Morning Guys,

A little bit of info that im sure you will be pleased to hear. I am about to head out to SRCS, a flying club close to wear i live. There i hope to find an instructor as well as my friend redback, nd hopfully they can go over my plane and hopfully today i will get to take her up in the air. If not then oh well. I am so excited !!!!

Phil.

Best of luck on the adventure. Please don't be tempted to fly alone.

Thanks for all the neat info...[8D]

I'm just getting into this awsome hobby, and I'm only 14. I'm getting started for just under $300. So it shows you that even if you're young and don't have a job, you can still easily get into this hobby.

I got an AMA membership, a membership to my local club, a used Avistar 40, a flight box, some fuel, and a used David Brown Simulator for $310.

I'm so exited to start training!!! RC Planes rock!!!!

Ben

Good attitude and good planning. These are big steps toward success in this and life in general. Don't let problems get you down, find a way to defeat them. Hopefully you will be in the air this weekend. Welcome to the hobby.

When i was a kid and i'm only 34 now. My radio was 179.00, a cirrus 7 channel, my engine was 100.00, an O.S .40 Max, and my plane was I think 80, a duraplane. Things have gotten much much cheaper in the pasr 20 years. So stop complaining.

Good discussion to help new flyers understand what to budget.

To add the electric option here, you can easily get into the air with an Electric RTF for under $300 even if you pile on some extras.

There are a pile of RTF 3 channel electrics for under $200 including plane, radio system, battery charger, and one or two batteries. Some include spare parts as well.

Add another $$40-$60 for two or three more batteries and you are all set.

So, for $200-$250 you are flying with a RTF electic plane. Amazing how the prices have dropped in the last two years. A $300 budget is plenty for new electic flyers.

aeajr... regarding electrics, when you mention thoses prices are they for RTF park fliers or bigger ?
What size span are we talking about for that kind of money? I have no clue as to electric setups

He is refering to the RTF park flyer type planes some examples would be Areobird, slow strick sky scooter. These planes to do not compare to the .40 sized glow planes discussed in this thread.

Aeajr, I've seen you make this mis leading comparasion in several other times. You might want to learn a little bit more about glow planes before making misleading statements such as this

You are not making a fair comparsion and as such are doing a disservice to the new people to this hobby

1) Yes I am talking about RTF parkflyers, as examples of planes that meet the topic. There are also electirc ARFs that can be had where you add your own radio, batteries and chargers that also come in under $300. I can list out some examples if you like.

These are typically in teh 40-60" wing span range. Motors are typically speed 300-400 range runing on 6 to 8 nicd/nimh cells. Planes are typically in the 14-24 ounce range.

2) What unfair comparison? There was no comparison made, nor was one intended. The topic was "getting started for under $300". The post indicated that new flyers might be frightened away from the hobby due to the high cost of entry. A worthwhile topic for new readers to see.

I thought the original post did a great job of offering up a starter package on a glow trainer that was under $300. I added that there are many electric starters for under $300, reinforcing that whether you wish to start in glow or electric, there are plenty of options in this price range.

I didn't offer glider options which can be had for well under $300 but I could have added those as well. You can get glider RTF packages $200. These would typically be 2 meter built up planes that are in the 28-36 ounce range. Add about $60 for a hi-start and you are in the air. And ofcourse you can put an ARF/radio/launcher package together for under $300 as well.

You can also get started on electric gliders for under $300 including everything you need. There are many examples of ARF and RTF planes available in the 1.5-2 meter range.

The cost of entry to RC flying is really coming down. Isn't it great? And it is so easy to start glow and add electrics, Or to start with electrics an add glow planes.

In any case, that is what the thread was about, that is what and why I made the contribution I did. I would be happy to list details and links if you are interested.

Aeajr,

Simply put getting started with a electric 3ch RTF park flyer is not the same as getting started with a .40 sized 4ch glow trainer.
While your statement is technically correct it is misleading especially to the newbie that attempts to make a comparision in part based on cost. I personally like small electric Park flyers but having come from a glow environment I was aware of the differences in flight performance and chose the little electric for those reasons.
Unfortunatally with these forums one has no way of knowing a persons background and interjecting that you can get started with 3ch RTF electrics (for about the same price of less) in a thread that concentrated on .40 sized glow trainers WITHOUT mentioning things like wind that won't phase the glow plane will ground that PF or if you buy certian types of RTF electrics the Radio and components CAN'T easily be switched from model to model. Or attempting to make any type of performance comparision is about as fair as comparing a Ford Mustang to a Ford Escort While you say you aren't making a comparision it it implied.

I'm not attempting to bash you aeajr only trying to point out that your comments could be misleading to a newbie that reads this thread

Also in response to this comment
I would argue that the entry point has blurred. When I started everyone I knew used glow and as a result everyone entered the hobby on an even playing field. Todays PF provide a low cost and low performance entry into the hobby. however I have personally seen on three occasions where this entry point led to problems for the newbie in transitioning to higeher performance planes.
going from a trainer that does 40-50mph is to a 2nd plane that does 50-70mph is not as large a jump as going from a PF plane that does 10-15 to one that does 50-70mph not to mention attempting to learn 4ch flight at the same time

Glad we can discuss openly. And I am not attempting to bash you or anyone else. This is not a competition.

Good info will come out of the discussion.

Your points are all well taken. Certainly a 16 oz speed 400 based electric will not handle 15 mph winds as well as a 5 pound .40 glow plane when flown by a new flyer. One of my first pieces of advice to a new electric, glider or glow flyer is to do your early flights in as little wind as possible. Less an issue for the glow pilot, but still good advice. For slope glider pilots that advice doesn't apply.

On the other hand, that glow plane would be hard pressed to fly in a local "pocket park" without raising hell with the neighbors, assuming it could be flown in that small a space at all. Some flying fields don't allow glow planes because of the noise or whatever justificaiton they might have. The county does not allow our club to fly glow planes on our field except on special occasions when we use them for tugs in an aerotow of scale gliders. On other occasions we use electric tugs to take up the scale planes.

A baseball field is plenty of room to fly a GWS tiger moth, but I think a NextStart glow trainer would be a bit big and fast for that space. So, where you hope to fly can help you decide what you would like to fly.

I agree that the entry point has blurred. There used to be two entry paths and now there are three.

In the olden days of 10 years ago, you either started on glow power or you started on gliders. Two very different entry points. Both are fun, both satisfying and both can be totally consuming. And gliders has two branches of its own, those being slope gliders and thermal duration gliders.

I think you would agree that one could discuss those as valid entry points into RC flying. No real practical electrics around 10 years ago, except for the really committed. And, in those days of yore, many gliders were launched with glow engines.

Some of those glider pilots have been flying for years and have never flown a plane with ailerons as there are lots and lots of wonderful RE and RES thermal sailplanes and slope planes that can be flown with simple two and three channel radios. There are local, regional, national and international competitions for RES thermal gliders/sailplanes.

If you classify elevons as ailerons, then I would guess a higher percentage of slope flyers have flown elevons/ailerons than thermal pilots. Those super popular wings and two channel elevator/aileron planes are all over the slopes. Elevons were my first introduction to aileron flight, on an electric delta wing. Good preparation for my first aileron sailplane.

I would wager that there are tens of thousands of glider guiders who have flown for years, had a thoroughly satisfying experience and have never flow a plane that goes 50 to 70 mph and really don't care if they ever do. Of course some slope guys are speed demons, flying a two channel plane in excess of 150 mph with no motor. Crazy, but fun for them, great fun!

Now there is a new, viable entry point that represents a world of its own, electric flight. From the little indoor planes to the 100 mph+ speed demons, electrics span a wider performance envelope every year. The smaller planes are so inexpensive you can buy a whole set-up including plane, radio, battery and charger for $50 and enjoy a very flyable plane. Not my recommended entry point, but I have flown them and they can be lots of fun.

While still expensive you can fly 20 pound planes with electric motors and 3-5 pound electrics are becoming more common every year.

I would bet that, like glider and glow pilots, many electric pilots will start electric and stay electric forever. Nothing wrong with glow power or gliders, but nothing necessary about them either. Like the happy glider guider, there may be no compelling reason to try that other branch called glow power. Even glow launched gliders have faded into the shadows as virtually all new power launched gliders are electric and there are regional, national and international competitions for these two. Oh there will always be some that are glow based, but they are pretty rare these days.

The notion that a pilot will necessarily move from something to glow is not valid and becoming less and less likely every year. Electric sales, in units and $ volume will overtake glow soon, if it hasn't already. And the glow fields are being pushed further and further out of town making electrics so much more convenient.

I am not anti glow! I even have several that I recommend to new pilots who express an interest in glow. Those recommendations are based on what I read in magazine reviews and posts here on the forums. A lot of satisfied flyers would seem to indicate that a given plane is meeting the buyer's expectations. I tell the new flyers who want glow planes to check them out.

Net net! Some like glow, some like gas, some like turbine jets, some like gliders and some like electrics. Where the new flyer starts, and where they stay or which ones they sample is totally up to them. I started electric and have expanded big time to gliders, both slope and thermal. I may try glow some day, or I may not. There are several glow clubs and fields within easy reach of my home and some of our club members fly glow and gas too. One that used to exclude electrics is now open to them since so many of their members have added electics to the fleet and were starting to fly at other fields more than their own. So, I may go fly with them from time to time. I might even get a turn at a glow plane. Who knows.

I am already flying 6 channel sailplanes and at least one of my slope planes is set-up for 70 mph based on the way I sized the servos. I also think some of the dual motor and brushless wings that go 75+ might be fun to fly some day.

However, my interests are turning more toward slow flying electrics, indoor electrics, 3D electrics and I just bought my first rubber powered free flight. Maybe I will get something like this.

http://modellvideos.de/videos/Knuffe...-die-zwote.wmv

It doesn't fly at 75 MPH, but it could be fun anyway.

Some new pilots want to start their flying with glow planes. I think that is great!

i started with a super star 40 with a .40 and im 12. i soloed at 11 and now im working with a kyosho cessna 182. you can start with ether a areobird extreme or the super star 40 and then with some rebates you can be below or at $300

Bumper !!!!

My Tower .40 Trainer RTF came in at 232.00 including shipping. That leaves plenty of dough left for fuel, glow ignitor, etc.. and still comes in less than 300. The RTF version comes with a Tower .46 engine, Tower 4 channel radio, Tower servos . I also have the ARF version of this plane with an OS LA .40 and the LA is plenty of power for this plane. Without sounding like I have stock in the company, I would also like to say that I think this is a great plane for beginners. It flies great, looks great, and is pretty sturdy. Definatley a great plane for the price.

glad you enjoy it, should do you well. You will eventually outgrow it , but that is evolution. Until then you will have a blast with it. It will probably still be flying even when you have your second plane up and flying.
Welcome to the hobby.

8 years ago I learned to fly on Tower Trainer 40 with a OS 40 on it. The plane has between 250-300 flights on it and it's still flying. Every now and then I take it out fly for a little bit of fun. I think everybody should go back and fly their trainer at least once a year. If anybody is asking I kept my trainer around for sentimental reasons, I got the trainer from my dad after he died without ever getting to fly it, and I use it for "demo" flights for people thinking about getting into the hobby.

Unless I glossed over it, no one has mentioned planning out what you want to buy and buying it a piece at a time.

Say you want a Kadet Senior kit, a .56 size engine, 6 channel radio, plus the finishing items (tank, glue, etc.) If you can't afford to drop $390+ for a RTF kit or like me and WANT to build your first plane, why not just by the kit and what building items you can afford and build it to the point you can go no further without more components. This also assumes you can leave a half assembled plane safely out for a period of time.

If it's your first plane you likely aren't gonna build at a record pace so it should give you time to save. They aren't going to stop making the engine and radio to like anytime soon. If you're lucky you might stumble upon a deal in the mean time.

The only thing extra this costs is patience. So if it does cost $500+ at least it is over time.

There's nothing wrong with your approach, if it works for you. However, it probably doesn't work for everyone. Many people want to get in the air as soon as possible. Also, if you look at the numbers, the total cost to get a trainer ARF in the air is going to be lower than to get a similar kit in the air. The difference is that the ARF is usually fairly complete and you don't need to buy a bunch of extra things. With a kit, you need to buy more tools, covering, etc. These make the total cost of the first plane higher, but in the long run bring the total cost per plane down.

Good insight iacolb12 that's the other avenue of venturing into the hobby, build your plane and spread the cost over time.
However in the end I believe a kit is more expensive than today's arf and rtf's.

i Did Exactly the same as above, i bought my ARf plane, put it all together, them when i had the cash i bouht my TX and servos and Rx and i installed that in the plane, then it was chrissy time so i asked for a engine for chrissy and got it, now about 7 months after i bought my plane ive flown it twice. Took me ages to get it in the air, but along the way i have got just about everything you need and never once broke the bank. Patience is a virtue.

The local hobby shop also has used trainers (most I've been to) that someone has lost intrest in. They are often ready to fly ( radio, engine, airframe-and already assembled.) I have seen them for as little as $150.00. Another great place to pick up some really cheap stuff is a a swap meet. I saw new a 1/3 extra arf sell for $150.00, and ready to fly trainers for $60.00 - $120.00. I love swap meets .

If you watch the AMA rag, they list most swap meets, and even here.

Now, my beef with clubs... I don't know about all areas, but here you have to join AMA ($58), then join the club ($100.00 joining fee + $75.00 per year) This would cause a person in school to want to fly out of their back yard, and most likley lose intrest in flying because of the cost.

Did I mention I love swap meets!

Sorry. I didn't preface that I was actually tossing up the idea for those who might seek this as an alternative. The piecemeal approach would be more expensive (which I did state in my post).

I know the post is "Getting Started for under $300" but I was just tossing the idea as an alternative. Especially if you budget were $300 but the plane you really want is only going to cost $400 to get. Then why not try this route. You wouldn't even have to go kit. You could get an ARF plane to start.

Ya know, when you sit down and think about it, planes aren't really much more expensive to get into than any other R/C hobby.

Looking at Tower's website, I see that the NextStar comes in at $399.99 RTF and the RTR Savage 25 comes in at the same price. Add in the necessary extras and the plane is only about $50-100 more.

I just used the Savage as an example, thanks to the Monster Truck craze sweeping the car hobby. And yes, you can start cheaper, but you get what you pay for for the most part. With planes, you go from the high wing trainer, to the mid or low wing and re-use the engine, servos and radio in the new plane. With cars you take out the .25 the truck came with and throw in a .28 or spring for the .46 conversion.

It really is all relative. I don't care to think about the amount of money I've had tied up in my cars over the years, starting with my RTR T3 that was "only" $299.00