This machine got a GREAT review in this months MA-anybody out here learn on one of these?

roy ,

please do a search and you will find ALOT OF INFO ON IT .





bassman

Roy,

It is being discussed here as well : http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_3578681/tm.htm check it out

thanks guys -Ive read ALL that and more and it seems to be a lot of opinions.Im looking for a new flyer who learned on this plane to give me a first hand acount

Roy, I'm instructing a student on one and I'm very happy with how it flies. Learning on this plane will eliminate the step a student makes from a trainer to a tail dragger. This plane teaches you how to handle a tail dragger on the ground and how to land a plane that needs a little throttle management on the approach. Go for it you'll enjoy it.

I'm currently learning on the PTS... I've had it up about 13 times and I feel like I've been making progress... I'm taking it really slow though but I feel like I should be soloing pretty soon. My instructor is pretty cautious and I've been pretty busy so it's been hard for me to make it to the field every weekend, so I think that's slowed me down. My instructor and I both feel like I would have soloed by now if I had gone with a conventional trainer but I'm still happy with my decision. The plane really is a gentle flier, my only complaint is that in some weather conditions the silver is really hard to see, so it might be a good idea to put some reflective tape on it or something. If I had to do it again, I would buy it again. It's a high quality RTF and I've had no real problems with it.

now THATS what Im lookin for!THank You ,RC-Sport and Pendragon.
BTW,Ive been flying 2 versions of the p51 on my sim,Aero-Flight Pro Deluxe and I can take off,land,do stall turns,hammerheads,loops,rolls and dead stick landings-both with and without flaps-Do you think it'll help?
Thanks
Joe

I have AFPD as well... I think that the main thing to keep in mind is that the Mustang on that version is much more scale than the PTS... the sim version will fly faster and I would think is a good deal more aerobatic than my pts. Now I'm comparing it with my plane which is set up with the flaps down and the droops on (if you get it take the airspeed breaks of immediately, I left them on for about 10 flights and didn't have much problem with them, but they do make the plane alot less stable in the air, and it flys a good bit better without them, and not really a whole lot faster, just use less throttle). I think naturally you'd be more careful with the real thing. But I do think that if you can land the AfPD mustand you shouldn't have a problem with the PTS because it has a much slower stall speed, and with the droops isn't prone to tip-stalls. Taking off seems to be more of a challenge in real life though, with much more rudder input needed to keep it straight than on the sim version. I did see in a review on the AMA website that the reviewer found if he immediately went to full throttle on takeoff that it didn't need hardly any rudder though, that's something that I'm going to have to try... I hope that helps

I am currently reviewing this plane for RCU Magazine. I will be teaching my Son-in-law how to fly with it, so we'll see just how good a trainer it is (Maiden this weekend weather permitting)

Thanks Pendragon.I already have the plane sitting with my choppers in my shop.I have a qualified instrucer waiting(lucky for me he wants to get into choppers)and now Im just waiting for the Chicago weather to breakMinnflyer,that kind of onfo is exactly what I need-Ill be watching for your posts or email me directly
Thanks All
Joe

If you can fly helos, especially nose-in, learning to handle a plank is a total no-brainer. Judging your approach glide slope for landing is about the toughest part.

Your instructor won't have it so easy; going from planks to helos is like starting with NO experience; at least until you get into forward flight.

Was thinking about this plane as my second plane. But, all I ever see is the RTF version with all the goodies. Can you just buy the plane as ARF and add your existing radio and engine?

I don't think that you can get it in an ARF, it only comes as a RTF... you can buy the parts seperately though on horizon hobbies website... but some of the parts are on back order, and that might cost a lot

http://ecsvr.com/abm/shopexd.asp?id=22

jbarnes, here's a link to an ARF version of the P51, It's not H9 but by World Models. They make pretty nice ARFs & they have either 4 or 5 different color schemes to choose from for the P51 as well some different sizes. You may want to check them out.

Here's 2 cents worth from someone who bought the PTS as a second airplane. I couldn't buddy box with it, since I had installed the flap servo immediately (didn't use flaps, though). At first I had some problems converting to a taildragger, but they were quickly overcome----with the help of experienced flyers in my club. The most difficult part was mastering approaches and landings with some power as opposed to landing a high wing trike with no power. As for flight, this plane was a piece of cake for me with factory throws, etc.
Now, all the training stuff is off. It has plenty of power and is quite fast with the stock engine and an 11x6 2-blade prop.
Since I had added the flap servo, I recently began using the flaps and now landings are dirt simple....no pun intended.....with just a little throttle management.
I have 70 or 80 flights on this plane, it's still in one piece, and I was (am) a rank beginner when I started flying it.

Hey there! This was my first plane and I learned to fly on it. Does great.
Stable and tough bird. It really allows students to progress nicely and with confidence. I have modified the plane to the N'th degree.
I removed the brakes and droops. Faster and more nimble but still a stable flyer. I changed to a 2 blade 10/7 prop. Whooaaaah!!!! Climbs, rolls, loops, looks like a fighter. Of course I added the operational flap function which is not needed but sometimes helpful.
I would recommend this plane as a trainer for someone who knows they are in the hobby for the long haul or for the express purpose of flying sport scale warbirds. Don't be afraid to modify this bird. It is fast and fun with the right stuff.
Do be afraid to fly it slow when all the training stuff is off. Most the time it will cruise at fairly slow speed. Some of the time it will tip out and then of course epoxy is in order!
The wheels are a bit weak and the static gear bends on some not so perfect landings. Simply straighen the gear out and go up again! If the wheels break buy some light. wt. Dave Browns, drill the centers out to fit and slide em on. Get her up again!
Horizon is great with parts. I banged up the fuse twice. Once reapairable and once not. (Wings are tough on this bird fuse isn't) Horizon had a new fuse to my house in 3 days! Easy reset and I am going out in a couple minutes to try her out again!
Go for this plane as a trainer and when the time is right, fly it like you stole it!!!! Don't be afraid to modify........ I have a different prop, landing gear, added flap servo, added pilot figure, new tailwheel, 10" prop 11" prop, and different evolution .46 motor just to see the difference.
I love this plane! I have others to capmare to....due to the effective training on this plane I have a F4U-C .40, Me 109 .40, Sig Rascal .52 and a Long E-Z .40

Pendreagon, just a comment from me - stick with taking off as you are.

Open the throttle slowly and give it the rudder you need.

There are a number of problems which make the immediate throttle opening technique a bad habit.

Firstly, the technique works because you gain immediate slipstream over the tail surfaces, however it is not good practice if you have aspirations of flying "more serious" models in the future. I don't mean that in a condecending way towards the PTS before anyone starts........

Firewalling the throttle is a sure-fire way of finding an engine problem if one should infact exist, and I promise you that aircraft engines will always give you just enough power to cause a problem i.e. it will get you to about 10ft high before quitting or at least when you're too far gone to stop again on the remaining runway.
You'll never fly twins like this - at least, not for long

Higher wing loading warbirds absolutely demand proficient rudder control and no amount of "cheating" will help!

Keep flying the way you are and it will pay off for you in the future. Don't worry if your take-off roll is snakey and makes you look like a rookie.... you will improve, and you wont only be able to fly, you'll fly well.

You'll be one of the r/c pilots that makes it look easy!

If you get into the habit of using rudder without thinking - everything about your flying will be graceful and safe.

----and that's the right answer [sm=thumbup.gif]