instructors
05-15-2005 | 07:58 PM
#2
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Camarillo,
CA
RE: instructors
You can find instructors at most flying fields/clubs.
It depends on you. I personally took 3 months to solo.
As long as its someone willing to teach you, its probably free but I'd recommed going to a club.
Most any .40 size trainer is good. I personally like the Hobbicos and the tower trainer...
Hope this helps
It depends on you. I personally took 3 months to solo.
As long as its someone willing to teach you, its probably free but I'd recommed going to a club.
Most any .40 size trainer is good. I personally like the Hobbicos and the tower trainer...
Hope this helps
05-16-2005 | 07:59 AM
#4
Senior Member
My Feedback: (1)
RE: instructors
ORIGINAL: Shortymet55
Where do u get them?
>Clubs USUALLY provide instructors at no charge. If, for whatever
>reason, you do not want to do the club bit, there are private
>schools (depending where you live ) that will provide an instructor,
>plane and all equipment AT A PRICE. You could also see if there is
>someone in your area that knows how to fly and would teach you.
How long is the average u need one?
>The amount of time someone needs an instructor varies with the
>person being taught. I have seen people who have soloed after 2
>or 3 flights (rare ) and people who take several months to solo. A
>lot will depend on you and how quickly you learn. I ESTIMATE the
>AVERAGE amount of time would be around 6 - 8 weeks flying twice
>a week AND practicing on a simulator at home. There is more to
>learning how to fly than just flying the plane. You should know how
>to trim a plane out, how to do range checks, how to do safety checks
>and how to tune an engine. None are particularly difficult to learn, but
>these are things you should know (and use every time you fly ) in
>order to be a safe pilot.
WHat do they cost if ur not part of a club?
>Training schools (mentioned above ) typically cost ABOUT $600. The
>majority of them state you will be soloed by the end of a week. I know
>that sounds like a lot of money, however, when you consider the school
>is providing the radio, fuel, plane and instructor AND absorbing the costs
>for any damaged/destroyed planes it is a bargain. Just the cost of a
>plane, engine and electronics onboard usually costs in the neighborhood
>of $300, all it takes is one or two major crashes and their profit is gone.
And what is a good trainer plane?
>Their are MANY excellent trainers out there. I suggest avoiding the RTF
>packages. The engines USUALLY range from marginal power to OK FOR
>A TRAINER. Rarely are the engines suitable for a second plane due to
>lack of power. The radios are USUALLY a base level 4 channel radio AND
>you get what ever channel comes with the package.
>
>I suggest getting a decent ARF trainer, a BALL BEARING USER FRIENDLY
>46 size engine (OS AX, Thunder Tiger Pro and Evolution are all excellent
>engines ) and a 6 channel (or more ) COMPUTER radio. With careful
>shopping you can usually come within 15% of the cost of an RTF (many
>times less ) and have an engine that is highly useable for 2nd (or more
>planes) and radio that will last several years before you "outgrow" it.
Where do u get them?
>Clubs USUALLY provide instructors at no charge. If, for whatever
>reason, you do not want to do the club bit, there are private
>schools (depending where you live ) that will provide an instructor,
>plane and all equipment AT A PRICE. You could also see if there is
>someone in your area that knows how to fly and would teach you.
How long is the average u need one?
>The amount of time someone needs an instructor varies with the
>person being taught. I have seen people who have soloed after 2
>or 3 flights (rare ) and people who take several months to solo. A
>lot will depend on you and how quickly you learn. I ESTIMATE the
>AVERAGE amount of time would be around 6 - 8 weeks flying twice
>a week AND practicing on a simulator at home. There is more to
>learning how to fly than just flying the plane. You should know how
>to trim a plane out, how to do range checks, how to do safety checks
>and how to tune an engine. None are particularly difficult to learn, but
>these are things you should know (and use every time you fly ) in
>order to be a safe pilot.
WHat do they cost if ur not part of a club?
>Training schools (mentioned above ) typically cost ABOUT $600. The
>majority of them state you will be soloed by the end of a week. I know
>that sounds like a lot of money, however, when you consider the school
>is providing the radio, fuel, plane and instructor AND absorbing the costs
>for any damaged/destroyed planes it is a bargain. Just the cost of a
>plane, engine and electronics onboard usually costs in the neighborhood
>of $300, all it takes is one or two major crashes and their profit is gone.
And what is a good trainer plane?
>Their are MANY excellent trainers out there. I suggest avoiding the RTF
>packages. The engines USUALLY range from marginal power to OK FOR
>A TRAINER. Rarely are the engines suitable for a second plane due to
>lack of power. The radios are USUALLY a base level 4 channel radio AND
>you get what ever channel comes with the package.
>
>I suggest getting a decent ARF trainer, a BALL BEARING USER FRIENDLY
>46 size engine (OS AX, Thunder Tiger Pro and Evolution are all excellent
>engines ) and a 6 channel (or more ) COMPUTER radio. With careful
>shopping you can usually come within 15% of the cost of an RTF (many
>times less ) and have an engine that is highly useable for 2nd (or more
>planes) and radio that will last several years before you "outgrow" it.
Hope this helps.
05-16-2005 | 08:03 AM
#5
RE: instructors
Clubs try to pick locations that have enough room to fly the planes without a lot of obstacles in the way. They are removed from crowds, vehicles and buildings. Flying any where else unless you are in the midlle of a field out in the country is not a good idea and could be dangerous. Club fees can vary but I have I seen around $40.00/yr. average. 1 crash will cost you more than that. Check out Tower Hobbies on the web. Look in the Trainer section to check out the prices. Also look for combo deals and see whats included so you have an idea of what you will need besides just the plane. Your local hobby shop should be able to tell you where the RC plane clubs are and some phone numbers. Best to visit a club in person to see what the hobby is really about. At my club on the weekends there is almost always someone with a trainer that you can try on a buddy box to see if its "your thing" or not. Check it out. [8D]
05-16-2005 | 09:09 AM
#6
My Feedback: (1)
RE: instructors
Our club has about 5 instructors (about because we had four, one more is ready to add his name to the list). We train club members only. Cost? Club dues only. Time? depending on your ability to learn, can vary from a few weeks to a few months. I was ready after two months but solo'ed after three. My decision although my instructor said that I was pretty much ready, but worked with me until I was confident of my ability to solo with my trainer. I still ask him for direct input or help with a new plane or with any problems that come up, he usually allows me to do my thing then helps me from there if anything is out of order. Works out great.
As for the plane, well, there are many different trainers. Many people will tell you based on what they learned on. I am no different, however, I have seen several trainers out at the field in addition to the one I used (Hobbico NexSTAR Select) and they all have their +'s and -'s.
But, to date, there are three students flying the Hobbico NexSTAR and one with the Great Planes PT40. The beauty of the Hobbico NexSTAR is that it comes complete. Everything is there. Assembly time is from 20 to 60 minutes depending on mechanical ability, then overnight battery charge and you are ready to work with an instructor. It also comes complete with the installed four channel Futaba radio system, and a great OS-46 FXi engine. It also has accessories like the AFS (Automatic Flight Stabalizer) and wing-tip spoilers, and airbrakes. All work but I ended up not using the AFS in mine, I was already beyond that point because I had been training using the Tower 40 trainer which I still have, by the way, and which was a good trainer too. The Hobbico NexSTAR comes with the Great Planes RealFlight similator software for the NexSTAR which is a good thing because it allows you some simulator stick time while weather conditions do not permit actual flying. It does help, but never is a good replacement for an instructor... ON A BUDDY BOX system!! Definitely a must do..
Best part of the Hobbico NexSTAR is that Hobbico will replace the plane within 90 days of purchase should you crash before solo. There are proviso's with that.. must be on the buddy box with a qualified AMA instructor, and at a sanctioned field, which the club I belong to is/has both.
Best of luck.
As for the plane, well, there are many different trainers. Many people will tell you based on what they learned on. I am no different, however, I have seen several trainers out at the field in addition to the one I used (Hobbico NexSTAR Select) and they all have their +'s and -'s.
But, to date, there are three students flying the Hobbico NexSTAR and one with the Great Planes PT40. The beauty of the Hobbico NexSTAR is that it comes complete. Everything is there. Assembly time is from 20 to 60 minutes depending on mechanical ability, then overnight battery charge and you are ready to work with an instructor. It also comes complete with the installed four channel Futaba radio system, and a great OS-46 FXi engine. It also has accessories like the AFS (Automatic Flight Stabalizer) and wing-tip spoilers, and airbrakes. All work but I ended up not using the AFS in mine, I was already beyond that point because I had been training using the Tower 40 trainer which I still have, by the way, and which was a good trainer too. The Hobbico NexSTAR comes with the Great Planes RealFlight similator software for the NexSTAR which is a good thing because it allows you some simulator stick time while weather conditions do not permit actual flying. It does help, but never is a good replacement for an instructor... ON A BUDDY BOX system!! Definitely a must do..
Best part of the Hobbico NexSTAR is that Hobbico will replace the plane within 90 days of purchase should you crash before solo. There are proviso's with that.. must be on the buddy box with a qualified AMA instructor, and at a sanctioned field, which the club I belong to is/has both.
Best of luck.
