I know basically nothing about rc airplanes. My son has been bugging me to get him one. So that is why I am here to get some advice.

What should we be looking at for a trainer? Can we do this for $200 or less?
I am assuming electric/battery powered at this stage?

I know they have a park with a little runway not to far from where I work.

Any advice one what to buy him would be great. I am looking for someone in the area that might help him and me get started.

Thanks for any help

Well if they have a park with a runway start there, see what they are flying and if they would be willing to help out.

Yes, that is by far the best thing to do. There are a lot of different aspects to this sport, and if you have help that readily available, by all means use it to your full advantage.

What about the cost. Can I get something decent for the $200 range?

Any recommendations on planes?

You can also go to this site
http://www.modelaircraft.org/clubsearch.aspx
and plug in your zip code to get a list of clubs in your area. You could then visit a couple and get more information and make more informed choices.

There is nothing wrong with your original plan either and you can get some beginner electrics in that price range. I'll not advise on that further as I am not knowledgeable in that area however.

Your son is also old enough where he could handle IMO a nitro powered trainer plane if that was desired. The cost to begin would be a little higher but not a great deal and could not be flown in the park you mentioned most likely. You could probably get a nitro plane in the air for about $300 with some frugal shopping.

Chris,

You can hop on Tower Hobbies and get:

Tower Trainer 40 - 64.99
Thunder Tiger GP42 - 59.99
Hitech Laser 4 Radio- 115.99

Total- $240
Less $25 promotion

$215 will get you into a great nitro setup. I learned on a Tower 40 with the Hitec radio and I thought it was a great setup. The Thunder Tiger 42 is also supposed to be a decent engine.

Cheers,

Dave

Sorry, can't find anything cheaper than this one. I am assuming you are looking for something that is Ready-To-Fly (RTF) complete with engine and radio already installed, and (although I don't own one personally) I am told this is one of the best RTF setups available http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...=LXCXF4**&P=ML . But it appears to be slightly more than your budget will allow.

If you want to share some good father/son time there is also the option of building your own Trainer from a kit. You can make descisions as you go like what you might want to use for a power plant (Electric/Nitro), and this will also give you time to find the best deal possible on either a new or good used radio and equipment. You and your son could take a lot of pride in this finished project. Here is a good kit that would be suitable for either Nitro or Electric.
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXFF91&P=0

Another option is used. Check with your local clubs for help on learning to fly and ask about any used trainers that are available. Some clubs have their own trainer airplanes that they will allow your son to use while he is learning.
Best luck

Hey cgchris99!

I would say:

First, download FMS (flying model simulator.) it's free and a good way to start learning without paying a lot of money for pricey sims. Download some trainer models (the ones included are pretty crappy) and those'll help you learn orientation and such.

Check out the hobbyzone line of planes, if you want to start easy and work up. They are pretty sturdy and will take some heavy beating, and they're all RTF (ready to fly). prices are WELL under $200, some under $100. These are good first-time trainers.

If you want to start with a plane that actually looks like a plane and not a pod stuck on a stick, Go Parkzone. I started with a Cub after a long time on FMS and the Cub was a breeze. See the Cub forum in Electrics-->Parkflyers and Backyard flyers--> Parkzone J-3 Cub (or something like that) for more information.

The entire parkzone line is in general pretty good. After the Cub to start with, the stryker F-27B is a good choice to progress to, and from that you can go wherever you want... maybe try some ARF's, whatever.

Just a way to learn to fly tears-free and without an instructor.

i forgot to add...

The Cub is 169.99 and should be available at any good hobby store.
Most of the Parkzone line is all under $200, excepting the Typhoon 3d ($219.99) and the new Tiger Stryker F-27C (249.99), both of which are above a newbie's head.

Good luck!

Thanks all, very helpful information. I have emailed a couple of the local clubs and look forward to hearing from them.

There is an extreme amount of information available out there. Take your time to assimilate it and make the choice you think is best for you and your son. And there are thousands of opinions, many of which are valid.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

I want to add something
Why just for your son? This is a great hobby that son and dad, or mom, can both do together and have a great time.

You made a good decision there... above selecting a plane and learning to fly, joining and AMA club is the most important thing you can do. Period. Knowledgeable people, great facilities, and FREE training make it more than worth the initial expense (not that much, anyway).

I started out on my own with the parkflyers, and let me tell you, I ended up spending more on parts/replacement planes than doing it the right way and getting a REAL trainer and instruction at the local club. After crashing my fomie cub more than I want to say, I purchased a Nexstar trainer and joined the local club and haven't looked back. I'm 18, my father joined with me, and my 12 year old brother will do his solo flight in a week or so.

Being that you want to stay in the $200 range, I would also recommend [link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCXF4**&P=ML]the Tower Trainer 40[/link]. I got a friend started with that plane, and it flies great!

Good luck!!

I'm 14 now and started flying last year with a Hobbyzone Super Cub. This plane is great, it is super easy to fly can perform loops, inverted flight and most of the 3CH tricks. Plus it is tough! My only crash was when I disregarded the low transmitter battery alert("nah I've got loads of time" ) and lost control during a loop. BAM! straight into the ground from way up high with full throttle. The only repair I had to do was a bit of glue and tape on the plastic cowl which cracked. Anyway this is a good looking and easy flying plane for under your price limit.

Check it out at http://www.hobbyzone.com/rc_planes_h..._super_cub.htm

Missleman,

He did say he wanted to learn also. That is one reason he and his son want to get a trainer. You must of missed that part. But I might be wrong!

Gibbs

I admit that I'm not much of an authority on RC planes, but surely inverted flight is not possible on 3ch planes as they do not have ailerons?

Trickier, but it can be done. Biggest problem is all the dihedral in the wing keeps wanting to turn the plane back over.

I started nitro cars when i was 13, at 14 i got a nitro plane

Lots of 3 channel planes can perform rolls and can also sustain inverted flight without ailerons.

Also, many 3 channel plane have ailerons. You don't need 4 channels for ailerons. In fact, if we include gliders, you only need 2 channels, aileron/elevator, which is very popular with slope gliders, some of which are highly aerobatic.

CGChris99,

How is your son doing with his flying?

Thanks for the explanation

Off topic, I know, but do you guys think it's worth getting a trainer with or without ailerons? I have flown a 3ch glider a couple of times and wasn't hopeless at flying it, but was a little out of my depth, unaided by the large amount of wind...

Definitely get a trainer with ailerons. It will be well worth it for you to learn to fly a plane with them.

Ken

Not really far off topic.

Whether or not your trainer has ailerons, in my opinion, is a matter of personal ability and dedication.

The explosion of the small electric, parkflyer, class of planes, has been around their simplicity and their ease of flight. Part of that is based on the self leveling, self recoveirng design. There is a significant LACK of aerobatic capability with a lot of the parkflyer trianers. This makes them suitable for self training. High wing, pusher, R/E/T planes tend to fit this model fairly well.

That doesn't mean you can't self teach on ailerons, you can. However, in my observation, ailerons give you greater opportunity to over contol the plane and get it into attitudes from which it is hard to recover. And front motor planes tend to take more damge and more expensive damage than pushers.

The lack of control, if you want to think of it that way, based on the lack of ailerons, is a positive attribute for self training, in my opinion. Like training wheels on a two wheel bike, you get the feel for the bike with little help but you lose some of the control you can have by leaning the bike over. Later, you can take them off and have more control.

One of my favorite planes to recommend for those who will build a kit is the Mountain Models Magpie. It has two wings available. A 3 channel R/E/T slow fly wing. Great for self teaching. Then you swap for the shorter, flatter, aileron spot wing and you have an aileron trainer. Ta Da! If you want ailerons, and are learning on your own, also consider the Easy Glider Electric or the GWS e-starter. Both of these can be flown R/E first, then the ailerons can be added later.

If, on the other hand you have an instructor or a coach who can help you through your early learning and they are comfortable teaching you on ailerons, then that this the way to go. If you will be learning on a buddy box, then definately get a plane with ailerons. But I don't think that is the situaiton that started this thread.

So it is a situational answer.

What do you know?
How quickly do you learn?
Do you have help learning?
How good are you at fixing? []

If you are learning on your own, with no help, I recommend a 3 channel, high wing, pusher, R/E/T electric like the Aerobird Challenger, the T-Hawk, the Easy Star or similar planes.