First off, I'd like to say hi!

I recently purchased an Avistar ARF (monokote) with the intent of getting into RC airplanes. I guess you can say I'm now addicted, but then again, being around aviation my entire life doesn’t help much.. Anyhow, I have now completed about 5 flights (with an instructor on the buddy box system) with the Avistar and absolutely love it! I couldn't possibly ask for more in a trainer. The Avistar has the ability to do the basics and then some. I would recommend this to anyone out there.

After reading a few posts on here, I ended up mounting the battery pack aft of the servo housing, and putting 2 weights on the empennage. This leveled the airplane out pretty well and is very nice and is very stable in-flight. I also elected to use an OS .46 AX engine for the Avistar and have -0- complaints so far, as it has more than enough power to do what I need, etc.

Also, I can’t stress enough how much the Realflight G3 simulator has helped me in learning the controls and control inputs when flying towards my position, etc. I highly recommend this to anyone who's learning how to fly. It's also a great cure for boredom on those stormy nights here in Texas.

Oh, and out of boredom, I made a little video of tonight’s flights (all mixed up). and included an "oh ****" moment that I was able to correct in the nic of time before wrecking. :-) My instructor said I did a great job of recovering.. The video is about 11 megs in size, so dial up users beware.

*right click, save as*
http://www.myflying.us/rcvideos/flight4_5.wmv

Hope you all enjoy the video and don't laugh toooo much.. :-)

- Josh

Josh, Welcome to RCU!

I'm D/Ling the vid now

Hey Josh.. looks good to me! Great video. I especially liked the way that .46 AX bailed you out on that one bad touch and go ! All in all, you seem to be doing very well.

Great stuff, keep it up! Soon, you will be like the rest of us... more planes than we can fly with two hands!

DS.

Oh trust me. So do I..

Josh, nice flying and also welcome to RCU. Remember to get enough speed on your take off roll before you rotate. That avistar should take off on its own practically, especially with that .46 on there. You're doing well, how's the weather up North? It's been really hot down here. Good luck, you'll be ready for a warbird in no time. Nice video too, keep posting 'em.

Thanks! Yeah, that "oops" moment was one of the first touch-n-go landings I've done... Instructor tried to solo me last night, but I ran out of time before I had to get to the gym to meet up with the trainer. Maybe tonight.. I'm in the process of figuring out a second airplane to fly so I can buy it / start building it, etc. I do have a Funtana S40 sitting over here waiting, however I think that one will be waiting a few months.. [8D]

Edit: Oh and the weather is HOT.. I thought I was going to melt on Sunday.. Hows SAT? Was just down there last November for work..Nice area

Nice save on the touch & go -- power is great stuff when you really need it.

If you are looking for a great second plane, please allow me to suggest two: The CG Tiger 60 and the Midwest Aerobat.

The Tiger 60 is a low wing plane, I use a Super Tigre 75 and it runs/flys very well. Great second because it will do all the aerobatics but is large enough to see well and keep you out of trouble.

The Midwest Aerobat is a high-wing aerobatic 'trainer', but don't let the 'trainer' turn you off. It is fast (mine has that good old OS 46 AX which is very adequate). It is fast so if you want to tone it down, re-prop it with less pitch and watch it perform. Lands like a trainer, but flys like a true aerobatic plane. Very very little dyhedral. Nice plane.

Both are reasonalby priced, both are four channel, but I use two aileron servo's on both planes. Both can be converted to tail dragger, and both are rugged and take a beating... as both mine have and still fly just fine.

Best of luck.

DS.

nice video! nice plane! great save! and i loved the music! welcome to our addiction!

Great flying! Welcome to RCU and may your number of T/O's = Landings!!

Thanks guys! I'm glad to be on here.. Seems like there is a lot of knowledge about the hobby.. Fun part is to read all of it.. [8D]

Welcome to the addiction/hobby. By what Ive been told, the 4 star 60 is a great second plane. Intros you to low wings. My second plane was a sig Fazer, and now I have 12 different ones in my garage, house, back porch. Usually with at least two flyable at any one time. If your ever up North( oklahoma city) bring a plane and drop in at the TORKS field. www.TORKS.org

Josh, just soloed last week on my used and rebuilt Nexstar and rebuilt an Avistar this week (replaced the 40LA with the OS 46fx) and flew it today after my instructor took off for me. WWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOWWWW what a blast. Got any tips as far as landing goes?? My instructor even had a few bounces after coming in kinda hot.

root

p.s. Do you know --or anyone else for that matter - - a place to find more video footage of the Avistar. I learn a lot from the videos as well as the flight sims. By the way, I got Aerofly pro deluxe (no Avistar model) --excellent graphics when in the panoramic scenery and the physics are pretty close.

Great video and music to match! Keep it up.

Thanks! :-)