Sorry. I guess they're gonna have to dock my moderator pay for that mistake!!

Ken

Wanna feel worse? Look at post #66. [sm=bananahead.gif]

I've actually written the FAQ and revised it 3 times so far, but I'm not publishing it yet because I don't want Mike, Bill, and Chuck to feel left out!!!! The only problem with having superhuman powers is to not coming off looking too superior to mere mortals. [X(] But that is a required class when we go to super hero school!!!!!!!

Of course I am just kidding about this. And yes, I am fully aware that I have just fed the crowd a good "Pick on Ken" topic!!!!

Ken

Bruce,
Ok, I took out the duplicate question. Your check for proofreading the document is in the mail!!

Here is the current list:

<<Edit-- List updated Mar 24, 2006 8:00 AM CST>>
<<Edit-- List current up to post #103>>

NOTE: All new questions are printed in red.

---NOTE: This list has been sorted into categories in order to help keep better track of the questions. These in no way represent the final format of the FAQ--

General Questions
[ul][*] Do I have to have a license to fly an RC plane?[*] Does it cost money for an instructor to teach me to fly?[*] Can I fly it anywhere?[*] How big do RC planes get?[*] Is it very expensive to get into this hobby?[*] Is a WWII Fighter plane OK to start out with?[*] Ok, Warbirds are out, what about an old-style Bi-Plane? Do they fly slow enough to learn on?[*] But Trainers are so boring and "boxy" looking. Isn't there something "cooler" that I can start with?[*] What do I need to buy to get started?[*] Which should I choose, glow or electric? [*] Should I choose a kit, ARF, or RTF? [*] There are no clubs in my area, can I just fly without help? [*] Who makes the best trainer? [*] How long does it take to learn? [*] What is a field box? [*] What is the AMA, and how do I find an AMA club?[*] What's the best way to learn to fly? [*] How do I store my aircraft when I'm not flying?[*] Should I start out flying a plane that has tricycle landing gear, or go for a taildragger? [*] What is flutter? [*] Low wing vs High wing characteristics? [*] What is dihedral? [*] What do I need for a day of flying (tools, materials, charger, fuel containers and flightbox etc)? [*] How do I know when I'm ready to move on to my second plane? [*] What's the easiest way to learn orientation when the plane is coming towards me? [*] How do I clean my plane after running it? [*] How should I store my plane? [*] What is aileron differential?[*] Where is the RCU glossary?[*] Is there a less stressful, faster and easier way to learn other than with the use of the buddy-box?[*] I have a RC car, Am I ready to start flying RC planes? [*] I am a full scale pilot. Do i still need an instructor? [*] What should I expect my first day at the field with my new plane? [*] What should I bring to the field to protect me from the elements/exposure?[*] What if I hit someone or something with my plane? [*] What do the ailerons do?[*] Which way round do the ailerons work? Left up for left or left down for left?[*] My instructor is holding me back, what do I do?[*] Why do I need third party insurance?[*] Am I covered on my home insurance?

[/ul]

Engines (includes fuel and propellers)
[ul][*] What kind of fuel do these planes use?[*] Who makes the best engine? [*] How do I break in my engine? [*] How do I tune my engine? [*] What percentage fuel should I use? [*] Should I use an electric fuel pump or a hand crank? [*] Do I need to balance my prop? How do I balance a prop? [*] What do the numbers on a propeller mean?[*] What's a "spinner" and why do I need one?[*] How do I refuel my plane? [*] What after run oil should I use and whats the best way to apply it to the engine? [*] If I want a three blade prop what size should I use? [*] How do I prime my engine for starting? [*] Whats the best glow plug heat range to use? [*] What's a clunk? How do I setup the clunk in the fuel tank?[*] Are Air and Fuel filters necessary/recommended? [*] What's this "pinch test" for tuning engines? [*]What's a 3 line tank setup and when do I need one? [*] What is an easy filler valve or fuel dot?[*] I've got this second hand engine, but I can't turn it over or move the carb arm, what do I do? [*] How long does glow fuel last? [*] What do I do after I stop running my engine?

[/ul]

Plane Building/Assembly/Setup/Repair
[ul][*] How do you cover an airplane? (video candidate)[*] How do you properly mix epoxy? [*] Why is ca so messy? And how do you get your fingers unstuck?[*] What exactly is dope? Isn't dope illegal? [*] How do I attach wheels so they spin freely without being too wobbly? [*] My plane keeps rolling even with the engine at idle, what can I do to stop it from rolling?[*] The covering is wrinkly, how do I fix this? [*] How do I apply additional graphics to my plane? [*] How do I balance my plane? [*] How do I adjust the throttle linkage/servo properly? [*] How much toe in do I need on my taildragger front wheels? [*] What's the best way to attach the wing, rubber-band or bolt on? [*] Whats the best way to attach the wing with rubber bands ie: how many do I need and what size? [*] What does adding right or down thrust do to the handling of my plane? [*] How do I fix out of round foam tyres? [*] For running on grass/pavement whats the best type and size tyre to use? [*] How do I determine what temp to set on my covering irons? Won't it melt the covering? [*] Can I use a "Paint stripper" heat gun or a hair dryer to shrink covering?[*] Why shouldn't I use Home Depot plywood? [*] What are the characteristics of a good building table/system?[*] What should I use to fuel proof the engine and fuel tank areas? [*] What's the best way to thin epoxy for fuel proofing?

[/ul]

Radios, Batteries, and Simulators
[ul][*] How does the radio work?[*] What kind of radio should I get? [*] Are simulators worth buying? [*] Can you use the same transmitter for different planes? [*] What's a buddy box? [*] What are(is) dual rates?[*] What is expo? [*] I have an RC radio from an RC car I had, can I use that one for a plane? [*] Where can I get a cord to connect my TX to my PC for FMS? (for those of us who didn't want to spend big $$$ on a sim) [*] What do the following radio terms mean? TX, RX, FMS, PPM, PCM, AM, FM, Spread Spectrum?[*] What's a servo, receiver, linkage, etc.? [*] What is a crystal? [*] What does 4ch, 6ch etc. mean? [*] What's a "buddy box" [*] What is the difference between Nicad, Nimh and Li-po batteries? [*] Whats the best way to charge/discharge my RX/TX battery pack? [*] Where should I set my throws? [*] How do I do a range check? [*] How do I mount servo's/RX etc (can I run the cables together or do they need to be seperate etc?)? [*] What causes servo twitching? [*] How can I reduce the risk of interference? [*] How do I attach my receiver aerial to the plane?[*] How do I repair stripped servo hold down screws? [*] Should I use synthetic oil fuel? [*] How do I stop fuel tank foaming? [*] How do I start my engine? [*] What's a "chicken stick"? [*] Is an electric starter necessary? [*] Will my mobile phone interfere with my plane? [*] Why is it a bad idea set the ATV/EPA at 50%?[*] Which radio systems can buddy box together? [*] Should I use 4.8v or 6.0v receiver batteries?[*] What is a range check? [*] What is servo chatter?[*] Why do I need radios with 9, 12 or 14ch?
How long do you have to charge the nicads for?
[*] What does it mean to "cycle" a battery? How do I cycle them?[*] What is a "mili amp"?[*] How do I know when my RX battery is low?

[/ul]

Tools, Equipment, and Supplies
[ul][*] What kind of tools do I need? [*] What kind of glue do I use? [*] Whar kind of glue do I use for hinges? Can I use epoxy on CA hinges? [*] How do I know when my glow driver battery is dead? [*] What should I put in my field box? (both Glow and Electric) [*] What tools do I need to build an airplane kit? (video candidate)[*] What tools do I need to assemble an ARF airplane? (video candidate)[*] What support equipment do I need?"

[/ul]

NOTE: All new questions are printed in red.

---NOTE: This list has been sorted into categories in order to help keep better track of the questions. These in no way represent the final format of the FAQ--

<<Edit-- List updated Mar 24, 2006 8:00 AM CST>>
<<Edit-- List current up to post #103>>

Oh WOW!!!!! Thanks for the reminder, I forgot it was YOUR day Ken. We'll get right on it.

"Bruce, Ok, I took out the duplicate question. Your check for proofreading the document is in the mail!! "

WOW again, Do I get Junior Moderator Wannabe pay? Which, if I understand it correctly, will match your Moderator pay.

Gentlemen , a fantastic job, i have just read through it all. Now for my question, one thrown at me 4 times in the last two weeks.
I know how to balance my aircraft , nose to tail. What about balancing the wings? Lateral Balance? Is it necessary, and how do you do it?
Thankyou , Bill

I have another question. Yesterday I bought an O.S. 46FXi. And my father is a bit scared, that there will come dust in the engine. (which can damage it?) Should I use an air filter?

I only need the radio-system, and them I'm ready to go to the field to break-in the engine and trim everything. But the radio isn't in the store yet (it should be there next week, just some patience.) I really want to get this thing airborne. (And learn how to fly it, of course)
And if I made some spell-mistakes or so, I'm sorry. Just a 15 years old Netherlander!

Thanks,
Tom

I looked but I didn't see this one yet.

For a trainer, with a relatively inexperienced pilot, what is the highest wind speed that is safe to fly in?
For a sport or scale plane, with an experienced pilot, what is the highest wind speed that is safe to fly in?

Is it ok to fly in a misty conditions? Will it kill the engine?

Basically what are the optimal condtions for flying and what are the limits.

Say for instance I want to fly in someone's pasture or hay field, how big an area should it be to be safe?

Great job gentlemen. I cought this thread while searching for answers to get into RC aviation(yes, I'm a noob to RC aviation and have never touched any RC plane beyond a toy one), as I'm an experienced(not necisarily good) RC driver and an aviation fan. One thing I haven't seen covered on this site is the arrival of Hangar 9's Progressive Trainer System(PTS) P-51 Mustang. I did notice that you do have questions in regards to warbirds as first planes, but nothing of the PTS.

So here's my questions to add to your growing list:

Are Progressive Trainer System equipped warbirds a good substitute for a traditional trainer?
Will the fact that it's a taildragger help teach better "stick and rudder"(1:1 aviation term) skills?
Will the fact that it's a taildragger hinder my training severely?

I hope ya'll feel that these are viable questions for your FAQ. Good luck with the completion of the FAQ.

mydartswinger,
Welcome to the addiction..... uh I mean the hobby!!! Thanks for bringing up this question. We haven't decided yet on exactly what will be in the FAQ/Beginner's guide. But I will make sure that your question is in the "mix" as we get the project up and running.

Ken

Well the 1 question I havent seen asked that all new fliers should is what is a preflight inspection ( a poor one of these cuased my first crash painful to admit but true)

New question:

My transmitter has a built in volt-meter but how do I check my reciever battery and what readings should I expect for both the TX and RX to be safe?

I'm not sure if this question was posted or not but....

What does triming out a plane mean?

A beginner doesn't need to know how to do it, but I would like to know the point or goal of it. I'm sure my instructor will do it when he flies my plane for the first time but I would like to know what and why he is doing it.

I would just like to add that I think this is a great idea.

New question - radio section.

My antenna hangs way out the back and looks dumb. Can I just cut off the excess or just coil it up inside the fuselage?

My antenna wire broke but I tied it back together. Will this be OK?

Hi Guys, I leave in KSA and I am a begginer at this Hobby and I would like to solicit your advice maybe you know where to get those NITRO in JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA. I am very much interested in GAS powered RC but my problem is, I don't know where to get my FUEL. Or maybe if you can tell me how to mix and make one for my self. Thanks..