Ok well, I crashed my SPAD nose first in the dirt. I learned my lesson, after 2 planes lost, I'm going to spend the extra money and joined a club and try to get an instructor. My first plane was an LT-25 and it flew a lot better and a lot longer then this one. I think I made a big mistake choosing a SPAD with no Dihedral, I was struggling to flight it level. I had no problem with my LT-25. Anyways, to make a short story shorter... I took off pretty well, went in a good climb but I think I flew to far, I got confused on the position of the plane, somehow got inverted and crashed nose first in the field. The only thing that broke was the PVC fuselage, my motor looks fine and my radio also looks fine.

I'm expecting some !QUOT!I've told you so bla bla!QUOT! well, I live by experiences, I fell, it costed me a 30$ spad and a lot of my time but I'm going to get back up. This time I'll buy myself a Hanger 9 Alpha Trainer ARF and get myself an instructor.
So I won't quit yet :-) and for those who are thinking of learning by themselves, I wouldn't recommend it. It's much harder then it looks, but hey people told me this since the beginning and I still thought I could learn it by myself. So I guess I'm wasting my time writing this, but you will crash
And you know what, for me it's not even the money, it's working so many hours on the plane, dreaming about flying it, being so anxious to finally take off, fly for 30 seconds and crash... It's the time wasted that pisses me off the most. Now I have nothing to show for it!

At least I have 2 motors, 1 radio and a lot of equipment.

Anyways, after spending over 1500$ in this hobby, I won't quit now, so I'll post, in a few weeks, a video of my maiden flight with an instructor

Ciao!

Good advice for others. Well said and good luck with your instructor.

Can you explain the 1500$? But yes, learning this is very hard. It does feel good to go out with the instructor and fun fly though

It's easy to spend $1,500 in this hobby. Heck, I've done that with one trip to a hobby shop before, and I wasn't even trying!!

Well, Afer 2 planes, 1 radio, 2 engines, starter, battery, fuel tubbing, control horns, push rods, fuel and all the rest...

DO NOT TURN THE ENGINE OVER !!! Make sure you dismantle and clean the engine thoroughly. If any dirt got in there it will ruin the engine quickly (like one or two revolutions can badly score/scratch the cylinder and/or piston ).

Before flying the again, make sure you do a range check with both the engine off and the engine running. The receiver SHOULD be OK, but do the range check "just in case".

Hey, everyone makes mistakes, it is a part of life. It is truely a wise person though, that can learn and better themselves from their mistakes.

Good luck with the club and instructor. I KNOW you will make it this time.

2 planes, one being a SPAD that costs less than $10 in parts?

oh, the radio, was it a 9Z?

Good luck in your future training with an instructor !

Binary-

I destroyed two or 3 SPADS trying to learn on my own as well. Don't feel bad. I wised up, got an instructor and bought a used Kadet and was soloed in no time.

The good news is that you have gained valuable experience in setting up a plane and doing things yourself.

-Scott

My spad costed my 60$ with shipping, it was a ARF spad. I didn't build it myself. My radio is a JR 4 channel that cost me 230.00, my first plane was a Kadet LT-25 that costed 135.00$, my first engine .25FX cost me 140.00$, me secong engine .46LA cost me 100.00$, Battery, starter, field box, power panel, glow plug igniter, fuel costed me around 240.00$ Then I have a the little things like , gaz tanks, push rods, engine mounts, CA glue, sand paper and various little things... (guestimate around 200$ without exageration)

Then I had to buy various tools for these projects, Tool case 70$ and a Cordless variable 18V drill, around 80$ and a couple of other things.

So yeah, I exagerated a little, it's around 1100$... plus 16% tax....Total: 1352.00

And that's in Canadian. Keep in mind, RC is not as popular in Canada then in the states, stuff cost more around here, I only have 2 hobbyshop that I know of for a population of 3 million in my area.

Sorry for the continued difficulty. Hope it ends with the instructor, it should. The Alpha is an excellent plane to learn with.

Good luck and keep us informed.

Dude, you need to learn how to shop a good deal.

Anyway, sorry you had problems, glad to hear your going to find someone and stick with it. It is really fun when you get on the right track. Get help and have a ball with it.

1,352.00 CAD = 1,091.50 USD

Just thought I'd share that. Hope you don't mind.

Becoming more reasonable. Still a lot of money but not unbelievable.

/

I was donated my plane, RTF, so basically all i needed to buy was fuel and field equipment, 200 FREGGIN BUCKS, what a rip off. But hey, soloin my plane after three days of flying, moving onto scale sailplanes next, what a lovely hobby.

Well, I found a club, it's over 30 KM away but it's ok. I posted a thread and explained my current situation on their forum and they gave me a warm greeting. So I'll probably go over there this sunday if weather permits it and take a look and sign up. :-)

Way to go! Dont be discouraged. If I posted the pics of the demolitions Ive made, it would make ya puke! [:'(]But Im still at it. Ive been at it about a year and have:

2) LT 40's one flyable and one to be rebuilt(by me) OS 61SF
1) Swizzle stick, flyable, probably the best little aircraft on earth-40LA
1) Wild Stick yet to be flown-Tower Hobbies 40
1) Unknown Guppy Shaped Vintage Trainer(has rubber band tiedowns on landing gear as well as wing)40LA
1) Goldberg Ultimate 10-300: 60class- Super Tigre 75 ringed (90% complete)
1) Stinson Reliant(still in the box)
1) Uproar 40 (still in the box)
1) Set of Plans for a Super Sportster 90-120
[X(]and finally.....


1) Great big *ss 1/5th Scale Top Flite P-51 Mustang (still in the box) (planned engine: Fuji BT50ei)!!!!!!!

I have acquired 80% of this in the last 3 months from swapmeets and here on RCU, at a reasonable price.

I have mastered the trainer, that is I can take it up in bad trim in a 20mph crosswind with gusts to 30 and trim it out to fly hands off. Deadsticks, figure 8, loops, snaprolls, rudder turns, cross wind landings, and downwind landings. Still theres always that moment that gravity and fate may come up and bite me. Thats what CA Balsa and Ultracoat are for.

Yeah it can creep up on y*****$$ but oh what fun.

Great that you are getting the help you need to get started. Naturally, once you get better at flying, you won't need to go there every time you want to fly but it will still be available for when you want to. Just more options to choose from and people to get ideas from first hand.

Good luck

Well that's the way it goes, and each path to success is different. I wouldn't concern myself too much with failure; however, you should be concerned you gave up on yourself.

Ciao,

Eagle Al