I am looking for a good beginner airplane kit that is under $250. I have never flown rc airplanes before so I want it to be pretty sturdy and very easy to fly. I also would like to be able to fly it on our 4-acre property. Which do you think I should go for gas or electric? Is there any kit that you could recommend? Thanks.

only thing I'll recommend is to check out some of the local flying clubs,see what they are flying and get with an instructor,flying is fun,but it's not as easy as it looks.
Have a goodun,John.

JEREMY,

It sounds from your post that you want to go it alone. It's a tough road bud! As JOHN posted, it's not as easy as it looks. Some have it some don't. There are those that never get it. and there are those that can SOLO in no time at all.
With that said and hoping you will do as JOHN recommends and find an instructor and go by his recommendations. Let's get back to your question.

I would advise you to buy a plane that a private party has to sell. (I had one but sold it) You need a trainer that someone has already "TRIMMED OUT" IE: One that will fly straight and level after take off. That's probably the next hardest thing besides LANDING, is to "TRIM" the plane in flight for straight,level flight. I've read about quite a few here on RCU for sale, Or better yet, look for a hobby shop in your area and get the name of a local club, and contact them to see what their members have to sell. Many new flyers will sell their beginners stuff after they progress to the next level. (but if you're going to contact them about a plane, why not find an instructor)
I like the CARL GOLDBERG "EAGLE ll", "RCM TRAINER","RIGHTFLYER 40" for just a few.
As far as "GAS OR ELECTRIC" That is up to you. Gas will stay in the air longer, have more power.(unless you spend lots of money,and research electrics) You land a GLOW engine,refuel and hit the air again. Electric you either have to have additional batteries charged with you or recharge at the field with a 'quick charger" (MORE EXPENSE) Electric is by far way cleaner,(no fuel residue) quiet! (it doesn't tick the BULLS off) Way easier to start! (no starters,no glow plugs, no fuel jug to carry)
Each has it's good and bad points. I like GLOW. but wouldn't mind having a small electric to fly around in the back 2-1/2 acres.
However you decide, WELCOME TO THE HOBBY/SPORT ! PLEASE get some assistance (an instructor) to at least get started and until you can fly on your own unassisted. But by then, you will find that a very large portion of flying R/C is the BULL you shoot at the field with the GUYS. It doesn't matter how old/young you are, everybody has something to talk about that keeps all age groups together.

DESERT RATT

Do you think I could either fly the megatech merlin or the Sky Surfer without a trainer?

The Sky Surfer, probably...

The Merlin however, will become a bag-full of balsa splinters without an instructor.

Note, There is no charge for lessons.

Do any of you know about how long the sky surfer can fly on one battery charge?

I would just take an educated guess that it would be about 8-12 minutes.

So if I go to a trainer do I need to get any special transmitter or airplane?

I wouldnt even crank a gas or glow engine on 4 acres, makes a good landing area for a beginner, if you have help from an instructor.
Unless you have 40- 50 clear acres to fly in adjacent to the 4, with a really good approach from at least two opposing directions, I wouldnt advise a 40 or 60 size trainer.
Folks dont realise how much area you really use when your up there.
Remember, these planes are mechanical and very subject to failure no matter who is flying and if you loose controll, you can KILL some one so, if there are homes or livestock where you are thinking of flying, do yourself a favor and forget it.

Happy flying

I’m so glad I found this place. You’ve all been very helpful. Thanks allot. Wait I just have one more question. Is there a gas paraplane for sale?

Flap is right. Flying an airplane, even a trainer, in four acres is like trying to swim the breast stroke in your bath tub. i knew a guy once that wanted to fly a plane in his neighborhood. He saw no reason whatsoever why he couldn't take off, and land in his driveway. Believe me, it ain't gonna happen.

JEREMY,

I agree with the distance and area needed to fly in, and especially learn. When we start someone new out flying, we give them a hard time jokingly, asking them if they are trying to deliver mail in the next little town. It's very common for a newguy to get way out in distance for a few weeks. I live on 2-1/2 acres, and I wanted to get something that I could fly in my BACKYARD. I bought a GLOBAL SST-09, I put a THUNDER TIGER 10 in it and it's too much for this area. Yea I can fly it in the space, but if anything goes wrong with the signal or batteries or anything else There is NO ROOM FOR ERROR. I being raised on a RANCH, had 120 acres to play on. I wished I had it now.

It sounds by what YOUR NOT SAYING that you're against getting instruction for some reason. If this may be the case then go with one of the small electrics such as "THE FIREBIRD", OR "POPPY", Or maybe the "WINGO", or maybe even The little BLUE MAX thing sold by HOBBY PEOPLE. The older guys around here who have lost their reflexes but don't want to give the flying up, Are flying these in a very small area. They are not indestructible, but they will take some abuse (CRASHING and or rough landings)

Again GOOD LUCK!

DESERT RATT

Do you think the Firebird XL would work?

yes a firebird would work any body could fly one without to much help. but they get boring after a while then what?
Find a club its alot of fun. I am an instructor and I always recomend a Sig LT 40 for a first plane but with an instuctor.

one thing you can do is call up hobby lobby.

(their ads are usually at the top of the main page on this site, or www.hobby-lobby.com

talk to them about a sturdy electric trainer setup.

they can outfit you with everything that you need for a small electric trainer (plane, transmitter, batteries, charger, etc)


they even have combos all ready set for people new to RC flight http://www.hobby-lobby.com/newtorc.htm

if you are going to go alone this is probably the best (and safest) route.

the wingo setup ($279) is a good plane. that one is easy to fly and if you crash some epoxy and its ready to go again.

I cant vouch for the other 2 on that page but they should be ok to learn on.

also with the wingo you can later get the camera addon (take arial pics of your house) and floats (fly off a pond)

I still suggest getting someone to instruct you but if you are going to go alone get a small electric. less danger from it going out of control and hitting someone (if someone was hit in the head with a wingo i think the wingo would take more damage)

I think the Wingo Park Flyer looks like the airplane I’ve been looking for. It says that you need a four-channel radio for the camera kit so I was wondering what is the cheapest four-channel radio? Thanks.

I believe HiTec might be the lowest cost 4-channel (w/ 4 servos)

Jerry

Which radio do you think is better the tower hobby or the Hitec Laser?

I think the Futaba Skysport 4 would be a better choice even if its a bit more expensive. I don't like the servos that come with the Tower Hobbies and Hitec radios. As far as the first plane, the park flyers are made of foam and don't last long. They start to fall apart after a dozen or so flights. I found that new flyers either get into it properly with balsa and light ply planes or they don't last in the hobby. Learning to fly is a series of steps starting with a good radio, engine, and trainer type plane. Anything cheaper and the new flyer is just goofing around for a few weeks trying to go cheap and quits the hobby out of frustration. Yes it may seem pricy to get into. But once you have everything and compare it to a round of golf at the country club its not so bad.

HITEC SKY SKOOTER PRO!!!
UNDER $165.00 COMPLETE W/RADIO, CHARGER,BATTERY,PLANE,ECT.
JUST ABOUT INDESTRUCTABLE, AND you CAN fly it in a small area, 4 acres is enough.
If you want to fly glow, do it later, and try to find an instructor, or at least someone who has flown a glow model a bit. You can always stay small, and use a .049-.15 glow engine.
I taught myself to fly with a Cox powered glider, and it lived to have 118 flights. It finally met it's end when the fuselage gave it up in a hard loop!!- it was soaked with fuel by then, and crumbled at the point where I held it to hand launch. DON'T GO WITH THE COX ENGINE THOUGH!!! GET A NORVEL .049 OR .061.

Jetts

agree with the sky scooter comment! It is enough of a plane to be a challenge and interesting (still fly mine now quite a bit!) but also fairly easy to fly. (It is debatable about this being a first plane or not, it is also fairly easy to crash!) Most people also do the standard 1600/1650 mah battery and a 3:1 gearbox with 9x6 apc sf prop modifications, but it will fly fine with the stock setup. (Get rid of the stock charger, it is junk! Your batteries will not be fully charged most of the time.)


The good part is that when you crash, get out the epoxy and a couple of toothpicks and glue it back together, give it a toss, and you are flying again.

Also, if you do not have access to an instructor, the SS will teach you more about flying than a .40 trainer will, not regarding the rudder... (SS has none) The SS needs to actually be flown, most .40 trainers, especially if they have a .46 FX or comparable in them, have enough power to get you out of most bad situations.

Ezone has a couple of really good threads about the Sky scooter.

Also, I don't want to plug anyone's site, but check out Servocity. most people get the upgrades there.

If you are really interested in getting into this hobby then you need to get a good quality trainer Such as the Sig LT40, Hobbico SuperStar or the Avistar.
Im not an electric fan so I have to suggest Nitro. Electric is actually what started the whole remote controlled world so I certainly respect it. There is just something about smoke and the loud roar of a nitro engine that dont come with electric.

The 3 planes that I mentioned are the most popular trainers out there right now.
I should also mention that actually flying the plane is not the only reason that I got into the hobby.

I enjoy working on the planes and I should add I will be building my first kit shortly. So building and working on the plane is a large part of it for me. I also enjoy going to the field and talking to other flyers about planes and general topics. You can find people that have been doing this for many years at just about any flying club. Those people can teach you about planes, engines, fuel, radios and most of all how to fly.
You wont find any of that in that 4 acre field.

So to close I think that if you go out in that little field all by yourself that your really just fooling yourself. Your missing out on so many aspects of this great hobby.
If you really want to learn something and experience what this wonderful hobby has to offer, then all you have to do is just visit your local flying club.


Dbow

If you are a little handy with your hands there's a very good started airplane you can build from foam. Go to foamfly.com and look up the "frog". I build one just to see how is does and it flew great. All I had to do was give it some throttle and let go and away it went. Pull back on the throttle about 1/2 and it just about floated. If you do smash it up(which it is durable) take your equipment out and cut another out of foam. You use about $2.00 of foam per airplane. Try this web site out, Dan will help if needed.
George

Of course, if he's interested in the Wingo he's not going to be using the servos that come with any of those 3 radios. They're all standard size, and he'll need something smaller like a Hitec HS-81. Probably a smaller receiver, too.

If you go with a small electric, make sure you get a radio that comes with a flight pack that's appropriate.

I taught myself to fly with a Zagi and a Hitec 3 channel radio all for about $200. The Zagi is pretty indestructable except for the canopy. It's also fast enough to keep things interesting for quite awhile. After flying one for a 2 or 3 months, a trainer is a piece of cake.