now i have finshed my lst(car if you dont know) i would like a plane. i don't want a really good one but just a fun one i can fly after a few tanks of fuel in my car. can you recomend something cheap and cheerfull that can still do all the things(just not aswell) as more expensive aircraft. i would be thinking about something like this:
[link]http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/search.do?productCode=MUSPLA[/link]
i am planning in getting into rc planes in the future but as i'm only 15 and have spent alot on my truck its too expensive right now.

any suguestions would be great

thanks
ross

If your planning on teaching yourself how to fly I don't suggest you start with a mustang. Even though it says it is for beginners, I wouldn't trust it. Check out some of the ready to fly planes by hobbyzone (firebird freedom, firebird commander, firebird scout, aerobird challenger, aerobird extreme) They are cheaper, slower, and more forgiving.

you can scratch the firebird freedom off that list. There are some pretty bad reports. Google and you will see.

Well I have seen at least a few posts of people teaching themselves on the firebird commander and the aerobird extreme.

My suggestion, download a free flight sim called FMS and then see how it goes. Then before you do any thing else find the nearest RC plane club and get out there to watch and ask questions. To buy a cheapy plane and equipment and then try things yourself will be a waste of money and will result in a very short, frustrating attempt at a great hobby. [8D]

yeah the plane club here is great. i think i will go and buy a trainer and get lessons then. i don't know to much about planes but there is a thunder tiger 40 trainer aircraft in the lhs and that seems ideal. what do you think

I started with a TT 40 trainer. GREAT plane. Survived, somewhat, a elevator failure and pile driver straight into the ground. (Dad flying)
Can't say enough good stuff about this plane.
If/when you do get a plane and youre planing on abusing it, reinforce the wing joint. I didn't have to on mine, but other people on here lost planes cuz of wing seperation.
Get a buddy box. $50 extra spent on that will save you a few hundred in the long run. Besides, you can use it when you're training your dad.
Remember, preflight - preflight - preflight. EVERYTHING needs to be perfect before you take it up. That could save you money also.
Good Luck
G

thanks. a buddy box is one of those things you plug into your controller so if you lose controll the instructor can take over, right? it might sound a bit noobish but how do you start them, refuel and tune the engine with the prop inches away or is the carb the opposite side of the drive shaft.?

your help is really appriecated as i have almost no flight expirence(5 mins with my hunny bee heli before it blew up)
thanks

Yes you are correct on what a buddy box is. As far as starting tuning refueling ect. Refueling you will do with the engine off, so it's a moot point. Starting, you do in one of 2 ways. A chicken stick or a electric starter. Either way, u heat the glow plug then flip the prop till the fuel combusts. Use of a chicken stick instead of fingers keeps painful and dangerous accidents away. Usually to start you have to be infront of the plane. The plane should be properly restrained. Tuning you do carefully and from behind. Most new engines have remote needle valves (for the high end) which is behind the crank case, rather then up by the carb so ur further away from the spinning prop. The lowend is still up right behind of the prop, so that requires more care. Shutting the engine down being the safest way before tweaking. However my instructor will very carefully tune it with the engine running. Another instructor at my club has a screwdriver attached to a small stick for adjusting the low end. I'm being breif, cause the members of your club will be more then happy to help you out with all of this hands on.
-John

thanks thats great. i downloaded the flight sim but i couldnt find the cord to connect my six channel controll to the computer so i had to use a joystick which kinda sucked. i must go to the club sometime but its the other end of the island(island is only 9miles by5 but when you are to young to drive thats a long way). they hold open days where they drop sweets and stuff so next time theres one i'll go and ask a few q's. normally does a trainer come in kit form or artf

You can get a trainer in any form: Kit, ARF, or RTF. Since you already have a transmitter I recommend an ARF to get started. After a while, if you want to build a kit, you can decide which one you like and start the project.

You can buy or make an interface to connect your transmitter to the computer. I thought I had a link but cannot find it.

Found a link for the interface: http://www.clonepac.freeserve.co.uk/products.htm

the tx is only for my esky. if i ask my dad nice i'm sure he will get one. just remembered my friend used to fly planes. he has a trainer and a big red biplane. i'll ask him if he is willing to sell(only hangs them on the wall). first i will find out what make it is though. can you recomend any or are there some that i should stick away from.
been great help so far
thanks
ross

There are too many good trainers out there to recommend one. I fly a SIG Kadet Senior myself.
Let us know what your friend has and then you will get opinions on it.
Alot of what to recommend for you would depend on your budget and what is available in your area.
Check with local clubs, you may find they have a loaner that you can use to learn on.

Definitely check out what your friend has. If you do have to buy new stuff, post questions here about what you're looking at.

This company has been mentioned as a good one to deal with in the UK.
http://www.sussex-model-centre.co.uk/
The web site was down this morning but has the phone number listed.

Slough Radio Control Models came up in a Yahoo search for UK Hobby Shops
http://www.srcm.co.uk/system/index.html
None of the ARF trainer planes they have listed are marketed in the US but they look just like the ones we can buy. The primary one they have is the Irvine Tutor 40.

Here’s a source of engines, and engine parts, that gets good comments for customer service.
http://www.justengines.unseen.org/

yeah i've used sussex model centre before for my lst and other trucks. i cycled round to my friends but he wasnt in. would an electric be a better choice. i prefer nitro's but i would rather get a good plane than one i liked the look of

If you dont mind kits. My first gas plane was a great planes pt40. good stout plane. While I was building that(with a little help from my dad) I bought a firebird xl. I was nine at the time tought myself how to fly. Then I flew my gas trainer when I fimished it. Now I fly electric aerobatics and still fly the gas trainer.

There's no reason to start with electric if u want glow. A glow trainer will probably be more stable in wind then a electric anyways as it has more weight.
-John

A standard glow flight will be 10 minutes. Most electric flights only last 8 minutes. Then to go up again you will either need to recharge the pack (takes about an hour) or bring extra packs with you that have been charged before you bring them to the field. A standard training day consists of six 10 minute flights so for electric you will need 6 battery packs just for the plane! To go up again with a glow plane, just refuel and go. Also unless you upgrade your electric motor, esc, and battery your electric trainer won't have much reserve power if its windy and you need to fly against the wind to get it back to the runway. At the end of the day you will need to recharge your transmitter and all your plane battery packs. With a glow plane you recharge the transmitter pack and the reciever pack and your ready to go. Bottom line, if your really set on e power planes, it will work but glow powered planes provide superior performance for the price and are are less problems for starting out. [8D]

thats exactly why i prefer nitro cars. no need to have a ton of battery packs for a good days running.
[link]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Model-plane-DEAL-Arising-Star-ARTF-RMX-40-engine-FUTABA_W0QQitemZ6062023416QQcategoryZ19164QQcmdZVi ewItem[/link]

this looks like a good deal to me. there is one for about ten pounds more with a sc46 engine and one for £19 more with a OS46LA engine. are they worth the extra cash for the power. wow i found out that the model aircraft club on the island has a web site:
[link]http://www.jmaconline.co.uk/[/link]

that will help i hope

I am not familiar with RMX or SC engines. The engine of choice over here in the 40-46 size is the OS 46AX for both sport and trainer airplanes. We can cheaper engines but the AX engine is very user friendly (easy to adjust and reliable running), is a very strong engine and is used for both sport planes and trainers. The OS LA engines are reliable but very weak running. YOu are looking at least 2000 rpm less with that engine than the AX in the same 46 size. Once you see how easy the AX starts and see how it spins the prop you won't want any thing else.

i got in contact with the club and went down today(just got back). i flew for the first time which was quite exciting, especially as it wasnt my plane. i was doing figure of 8's. it was on a buddy box and he had to step in twice when i went the wrong way on the stick as it was coming towards me. my other problem was being to jerky on the stick but i was alot smoother by the end of the run.

he was quite impressed when i manged to get myself out of trouble when a gust of wind caused it to climb very high and roll a bit to the left.

all in all it was a sucses and all my questions were answered. im going to go a few more times though before i commit to buying a plane but judged on today i think i am going to enjoy flying!