My nine year old daughter and I want to try our hand at RC flying and aren't sure what we should choose as a trainer. We want to start w/ electric and something that a nine year old can learn on and is durable enough to take the inevidible crashes. What do you recomend? I've heard that the wingo and the firebird XL are both pretty easy to learn on. Any comments on those two?

Something a little larger would be better. Take a look at Hobbico's electric trainer at this link http://www.hobbico.com/airplanes/hcaa2051.html

I havn't seen one fly be I do own a Super Star 60 and it is a great flyer. Take a look it might be a good way for you to get into R/C.

Plane Addicted

dhale
those 2 planes do fly and are supposedly easy to fly. I am not sure since i have not flown one myself but have seen them fly on a video i found in the Internet. I know they sell many extra parts such as wings tails and pretty much anything you need to fix them when you do crash.

I would recommend something like Plane Addicted posted though since it is more a conventional type plane. Planes like these will be very forgiving and get you started into RC planes if you do decide to later go on with gas. Electric planes are nice to fly but your time in the air is limited. As for gas they last a bit longer and the power does not die out such as the electrics do. You just refuel and go again.

I have a eclectic sailplane myself and it is a very fun plane to fly. One good thing about a sailplane you do not have to use the motor to fly the entire time. You can cut it of and glide for a good while then throttle again and start climbing again.

Hmmm, I've flown a Fighterbird and it was okay but is very slow reacting, especially when you are trying to get out of trouble. You may want to check out some GWS planes (especially the slow stick!) or the GP Tutor. In my opinion these are much better flying planes that you can control in a conventional manner.

The Firebird doesn't have many fans, and those that do really appreciate it generally haven't flown many other types of planes. My brief experience with one wasn't very enjoyable.

Have you looked into electric sailplanes? They're big, slow, and easy to fly.

dhale,

I "trained" my 11 year old daughter, the 9 year old wasn't very interested, on a Merlin. Megatech isn't very well thought of, but the Merlin is easy to fly and somewhat rugged.

The Slow Stick is much like the Merlin, in terms of design and flight characteristics.

The Wingo/Soarstar has much to offer, including a pusher prop that lets the foam nose take many of the hits.

For a 9 year old I'd focus on slowflyers or park flyers like these.

GB

Thanks everybody for your input. We are really looking forward to getting started.
Dave

dhale,

Try to stay away from the Firebird and other "toystore" planes.

GWS makes a great line of inexpensive park and slow flyers.

If you are interested in knowing more about electric flight and want another resource try ezonemag.com they specialize in electric flight.

dhale,
Where are you located in KS? If you are close to the Topeka area I could help you with your delima. I have had a firebird, I had fun with it, but it doesn't fly like a conventional RC plane, and in many ways it is more difficult to fly. It doesn't have an elevator only speed controls up and down, over all conroling is difficult. If you want a toy it is OK, but if you want to get into RC I would recomend something more "advanced". If you are close and want to try a trianer let me know. Also as everyone recomends what ever you do get help learning if you have never flown RC before, its alot more difficult than it looks. RC sims are a great tool, a free one on the internet is FMS, I think it helps alot!!
Jeff

I really wish I could take you up on the offer but I am about as far from Topeka as you can get and still be in KS. I am 4 miles from the CO border and about 70 mile south of the Nebraska border. I have been convinced that to really get the feel for RC flying we need to do something different than the park flyer's I read about earlier. How can a person find out about area clubs? I don't know of anybody out here that flies or has ever flown.
Dave

Well it was worth a shot, do searchs for clubs you'll turn up several. There is a guy from Hays that posts on here alot, he has had several planes for sale. One of them is a Thunder tiger 40 trianer, I have a 60 trainer that I started with I really liked it. I'll see if I can find that post and send to you.
Jeff

dhale,
I found the link its listed below, he has several planes listed for sale. It might be worth talking to him.
Jeff


http://www.rcuniverse.com/showthread...9841&forumid=2]

The MTH Soarstar also sold at Hobby Lobby and distributed by Horizon is much better equipped. Comes with a battery, gearbox, and charger (which for the most part is disposable). The plane is basically a Wingo clone and flies exactaly the same for less outlay in cash.

take a look at the sky scooter pro 2.. i bought this plane to get into the hobby crashed it really bad.... i broke the nose off but with some 6 min epoxy it was ready to fly again after i recharged the battries... in my opnion this is a great plane its made of strofoam so real easy to fix...but if you really want to get into the hobby get a simulator..great planes makes a good one ...then go out and buy a plane... have fun thats the main thing...good luck

pete

Dave,

The AMA, Academy of Model Aeronautics, is a great place to find out information on other clubs. Here is the link to the district 9 club information and contacts page.

http://www.modelaircraft.org/templat...3D05D0FEF31FF6

Click on Kansas and there you are, all the charter clubs in Kansas.

I hope this help. Also, you could post a message in the Clubhouse forumo off the main page of RCUniverse.

And by the way welcome to the greatest hobby/sport in the Universe!!

Plane Addicted