Iam looking for someone near Russell Kansas to help me get started in flying. I do have planes "electrics" but I would like to get started in nitro trainers. So if there is someone close to my area I would really like your help in getting started.

Do you know the guys in Hays or Salina?

Salina no

Hays not really but I no where they fly at

Visit the guys in Hays. It will be well worth the effort and I'm sure they will be more then glad to help you. ENJOY !!!! RED

I'll try but since this is Kansas its always windy

the great thing about learning to fly in ks is you learn to fly in the wind and therefore know how to handle it better. That's my experience anyway. I'm no proficient pilot by any means but flying in the wind from day one has really helped in my opinion. btw I'm in the s.e. corner not near you. Don at dons hobby shop in salina in VERY helpful if you ever need anthing. I just stopped in one day on the way through and he talked to me for about 45 mins giving me tips for crosswind landing and other stuff. Very helpful man. Good luck

Don't worry about the wind it will take care of it self and your plane doesn't know what it is. The folks in Hays will know when to fly and when not. Right now you just need to get with them and ENJOY the time. ENJOY !!! RED


I know Kansas, I used to live there. Before I got smart ????

What is the max wind speed most of you stop flying in.

I think that someone was asking this but for my trainer plane I thinking of getting the Hobbico Nextstar .46 RTF with the AFS system in it. And also does anybody no how good the plane is.

Learning to fly in the wind is very good advice.
It will teach you skills that other pilots may never learn.

For trainer quality, do a search on the forums here, I did it and ended up with the Hangar 9 Alpha. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the RTF's, I'm not an expert, but the Alpha has been an excellent trainer, good engine, and good quality on the aircraft. As in anything, there will be folks that love and hate almost any plane you can name [8D], and truthfully, it was quite an eye opener for me.
I think I did a search on RTF trainers and got lots of hits.
Cheers!

Get with the instructors at the field and see what radio systems they can "buddy box" you with. They will also be able to give you some ideas on what plane to buy. Spend a little time with the guys and you will get an idea of what type of support equipment you will also need and possibly find some used gear for sale. Just don't buy anything too old or worn out.

Welcome to the Nitro side of RC. They will do a lot better in the wind than your electrics.

The Nexstar is very good indeed -- as good as anything out there -- but it can be tippy on the runway or taxiway in a strong crosswind. This problem is not confined to the Nexstar -- it is typical of all high-wing, high-dihedral, tri-gear trainers, including the Hangar 9 Alpha. If you don't have a crosswind problem at your field (steady prevailing winds up & down the runway, or a good crosswind runway) the Nexstar is an excellent choice.

If cross winds are a problem, then something with a lot less dihedral is prefereable -- like a Hobbico Avistar, Blackhorse Excell 2000, or Hangar 9 Arrow. These, however, are a bit more sensitive to student inputs (not as easy to fly). Of those three, the Blackhorse Excell 2000 is more suited to a complete newb than the Avistar or Arrow.

Either an avistar or a hobbistar 60 would be a great choice.

Thanks for all the help. I'll do some searching and reviewing on all planes listed and others I run across.

Since Iam a newb Iam not sure about crosswinds so you might want to brief me about that.

I learned on a Hangar 9 Arrow. Doesn't like crosswinds too much but you'll learn fast....LOL.....just be sure the wing into the wind stays down. A little aileron control and rudder is the best bet. Landed the Arrow at about 40 degrees into the wind on rudder control. Got to love Northern Nevada. It's like Kansas in the wind category, but we have mountains to change the direction about three directions on one approach.

Well Iam going to post some info about Hays's flying field. Its a grass runway that goes east to west "I think". Its about 2mi out of hays and the turn marker "grain elevator" is agian 2mi north of that. There is telephone wires but there far out of reach and the really no need to go clear over there. THere is a giant wooden spool with a wind sock and also used to get your planes preped. Thats all I no right now

like cowboy said you can use you aeleron to dip the wing that is upwind and steer with the rudder. Takes alot of practice and I must say I'm terrible at it but am getting better since I'm still pretty new at this also.

Well thanxs for all the help but Iam still looking for a good trainer

I must agree that learning to fly in the wind is a great experience. I learnt to fly late last year and obtained my solo in October (I'm in Australia so seasons are opposite to USA). Since getting my solo the weather deteriorated through autumn and now winter, during which I have tried to fly every Sunday no matter what. A couple of weeks ago I passed by "Bronze Wings" test in a howling gale with a 40LA powered trainer.

Some club member refuse to fly in high winds. While it has been getting too windy of late for anyone, you have to learn to fly in the wind otherwise you'll be in real trouble when it happens. It sharpens your reflexes and teaches you how to handle conditions that can appear even on the nicest day.

Landings is my favourite, I love to practice landing in the wind. So far not a single accident, exluding that windless day when I tried to fly through a tree....

Have you been to Salina or Hays yet? No? See who you can find there.

MID AMERICA RC SOC
311 ALAN D VON FANGE 1036 MERRILY CIR
SALINA KS 67401-7923
Phone: 785-825-0069

SMOKY HILL R/C FLYING CLUB INC
2791 PAUL S PESTINGER 2433 BELMONT BLVD
SALINA KS 67401-7640
Phone: 785/823-8991

and here is the rest of kansas:
http://www.modelaircraft.org/ClubZip...r.aspx?s=KS&c=

Sorry, couldn't find the Hays club but if you checked in at the Hays LHS they could probably help.

I was working in hays a few months back and the guy was having a closeout sale because he was closing. Not sure if he's closed yet cause he wanted the sell all he could beforehand.

Hobby shops in small towns must have a tough time turning enough profit to live on. []

It's absolutely crowded with RC flyiers now in western Kansas, just no hobby shops worth mention except for Don's. When ever you buy any piece of hardware, alway buy two or more. You become your own hobby shop after a while. But back in 1970 when I started flying RC, there was nobody out here to speak of. I had three flights in Wichita on a Falcon 56 and was on my own after that. Just the reality of flying on the Highplains.

Try the Hangar 9 trainers. Just about any one will do, they all fly almost identical. Like i said I learned on the Hangar 9 Arrow, and it's a semi aerobatic trainer. They have alot of RTF's that are good and they actually come with a radio you can do something with unlike alot of the other ones.

I have gone to hays and one of them said they would help by buddyboxen but it has to be my plane I will fly.

So Hanger 9's raidos have the trainer cord hook up in the back of the controller for buddy boxen