing, 650 grams or about 23 ounces seems a little heavy for a 380 motor unless it has a gear drive, and I didn't see anything about a gear drive in the specs.
Dennis-

You may also want to check out the Electric forum here --> http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/defa...=1&forumid=227

This is a link to the E-flight "trainers" forum --> http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/Elec...mid_102/tt.htm

And finally, a link to a thread that lists and discusses good first e-planes --> http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/Good...1266418/tm.htm

We're all still looking for one of them. I'm going to suggest you invest that $150 plus a little more into an RC flight simulator, of your choice. No chance of wrecking the simulator planes, you can learn a whole lot with them, you can fly multiple planes, and the weather's always nice indoors. Oh, and you already have the computer.

That's a serious suggestion. If you go into this activity thinking $150 is going to be sufficient, I'm afraid we'll lose you shortly thereafter. If you fly the sim, you'll have a leg up on other new students, when you finally buy hardware. And, you'll risk less when you fly the hardware. Oh, and later, when you want to learn aerobatic maneuvers, you can try them out on the sim first.

Good luck,
Dave Olson

My dad used to fly RC Airplanes, but not a lot and he has a controller that hooks up to the PC that i'm using and i'm using the FMS Program to fly. I've been flying since this summer and I've done lots of it. I really would like a scale rc plane also.

i'd suggest the hitec skyscooter or, as tIANci so mentioned, the multiplex ezstar. the hitec skyscooter is easy to repair and 155 bucks rtf from tower. the multiplex is an easy flying plane that is as stable as the euro and safe.

don't go for looks on the first planes, go for value and ease of flight. go for looks when those looks might last more than one flight.

i dont know much about electrics but boy that seems cheap. youll probably get what you pay for!!

ok, i'll think about buying the multiplex one. seems good too. oh yea, we got a big stick gas one also, i'm gonna fly that. how sensitive are the controls?

Start with the electric, you'll end up crashing no matter what you try to fly, but there's at least a chance you can repair the electric. That won't be the case with the Stik.

Seriously, find a local club and an instructor before trying a glow powered plane. Or be sure you have at least 30 or so acres with no buildings or people around.

Good luck, and welcome to RCU!
Dennis-

I have a question for you, why are you only looking for an electric plane? for an extra $60 you could buy a glow engine trainer here in the market place that is ready to fly all you will need is to find an instructor fuel it up and go have fun

you said that your dad already flies, right? why not get a transmitter that can be hooked up to his and a glow plane as well. a lot of the cost of starting with glow is that you need to buy the field equipment. but if your father already has all that, why not go glow?

i think the most important thing will be to get a transmitter that can serve as the buddy box to your fathers radio, then he could actually teach you to fly safely with his planes. this would be the most rewarding. personally, i think you should go glow since you already have a good coach there. if you go electric, you have parts that may not be interchangeable. you need a new charger for batteries (unless you love waiting 8 hours for your batteries to charge), you have different servos yada yada yada. if you go glow, your father can help your with the set up, airplane and engine and you could be flying in no time... with no crashes!!!

think about it.

acually, i'm better than my dad since he doesn't fly, hes flown like once or twice when I was little then put the plane into storage, and I got a 4 channel futuba attack4 all ready. and old radio equipment also.

I had an electric wattage cessna 180, and hated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated ithated it. Other than that dont get it, but if its electric you want to go, then go...Another guy on rcuniverse is onthe same budget you are and is getting a tower trainer and engine, just not the radio as he is looking for a donation.

in that case a glow trainer (provided your father has all the starting equipment, glow plug light, starter and starter batter) is going to be your best bet. you can easily get a trainer and engine within your budget! World Models Sky Raider Mach I ($70 from airborne) and a thunder tiger pro 46 ($80 from tower) it would be a perfect match and stay right on your budget give or take shipping.

however, since your dad doesn't fly, i would recommend that you get an instructer if not to fully instruct you at least to maiden the plane, trim it out, and give you an assessment of your capabilities. hate to see a newbie lose a plane particularly if on a tight budget.

another possibility is to take the engine from that big stick, i assume your dad is not flying that now, and put it on a trainer. that would save you even more money.

Guys I hate to say this ... I agree its best to learn on a glow trainer first but I have seen many who cannot fly a glo trainer but CAN fly the Multiplex Easy Star. Funny huh? But generally its easier and better to learn on a proper glow trainer.

Forestroke ... please go get that ST Model YAK!!!

I'm writing this so that if you are new to this hobby you won't be taken in the same way that I was. First of all DO NOT purchase the MEGA TECH Airstrike. This may be a obvious to most of you but it wasn't to me. I felt I was safe in purchasing it since the company I bought it from (CDH Enterprises) offered a money back gaurentee (minus a 15% restocking fee). When I tried to return the plane I was told it was messed up beyond repair and that I could purchase another item but not get a return. I have the plane again and am still wondering what damage it has sustained that would render it unfit for return. Since CDH ENTERPRISES is not on the list of companies that can be evaluated on this site (many others are) I want to warn everyone NOT to buy from this company as they will not honor their warranty.

I ended up purchasing a Hobbico Nexstar trainer. This is a super product that I would recommend to anyone getting into this hobby. It is more expensive but if you really want to learn DO NOT by a low cost plane like the Airstrike.

Good Luck and happy flying.

Glade

Glade,
Sorry you got sucked in by Megacrap. Most people here try to warn others away from them, but.... The lucky ones come to RCU first and do a "search" or ask questions.
Dennis-

I think i'm good, i'm not really a first flyer, I've flown 2 2-channel planes. one was a Tyco one and one was a firebird Outlaw.

Phil - my assumptions are:

1. you have some level of piloting skill on 2 channels and you want to move up
2. you have your own 4-channel radio equipment that you can use to a new plane
3. you have access to a big stick that nobody flies right now
4. you have glow plug lights, starter and starter battery
4. you have $150 budget

couple of questions that you need to answer.
1. are these assumptions true? what is and isn't?
2. by "durable" what exactly do you have in mind? you can't expect any plane to be stomped on by a gorilla like a samsonite suitcase.
3 do you have access to an instructor?
4. how much have you invested in electric accessories already? nice charger, some li-pos
5. do you like electrics and want to stay electric in the future?
6. how serious are you about going scale?

there are so much advise we can give but you need to give us some guidance.

1: Yea, those assumptions are true, the bik stick is ready to run after some maintence since it has been siting there for about 8 years :-\
2: By Durable I mean that it should be able to handle minor crashes, not like nosedives into the ground.
3: no I just fly at the park next to my neighborhood.
4: none at all.
5: yea, I think electrics are better than gas because you don't have to worry about running out of gas or the plane flying away.
6: I would like a scale one but I don't think i'm able to build it since i'm only 13.

okay phil, first somethings to think about.
electrics run out of electricity and do fly away. i'm not sure what you mean by they don't but they definitely do! just about a month ago i buddy boxed a brand new flyer, who by the way was very cute, on my EZStar and she flew it a little farther away than i could see and i literally ran after the plane. luckily i was able to bring the plane back. electrics are just as good at running away. but they do run out of steam more linearly so you can tell when they are running out of juice. but most people time their runs.

i am glad that you're kind of giving up scale for now.

okay... so now the advice.

1. if a flying field is close to you, go to the local flying club and see them fly. ask them if there is someone that is offering to take up prospective pilots on a flight. ask for their opinion on what they think.

2. decide if you want to join the AMA or the local flying club.

if you join, there will be fees, AMA and club fees that differ but may cost you. what you will get is a place to fly safely, free advice from clubmembers, use of some tools provided you are nice and a lot of bigger brothers and sisters. oh yeah, and insurance. since you have big stick that can fly, take the engine, radio gear out and put it into a trainer like a world models skyraider or, if you want it to be more acrobatic, a hobbico avistar. Although this might be a little more than you originally anticipated, it is the best path to go if you really want to join the hobby. flying is so much more fun with friends.

if you plan to continue only flying in the park - i would really suggest the EZstar because it is very safe. however, it does require a lot of room (it's a big plane) and it's never recommended to fly around people. since you have the radio the EZstar is $60 and with ESC around $30 and batteries around $25 you should be okay on $150 provided you have the charging equipment already. if not, $150 will be pushing it.

second option would be the hitec skyscooter but costs will be around the same.

if you don't have the space in park - you could go with something like the GWS Estarter, which will be like $40 and looks scale. only problem is that you will have to buy new servos. your standard servos will be too heavy. with servos running $14 a pop and 20AMP esc at $30, batteries at $20 (9.6v 1100mah nimh) you will be looking at $118 with one battery and $138 with two, which isn't bad.

the firebird outlaw is not anything like a real 3 or 4 channel plane because it uses differential thrust for turning and throttle for going up and down. real 3 or 4o channel planes use moving surfaces much like your dad's big stick. these are VERY DIFFERENT. a real plane is far more responsive to your input so if you turn the sticks too much the planes will go all over the place. i believe that your firebird will not ever get out of control. so please be very careful taking it up and i really really recommend the local flying site visit.

the things you've learned in the outlaw is that you should be good at left right orientation... but that's not enough... the skills you need to pilot a real planes

1. up down orientation
2. roll left roll right orientation
3. throttle control - i don't mean on or off. i mean using controlling the throttle
4. proportional control - using each control surface proportionally not full left or full right, full up or full down.
5. trimming

i wish i could be there in West Henrietta to give you some lessons but i'm sure there are nice people there willing to teach you as well. one quick way is to go down to the local hobby store (not toy store) to ask around. best of luck and keep us informed!!!

thanks for the info but my local hobby store is about 30 minutes away. I fly some planes I downloaded from FMS and I fly good, I can do like torque rolls and I can hover for about 4-5 seconds. and one more question, I was also thinking of buying the Wattage Cessna. That was my second plane I want to buy, is that any good?

i have heard different feedback on that plane. i'm sure you can find some info just by searching for it here on RCU. why buy an rtf when you have enough money to get some seriously fun planes?

i have the wattage corsair and i must say... although pretty, it's far from being a beginners plane. not talking about the flight characteristics only. it's the unpowered package and the undesirable charger that gets me. invest, don't just spend. that's my piece of advice.

here's my corsair with a lipo 3S1P. NOT for the beginner.

I would buy a ARF but my dad really doesn't have time to help me build one. he works all day till 8(we just started a nail salon) so my only choice is buying a RTF.