Hi All,

It's been pretty close to 20 years for me since I last flew RC planes. In my days Sweet Sticks were everything you all have described (another thread), we loved them! Now I want to get back into the hobby and decided I would just go buy a Sweet Stick kit, build it over the winter and re-learn how to fly in the spring. What a huge surprise I was in for, the whole world has changed. I would be lucky to find any kits at all. My firast question in the store was "What's an ARF"? sounded like a sick dog.

My next step was to do an internet search for Sweet Stick and that's how I found this site. I wouldn't mind scratch building one if I could find some plans. Or maybe someone could suggest a more available kit that is somewhat comparable to a Stick.

I think I'm going to like this site.

Thanks, Jim

Go up to the Advertiser box at the top of this page.
Click "advertiser list".
The go to Horizon Hobby.
There you will find Hangar 9 planes.
They have a couple "stik" type planes there.
I too had been out of the hobby for 15-20 years until this summer.
It has changed hasn't it?
[sm=wink.gif]
JLK

Welcome back, James!

You're not the only one who remembers the Sweet Stik as one of the best sport planes ever kitted. Several manufacturers make good copies of the original Stik, and I suspect you can still find plans for them.

I gotta ask...after 20 years out of flying, shouldn't you maybe start with a trainer?

Dr.1

PS ARF = POS

Jim, welcome back to the hobby. I have some idea what you're going through, I took a 17 year break. You'll find that while many things have changed, much is the same. Engines are basically the same, and while computer radios have some distinct advantages, they're still primarily 2 sticks that we use to control the plane. Kits are no longer the primary way people get in the air, but if you look around you will discover there are actually a bunch out there. They are just not heavily marketed by the big vendors such as Tower Hobbies. Yes, Tower is still around!

Not necessarily. I took a 17 year break. All I needed to get my wings back were 3 sessions at the field with 3 different instructors. I was flying my old Aamco X-ray. I had the instructors takeoff and land the first couple times so I could get my orienation back with the plane at a comfortable altitude. On the third session the instructor told me I was not going to play around up in the sky, I would do my 3 landings in each direction, and all the other obligitory things, so we could get this over with. I probably would have only needed one session, but the %$^& old Supertigre engine kept dying on us so I only got a limited amount of flight time the first couple sessions. Didn't use a buddy box and I didn't need any "saves" by the instructors. As soon as I soloed I put the X-ray, and that nasty ST engine, and started flying the Modeltech Extra 300S ARF. I would have been quickly bored with a trainer.

Just a suggestion, Chuck. You did - doesn't mean he can.

Dr.1

I have a Great Planes Big Stik that was built from a kit and it is a great flying plane. GP no longer makes the kit (just the ARF), but you might be able to find one on the web.

-Scott

That's why I began with "not necessarily". Perhaps he could take a few flights on a club trainer to see what will work best.

You guys sound like the kind of people I remember in this hobby, all wonderful. As I recall I taught several guys who'd never flown before how to fly on sticks (sweet and ugly). I hadn't thought about maybe needing something a little more forgiving, maybe it should be considered. I guess if I get bored with it it could become a good backup ship. Any suggestions?

yes, raidentech.com has their ARF trainer on sale for $39..you cant build one for that ,plus it has a good hardware kit,,wheels,tank, motor mount...good buy, only flown mine once ,,you need to replace the screws for the front wheel mount as they are too short and rip out easily,,,yes I learned the hard way...Rog

http://www.raidentech.com/trainers.html

I'm in the same boat.. returning to flight after almost 20 years.. (I still have my MW Sweet Stick but it's 1300 miles away at my dad's house along with the 40 telemaster, 40 nosen citabria, pt-17 bipe and a couple gliders)


My re-trainer choiceis a Falcon III (the latest version of the falcon 56)
My 2nd plane was a Falcon 56 and it was a great little plane..
It's avaliable as a kit for $70 so you can satisfy that building bug.
I'll be running a Saito FA-45 on it.

If you can still visualize the things you need to do to fly (takeoff, land, etc) then a mild shoulder wing plane should be a good choice for getting back into flying.

Check out the Sig LT 40. Its a great trainer and you can still get it in a kit so you can build it. Its probably the most popular trainer there is and for good reason. If you go with an OS .52 4 stroke or a YS .63, once you get the hang of it again, you can go right back to doing the things you used to do with your stick.

James,
I'm going to say something that will really get this thread lit up.
This summer when I decided to get back in after 15-20 years I called my old home hobby shop down in Beaumont, Texas. The owner has had the shop there since the mid '50's. Past national control line champion a couple times in the '50's. Second at the first world championships in '60. Flew his own designs...one was kitted by Ambroid.
The finest builder I have ever known.
Anyway, when I called him up for a suggestion for a plane to get back in he asked what I wanted to do. I told him I didn't want to compete again, I couldn't see like I could when I was 35 and I didn't have the nerves of steel or reflexes anymore.
He told me to buy...get ready...
A U-Can-Do 60[X(]
I said "Don! Are you crazy"!?!?[sm=bananahead.gif]
I figured that had to be some wild and crazy flying plane!
He told me it was as gentle as you wanted it to be and landed at a walk.
He also told me at the price I could get it mail order I couldn't buy a kit and the accessories for what they sell for.
I said "Don! It's an ARF"!!!!!
He said "John, it's changed since you've been gone. I bet I don't sell 5 kits a year".
He had never steered me wrong before so I bought one and a Saito 1.00.
I went to a club in Iowa City I have since joined and had a really great guy test fly it.
Second flight he asked me what I wanted to do?
I told him takeoff, fly around and he would land it...but be ready for me to pass the box back![sm=frown.gif]
I took off, was comfortable flying around and I made the landing.
I had someone stand with me the next few flights but that was it.
Knowing what I know now would I do it again?
Well, if I lost the plane I wouldn't buy another. Not because it's not a great flying plane but because I would move on to something else.
If I was having to pick a first plane to come back with again would a pick the UCD?
Yes, it is as gentle flying or as wild as you want it to be. It's just a matter of control throws.
One thing that has changed too is the radios. The radio I have now has exponential. I highly recommend it. It gives a very good control feel and I hardly ever use my dual rates.
Hope this helps!
JLK

Thanks for the tips guys. My background was mostly fun fly stuff, I built and flew 30 or so planes over a period of about 12 years. The most fun I had was with my Scat Cat, at one time I loved flying close to the ground and tearing up the sky. We used to dog fight hauling around streams of toilet paper.[>:] Anyone remember the do-nut drop?

Now at 52 I'm wondering what my reflexes will be like and as mentioned above, I definitely have the over 40 eyes. I'm thinking I'll take the advice and look for a shoulder wing with a slight dihedral to get back started.

Anybody ever heard of the Sun Valley Fliers in Phoenix? That was my club in those days. I'll be looking for a good one in the Denver area now.

Jim-

JLK's not that far off. Given your fun fly experience, I'm sure you would have no problem with something like a UCD, as long as you had someone standing close by for support. Another good plane that can be had VERY inexpensively (about $90 ARF) is the Hangar 9 Twist 3D. Again, on low rates it is a *****cat. Has the added advantage of an upright engine. The UCD's is inverted and causes some people troubles. The only disadvantage of these planes is that they are lightly built and do not do well in rough landings. The UCD is particularly noted for losing its landing gear.

That said, if you are willing to go with an ARF for the first plane back, any of the sticks would also be a good bet (Hangar 9 Ultra Stik, GP Big Stik).

One other thing that JLK mentioned is worth noting: the popularity of 4 stroke engines. They were just coming on the scene 20 years ago. (like you, I spent about 20 years away from the hobby) Now they have become very popular and easy to use. Like JLK, I bought a Saito for my first plane when I got back into it. They sound so much nicer than a 2 stroke that they are worth the extra money.

Have fun,
Scott

As Scott pointed out about the landing gear...
I had already found RC Universe by the time I started assembling my UCD.
I had read about the landing gear problems and some of the successful fixes.
Before I flew mine I reinforced the area with a couple steel rods...I think I used a couple short pieces of 4-40 quick links and a little epoxy. I fly off our acreage a lot and the grass is sometimes a little high and the ground could be much smoother (I plan on rolling it next spring).
So far, I'm knocking on wood, no landing gear problems but I really try to slow it down and 3 point it.
Point is once you decide which plane you are going with do a couple searches here and read up on it as you are putting it together.
You'll find a lot of great advice!
JLK

JLK-

Not to hijack Jim's thread, but I'll be headed your direction this afternoon. Going back home to visit family in Geneseo, IL. My brother lives on a grass airstrip, so I'm bringing along a couple of planes, although the weather doesn't look great. I'll just have to bundle up to stay warm!

(Hijack over)

-Scott

Scott,
I PM'd ya'.
JLK

Okay, I think I have a plan. I still would like to build something over the winter. I'm thinking maybe it should be my second plane that I build. For my first plane I don't see how I could go wrong with the 40 size trainer at Raidentech for $39 as Flyin suggested. It's an ARF [] but so what, it'll get me in the air. For the second plane I remember my old Super Sportster 40 was a lot of fun. I know it's only available in an ARF, anyone know of something like it in a kit?

hey James.. I didn't even notice that you are in Colorado..

What field will you fly at?

lol, jlkonn,
Don is a great friend of mine. I live about 15 minutes from his shop and go there about 1 time per week. He is everything you say. Frankly Im suprised he suggested the U CAN DO hes such an old school guy but boy was he right on the money. I feel the exact same way. I have had 2 U CAN DOs and I have eventually given all of them away to friends in the club. They arent a great plane for 3D but darn good, and for a trainer on a buddy box they are as good as any. They take off and land like a feather and can be as gentle or as wild as you care to set the throws.

It was neat to hear about Don and his past greatness on here. He is really an RC and CL icon of the past that is probably forgotten.