Well, I bought the Nexstar Select and have been practicing on the G2 simulator. I don't plan to actually fly unti the Spring but want to find out some things. I have read on the boards that some instructors like having an student with hands on simulator experience and other do not as it may teach incorrect basics. In two days I've gotten fairly good at flying and can land ok although not always on the runway!! Would you suggest laying off the sim and waiting to get in the air for real? I've never flown and I don't want to train myself on the sim and then regret once I actually take to the air.

Lastly, I'm planning to place an order with Tower for a bunch of extras. Anything else you can think of I may need that is not on the list?

In line fuel filter
Extra glow plugs
Extra fuel line
Extra nylon bolts for the wing
Fuel
Extra propellers
Fuel pump for fueling the plane (hand crank)
Trainer cord for my Futaba (do instructors usually have a trainer cord or is that the responsibility of the student - assuming the instructor uses a Futaba radio)?

Thanks for the help.

Here's my 2 cents. First, hold off on the trainer cord until you know what radio your instructor uses. Futaba has 2 different styles of plug and you need to have the right cord. If he's got a JR, the cord won't do any good at all.

As for practicing on the sim, I discourage it unless you get some tips from an instructor. It's just too easy to get really good at doing things wrong and then have to unlearn them. However, some people do train with the sim and seem to do ok, so it seems that there's no absolute best choice. If you are going to train on the sim, work on the basics such as keeping the plane straight on the takeoff roll, let it build up enough speed before taking off, shallow rather than steep climb outs, smooth turns, etc. Also work on landings by lining up straight with the runway, use the ailerons to keep the wings level, and rudder to make minor course corrections, and if it seems you're landing short remember that increasing throttle, not pulling back on the elevator, is what's going to get your plane home.

I'm a newbie so take my advice with a grain of salt.

I bought a park flyer & flew it very well straight into the ground several times (it wasn't pretty). [:@] (no instructor, just me, myself & I)

I had a friend who bought the Real Flight simulator & he let me borrow it for a week. I spent about 4 hours a night for 5 or 6 days & got to the point where I was very proficient on the simulator with the trainer planes (mostly flew the nexstar sim)

Once I received my new Fuse for my parkflyer (damage from last flight) I took it out and had a perfect flight & more importantly landing. I was flying high. (literally & figuratively)

I then went on to purchase the Nexstar because I loved it so much in the simulator & it fly's very similar to the game. I of course am using an instructor & he has had nothing but good things to say with the way I handle the plane & my abilities as a new flyer.

So, from a newbie perspective I cannot recommend using the flight sim enough. I think the big nock that I would say against the flight sim is that it gives a false sense of confidence where some people may want to just go fly solo on their first time out which would be a very bad idea!!!

On the maiden flight of my Nexstar it was set up as perfect as I could get it, everything straight. just gun it & pull it up; right? WRONG

When the instructor took it off, it started going all over the place because a gust of wind hit it & it was badly out of trim downward. He masterfully held on to it & trimmed it out. Had I been on the control it would have most certainly not ended so well...

Hope this helps & good luck. I really like my Nexstar

Use the sim!!!
I learned on the Nexstar with about 20hrs on the sim.
I landed on my first flight,with an instructor on the buddy box setup. He was pleasantly suprised[X(] that my first landing was successful
He allowed me to solo after five flights.I'm 11 months in, and now flying a U-CAN-DO 60.
Use the sim it works.
What bad habits can you get ?........... A good knowledge of what the controls are going to do for you ? Learning to think ahead of the plane ? Good landings ? Good hand eye coordination? Etc... [sm=biggrin.gif]

Hi swimman and welcome to the hobby !!!
Here is a short list of some things you might not have yet. Some of the items you may already have, This is just a basic list and you can add to it per your preferences.

Great Planes fuel station filling set ( mounts to your fuel jug and pump to transfer fuel to and from the plane.)

Glow plug igniter

Glow plug wrench

Chicken stick
(unless you are going to use an electric starter) DO NOT try to start the engine by hand flipping it. Use the stick and save some fingers !!!
(If you go with an electric starter you will need a field box battery and a glow panel to power it. You do not have to use these, the glow igniter and chicken stick will start the plane just fine.)

Field box to carry all of this stuff ( The one in the pic is a kit if you don't mind putting it together and painting it only costs about 20.00 bucks )

Expanded scale voltmeter to check your receiver battery with.

Stopwatch or timer to make sure you don't run out of fuel and have to try to glide in.

Small set of allen wrenches, screwdrivers and pliers.

Dale

For many people there is more to flying than just getting the plane up and down in one piece...

What bad habits can one get? Failing to keep the plane straight on takeoff, horsing it off the ground too soon, climbing out at a steep angle (note that this can be fun, but if you can't execute a shallow climb takeoff then you are not really in control of the plane), inability to maintain a constant altitude during turns, thinking that a properly executed loop is done by just pulling back all the way on the elevator, inability to line up with the runway (resulting in drastic corrections close to the ground), using ailerons to make course corrections while close to the runway, using elevator rather than throttle when it becomes obvious you're not going to make the runway, etc. I'm sure some of the others who have taught can provide more examples of the bad habits that a beginner can get really good at if they don't get some constructive input while they are learning.

RIGHT ON Chuck !!!! [sm=thumbup.gif]
In real RC flight you can't just hit the reset button when you screw up !!!

Dale

I've had several students that I have taught that had to be "un-taught" because of bad habits they picked up on simulators. It extended their real-world training by anywhere from 3 week to 2 months. I prefer that students don't start with a simulator until they have at least contacted an instructor.

Ken

I guess every one has there 2 cents, so here is mine, I learn on th Nextstar sim, until I could land on the runway and take off as well, I also made my first solo the first time I took it up. have been flying now for less than a year, and never had a crash in which was my fault, the one thing the sim does well is how to use the TX and what the control does. So there a lot to be said for the flight sim, and I think there is more benefit than bad habits. Even my instructor thought I was doing well also got my wings in a short time. MHOP.

roltech

I learned on the NexStar and as far as learning on the sim, that really depends on your aviation experience. If you understand what the control surfaces do, power management, etc then you may be ok. However, I strongly recommend you hook up with an instructor first.
As for parts - definitely get extra props!!!

Unless you live way up north what are you waiting for get with an instructor and fly.
I dont like sims because they aren't real they don't fly real nothing takes the place of stick time in the air.
Lastly don't think you've learned off the sim and try and fly your self
good luck have fun

Thanks for all of the advice. I currently run ground vehicles so I do have some of the support equipment which I did not mention in my original post. I'm waiting until Spring for a number of reasons - one, for it to warm up (Im in Rhode Island), although this past weekend was beautiful, and currently am busy with work so I have a number of projects to complete before I can get some time away. I also need to join the AMA and then the local club. But I plan to contact a couple of instructors to see what they have to say and if time allows, get the plane up as soon as possible.

Awwww, where's your sense of adventure? Rhody isn't THAT cold, is it?

URI class of '82

Chuck,
Growing tired of the cold weather but I can't get the wife to move south. Always lived in the Northeast and it's almost time for a change. People hibernate in the winter. I'll see my neighbors in late March or early April unless there is a snow storm and we're all out clearing snow!!

I actually live near URI off route 1 in North Kingstown. Great area - especially in the summer!

swimman: Where do you fly in RI? My mother lives in Seekonk and I head up that way as often as I can (I live in NJ) and would love to bring one of my planes up with me some time.

Regarding the sim, I started out with a Tower 40 trainer, buddy box setup. I worked with the instructor off and on for a few months but work got me on travel often enough that I could not continue with the RC until travel slowed down. When It did, the NexSTAR was just coming out. I liked what I saw so I bought one. I flew the NexSTAR as well as the sim. The sim worked out to re-inforce what the instructor was teaching me so it really helped me out. I solo'ed with the NexSTAR then moved into a Tiger 60 that I still have and still fly. Over the past few years since solo'ing, I crashed only one plane and that was totally my fault. A few minor dings here and there, but no real saw-dust and splinters crashes except the one, a Goldberg Skylark 56. I am now into pattern and having a good time with it. So, as Chuck said, work with the instructor and use the sim as a background trainer to reinforce what the instructor has taught you, and practice practice practice.

DS.

DS - I'm planning to join the RI Aeromodelers who fly just off exit 6 on 95. It would be convenient for you to stop by as it's probably less than a mile off of the highway. There is a club closer to me but I have been told RI Aeromodelers cater more to beginners with good quality instruction.

Swimman: Yeah, I will do that on my next trip up. I will drive this time (Fiance does not like to drive so we normally fly into TFG airport in Warwick then rent a car. Can't bring a plane that way!! Next trip, though, I am going alone and spending some time with my Brother who also lives in Seekonk. I will drag along my Aerobat and maybe my foamy... weather permitting. We do fly in snow here when we have it, doesn't bother us die-hards. A group is out today, temp is aroud 36F, but a tad windy. I have to work but will head out tomorrow and fly no matter (rain or blizzard is the exception..ha).

I will drop you a note when I am ready to head up. Forward me your email info in a PM.

DS.

I had to go look at the club info, I'm not used to navigating by interstate exit numbers. It's a small world, that's the field I learned to fly at, many years ago. I also used to fly at one of the turf farms just north of URI. I checked about a year ago, via someone else on RCU who is a member of that club and Bob Reddon, one of my two instructors, is still teaching. Look him up, he's great!

I'll look into them too. I think that club is operated by the guy who owns Brands Hobby in N. Providence. His name is Andy (don't know his last name). They are the South County R/C Flying Club but their web site has been down for some time. They fly near the turf farms as I've been by there numerous times this past summer.