Yea, Chuck was ready to pimp-slap me [sm=punching.gif] First post said didn't really wanna have to go $400+ then the latter post said a few hundred. Being an old Okie, a few means 3 where I come from. At any rate I still contend that you get alot more bang for your buck with glow over electric. The H9 P51 PTS while being the subject of much controversy in here when it first came out has done a pretty good turn around. More & more Instructors are changing their minds after actually trying the thing & successfully teaching their students to fly with it. Then you can strip off the training aids leaving you with a nice little warbird. Good for you, go for it!

Now keep in mind that Chuck is right, in that you're gonna go over your stated budget goals with fuel & flight line accessories, but if $$$ really is an issue, planes aren't the place to be anyway. You will want more, you will spend more, but you will have alot more fun than with any car. Been there & done that. They are fun but not even an 1/8 of the challenge planes are. Good luck, get an Instructor & AMA for insurance, fly safe, & above all else have FUN!

I don't know.... the title to this thread is misleading... shouldn't it be "incomplete beginner" ?

While I agree that SPADs are (usually) cheap, they certainly aren't the best fliers. They fly, to be sure, but they are generally blunt instruments as far as model airplanes go & they make crummy trainers (Debonaire included). They are good for doing dangerous stuff that you wouldn't risk a "real" model on (fun stuff) --- I like them.


BTW, models can cost many TENS of thousands, if you are so inclined & appropriately enabled.

Model aircraft tend to be expensive. It's funny, but when some one asks how much does it cost, I find that a couple items are always left out. Most places require the flyer to have AMA membership, which costs 58$ for adults. Also, a local club membership is usually required which can range from as low as $20 to several hundred per year. On top of all that you have to of course add in the cost of plane, radio, engine. etc.

Also, I would not recommend electrics to get started with. They may in some cases be the right choice for some individuals, but I would not push some one that way.