How is this for a first aircraft, im looking for somthing realitivly cheap, able to stand a little wind, and most important, easier to fly..? This one caught my eye.

[link=http://www.darncoolstuff.com/catalog/new_megatech_freedom_flyer_3754243.htm]Freedom Flyer[/link]

and btw whats duraplax?

A search for posts about Megatech might be valuable to you, in making this decision. There are quite a few.

The selection of your first plane depends a great deal on whether you intend to get instruction or not. There is a consensus that the most likely way to preserve your initial investment is to get an instructor. The alternate, learning on your own, is less likely to preserve your initial investment.

If you have plans to learn on your own, you should say so. Otherwise, you'll see many replies urging you to check with the local club and instructors, get their recommendations on planes and radios, and let them help you learn.

Good luck
Dave Olson

Just want comments on the plane itself.

The plane is constructed of ABS plastic and coated stryofoam. And while it is rugged, it is awful to reapair. That is, when you have to mend(and you will have to mend) it, the repair looks like crud. Unless you have a rather high$ plastic welder. Also, I didnt see any dimensions on the plane. That would be a serious consideration when getting started with a first plane. The add says range of 1500 feet! At 1500 feet,(15 mistakes high, for those that know) you will not be able to see anything smaller than a 1/4 scale pattern plane.
There is my comment on the plane.

The plane is junk. You would be wasting your money. Don't do it!

You also may not want to come across this rude to the guys trying to answer your questions when they don't tell you what you want to hear.

If you plan on teaching yourself to fly (I won't give you the song and dance about clubs, instructors ) I can suggest 2 electric planes.

The Easy Star http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXFXV0&P=ML

OR

Slow Stick http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXHCJ2&P=ML
You will need to provide your own radio, receiver, servos, battery and charger for it though.

I'll second that Flyboy. I also agree with the comments on staying away from the megatech line of models. GWS makes several Look around but have a "plan" before you buy or you may just waste your money and time

As has been mentioned, do a search. There have been plenty of opinions written about Megatech.

Good luck,
Dennis-

the only problem with around here is the wind conditions, it needs to beable to withstand at least 10mph winds, mostly all day... until late evening, by then its too dark to see.

And btw i appriciate any and all comments negitive or postive, i dont nessisarly have to get that one, it just want the best one for my skill level and the weather conditions we have around here, i already tried a firebird outlaw, that didnt turn out so hot when the wind grabed it and threw it at a tree at a pretty hgh rate of speed.

also im looking for somthing under 150$$

what about this one, rember any comments are appriciated, i dont want to pick the wrong one. I forgot to meantion this isnt my first plane, rather my first trainer for my glow trainer, i decided to get a electric and learn some of the basics before i wrecked my glow trainer, so im also looking for somthing that will closly resemble trainer characristics...

[link=http://www.javarctoys.com/store-products-RC-Airplanes-Century-CENTURY--patriot-Patriot-4-Channel-RTF-Airplane_14913534.html]Patriot[/link]
[link=http://www.javarctoys.com/store-products-RC-Airplanes-Megatech-mtc9850-CAPITOL-FLYER_11490049.html]Capital Flyer[/link]

150 dollars and plane must be controllable for a beginner in winds of at least 10mph. Best advice is to find someone to teach you on your glow trainer. The little electrics in your price range don't do well in the wind

With the winds that you have electrics are going to be "dicey" at best (as you have most likely already found out with the Aerobird ) because of their light weight.

With winds averaging 10 mph, I feel you would be better served with a glow trainer. Because they are heavier they can handle/penetrate the wind much better.

Unfortunately, I have to STRONGLY suggest the instructor, club thing because glow planes not only fly faster (and respond MUCH faster ) than electrics, they also require a larger space to fly in. If you go this route, again because of the wind, I would suggest the Hobbico Avistar for a trainer with a ball bearing 46 engine. This plane has a semi symetrical airfoil so it will handle the wind much better than the traditional flat bottom airfoil.

On a personal note, I ALMOST lost a twin electric CL-415 (Scale Water Bomber used for fire fighting in Canada ) because of the wind the other day (about 12 mph ). I am a reasonably experienced flier and this plane weighs in at about 64 ounces RTF. I took off and the wind got it and took it about 1/2 mile from the field in about 40 seconds. I finally got it back to the field, but the landing was "less than perfect" I also flew my Bingo that day (40 size 4* clone ) and had no problems. Of course the Bingo weighs in at 5 lbs 12 oz dry - a little over 6lbs with a full tank of fuel.

I tried to start flying with a MegaTech Air Strike. The plane never flew....period. I would not ever buy a MegaTech product.

When you say under $150, do you mean just the plane, or everything? For that, you can find a used glow trainer with radio and engine if you look really really hard. I have done it for some. You need to have an instructor teach you on it or the outcome won't be favorable to say the least. It will be hard at that price to find a complete outfit that will fly in the wind as a few have stated. The small electrics don't do well at all in the wind.

You would be way better off in wind with a little higher wing loading too. A plane like the Goldberg Falcon III or similar are good. They handle it a lot better than a flat bottom like the Eagle II or planes like that.

If your limit is really under $150 for everything, you are going to be limited to stuff like the megatech birds, but in reality, you will just be throwing your money away. Those end up in the real world as being disposable and you never get many flights out of them. Basically, your cost is very high if you look at it long term. You might get a few flights out of it if you are lucky, but in the end, you throw the whole thing away and get nothing out of it. If you get a good quality trainer and destroy it, the radio and engine are still usable, and if you decide at any point to quit and you have good stuff and the plane is still good, you can get most of your money back out of it.

Good luck in whichever you decide to do.

I think the Megatech stuff is truly junk. I wouldn't waste my money on it. For the price of that plane, you could get yourself a good radio.

I assume you want to go electric. I'm not up on electric except to say you need to do some studying. BTW, Watts = Volts X Amps. A friend of mine likes the following plane:

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...I=LXJKU3**&P=0

Ciao,

Eagle Al

Megatech Electric stuff is junk.

I have the Megatech Nitro Capitol Flyer (semi-symetrical aerobatic .40 size glo trainer) and it's a perfectly good ARF. I even soloed with it last weekend. My instructor feels it's a perfectly good plane as he's taken it into spins, loops, inverted and rolls and it performed well. I've even performed an inverted immelman with it (albeit unintentionally). That's it in my avatar. My only issue with it is that the wings are covered identically top and bottom. Kind of a pain in the arse as far as orientation is concerned at times. I'm thinking of recovering it.

Unless Megatech has undergone some quality improvements lately, I'd include the nitro stuff under junk too. First the covering is a stick on PVC film that eventually peels off. Next the airframes I've seen start coming apart after a few flights. Check around the landing gear. If your plane has the Megatech 46 engine, I wouldn't expect much reliability there either.

Ciao,

Eagle Al[]

instead of an eletric plane, im thinking of gettin a sim... i think it would be better and in the mean time while im flying the sim i can look for an instructor in a reasonable range... what sim is the best bang for the buck?

I would say aerofly.

$150.00 will not get you a quality plane unless you get lucky in the classifieds.

This is not a cheap hobby for a person wishing to build a hanger of quality planes.

However I have seen the kids around here fly the electric firebirds and other cheap planes with every intention of killing the plane eventually. Just buy parts or yet another cheap electric to destroy.
I guess its whatever you are into.
You can buy or build foamy's all day but you intial investment will still be; Li-po, Brushless, charger etc.; $500 or so.
I personally put days or weeks into a build..even ARF. Use the best stuff. For this its not cheap to crash and you will.
Inital investment into a quality trainer 40 size is much more than $150.00. You need flight equipment. Flight box with all the goodies needed for flight.
For both electric and gas once you get past the set-up cost its not to bad until something goes amiss and usually its repairable or at least some expensive parts can usually be.
Whatever you are into.
I understand the Hobbyzone Aerobird Challenger can handle wind but I think to much for you. If you have masters the 2 channel scout try the 3 channel Firebird or Aerobird. Not very expensive until you buy you n'th wing set.
http://www.HorizonHobby.com. they suggest skill levels for planes, HobbyZone more so.
My problem at first was not knowing where to get stuff. ...TowerHobbies.. another.
A simulator is a good choice. Aerofly pro best. Great planes G3 next. My opinion I have one and used the other. Those help with the basics....for me a big help back when coming or going towards me was an adventure.