I just joined this formum but have been reeading up on here, radiocontrolzone, and MSN Communities. How is the flying? I bought a copy of Model Airplane News today. Which aircrafts do you all say are best to start off with? I know a trainer is the best option and also get a fuel engine w/ ground takeoffs. Have Fun learning/building/flying your RC's. I am also 16 almsot 17 years old.

Welcome Ricky16,

My first suggrestion is to make use of the "search" capability of this site to find the existing answers to your questions. This site is quite active and many of the questions asked have been answered many times over in the past.

The next best bit of advice that I can give you is to join your local RC club. Most clubs are filled with knowledgeable people who are eager to help out aspiring youngsters. My club has a youth program that seems to always have a couple of dozen members that are busy building and learning to fly RC models.

I am from Huntsville, Alabama and in the county where we have pasteurs and stuff here I could fly on but where is a good locater for finding a club. I do not know where one is but 1st I wouldn't mind finding one and going out and watching them and find someone to ask about it and there advice and reccomendations. Finding a club/flying field is 1st.

Hi Ricky 16,
GalenB gave as good an answer as there is ,I'll just add my .02 since I'm tired of flying this week end and it's 94 outside.I like 55" to 75" flat wing trainers with reliable engines to start with,also I think joining a club,meeting the people,see what they are flying,and see about there traing and instructor program,the last thing is to purchase the plane and get to having fun.To be 16 almost 17 again!!!I've got engines older than that,welcome to the hobby/sport.
Have a goodun,John.

Great Points you bring up...... does anyone know of a good site to locate flying clubs on or does anyone know of one in Huntsville, AL.

From http:www.modelaircraft.org

http://modelaircraft.org/templates/a...8B9D34620093D0


106 MODEL AIRPLANE CLUB OF HUNTSVILLE ARTHUR R THOREN 256.880.8099 [email protected] 10002 BLUFF DR SE HUNTSVILLE AL 35803-1704 FF (This may be a free flight club if I am reading these right)

715 ROCKET CITY RADIO CONTROLLERS WARREN TOMME 256-859-1214 [email protected] 113 MEADOW PASS HUNTSVILLE AL 35811 CL (This may be a control line club if I am reading these right)

1593 NORTH ALABAMA RC ASSN DOTTYE E MORGAN 256/536-2160 [email protected] PO BOX 2541 HUNTSVILLE AL 35801 RC

2975 JACKSON COUNTY RC CLUB ROBERT S GABRYS 256/534-4379 [email protected] 1304 PHILPOT AVE NE HUNTSVILLE AL 35811-2038 RC

I guess I need to get in contact with one of these clubs and see about going to there lcoal flying field an just watch the flying and get some advice there. After that I probably should look at definitly joining the AMA but you shouldn't need a card to just be there an watching as long as ur not touching a plane controller in any way.

Would the free flight or control line ones be a good choice.... Free Flight sounds pretty good which probably would just be people out there oranized flying. No major events just people out there flying as a group freely.

Hi Ricky 16,
lot of clubs have trainer planes to get new members started,sometimes the 1st and 2cd day is free just to see if that your thing befor spending a bunch of cash,there is no comparsion between,ugh,freeflight and control line,get on the phone ,call a few clubs or go by ,most clubs welcome need people.
Have a goodun,John.

I saw one plane link advertised on this part of the formums it was like an ARF, slow stick, park flyer for $34.99.... Thats almost 2 cheap but have u heard of it and it could be a good starter plane to learn with. I think it was last Xmas or the one before that I got an RC Plane but it never worked right or laster it tore up. That was like a $130 plane out of the J.C. Penny Xmas catalogue i think. It might have worked if i would have went to a club or learned how to fly it better at 1st thats why I need to get a new one an try again, but for $35 it would be worth a try. I probably should get an AMA membership on my 1st time going to a club rc flyin field. What is the junior membership price or does anyone know it is like $15 or is that an option for everyone. I am 16 almsot 17. or is it $58 for everyone.

GalenB gave you the ama website,has the asswers on it.Also think that park flyer was electric.
Have a goodun,John.

The Rocket City Radio Controllers (RCRC) is at the old landfill just off Airport Road in Huntsville. They have the best field in the whole area. Contact Chuck Facemire.

The North Alabama Radio Control Association (NARCA) is located in Meridianville but I think they are mainly into gliders.

There is a club in Monrovia but I don't know where it is or who to contact.

There is one in Decatur but I don't know who to contact.

There is one in Arab that has a lot of members from Huntsville. If you want additional information, contact me by email.

You can contact Jerry Festa and he can probably steer you to the club nearest you and will be glad to help you any way you need. He is a great guy.

Thanks to all who helped rick. Remeber to read our guidelines and if you have any questions let me know_bob

Ricky16,
To answer one of your questions, NO, Free Flight does NOT mean a bunch of guys flying "freely". Free flights are small planes that have no radio control. And even if you do live in the boonies, DO NOT attempt to fly a plane without instruction. You will need to make about a $300 investment for a plane, engine and radio, and I promise you that if you try to do it alone, your $300 will come home in the form of a paper bag full of broken balsa wood.

If you were joining one of the above clubs which would you go with probably. One that flys actual radio controlled planes.

Absolutely! Your next step is to go out there and meet the guys. Tell them you are interested in learning to fly, and they will steer you in the right direction.

No I mean which club would you check out first! You all seem to mean that the free flight ones don't use radio controlls so what do they do like plane kites or sail planes. Which club would be my best option to check out?

Ok, let me explain it a little better. A free flight is a small glider-like plane that has a small engine with a very limited amount of fuel. Basically, they go straight up until the fuel runs out. Then, they are trimmed so the they just fly around in a big circle until they land, or in some cases, they have a built in timer that will flip the tail up to make the plane just stop flying and float straight down. There's a picture attached showing a typical free flight model.

As far as which club to join, I can't say seeing as how I don't know any of the clubs in your area, but here's the best thing to do... Go to your local hobby shop. Go to several if you have more than one and find out which one(s) specialize in R/C airplanes. Then ask them where the local R/C club flies, or you may find that there are more than one. As far as which one is the best, that's like asking which is better, Ford or Chevy. The one that's best for you, is the one YOU like best. The only way to find out is to go out to their field and meet them.

From another rookie, by the numbers:

1. Join a club. Free food at annual meeting.
2. Buy used trainer with engine. Crashing a new one hurts too badly.
3. Use the club instructor. He's old, he's cranky...yes, he is an uncultured expert! :angry:
4. If you're filthy rich, buy Great Planes Realflight simulator. :greedy:
5. If you're poor like the rest of us, buy a used Realflight simulator. See e-bay for lots of listings.

Here's a link for ground school freeby: :sleeping:

http://webpages.charter.net/wrhardin/gs/index.html

Fred
Strasburg, VA

I will check out some shops, and check out a club or 2. As for the ford and chevy question that is easy, FORD is the best. I drive a 1997 Ford Ranger XLT.

Oh well, hopefully you'll do better at picking clubs than you do picking cars.. LOL (J/K)

Ford,Oh well, you're young,when I was your age walking to fly wasn't that big a deal either.
Have a goodun,John.

Welcome to the world of modeling Rick. You are in for a great time and will meet alot of real nice people of all ages. We are all trained professionals in the art of putting previously built model aircraft back into kit form. Happy flying.
Dennis (Red Bluff,ca)

Real airplanes have 2 wings and round motors...............