Hey guys, I am looking to get a plane for xmas this year. I used to have a small electric one, and I did OK on it, but the range was terible and it was hard to control. So I am looking to move up a little bit, maybe to nitro. I heard about these jet kind of planes like a fighter jet, and I thought that sounded cool. I have a HUGE yard to fly in, it is a 9 acre field. I am looking forward to hearing your suggestions! Thanks!

I would not start off with a nitro jet. LOL.. I would start out with a trainer plane.

Check out RCKen's list of trainers he has assembled. This should give you a good start into researching the various planes available. Since nitro flies a lot different from electric, I would recommend getting with a club or flight instructor to see what trainers are popular in your area and getting some dual instruction. Your chances of success will be a lot higher with a flight instructor to guide you along on your first few flights.

Here's the link to RCKen's list:
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4537845/tm.htm

Hogflyer

Are all nitros that big? I wasn't expecting them to all have 60"+ wingspans. Do they make nitros with something smaller then a 48" wingspan?

They do make them smaller but most planes that small aren't suited to learn to fly on. Also, when you say you have a "huge yard" how big do you mean?? Because if it's anything less than 10 - 15 acres it's probably too small to fly in. If you will be trying to fly in a populated area you could also run into liability issues if you crash the plane and hurt someone or damage their property. Your best bet for successfully and safely learning to fly a larger glow powered airplane would be to contact and join a club in your area. I did a search on the AMA's website and found there are 18 clubs within a 25 mile radius of Akron, you can find that list here: [link]http://www.modelaircraft.org/ClubZipLocator.aspx?z=44302&d=25[/link] .

Hope this helps

Ken

Well, it is around 9 acres. The only houses are my uncles next door. Do you think it would be OK? Also, the P51 Mustang is looking nice to me. Is it a good first, considering the fact that it is more than the other planes.

The larger planes might look more intimidating but they are easier to fly. They handle the wind better and are easier to see. The larger wing area also means that the plane can be slowed down and still be very controllable. The high wing bulky shape helps to keep the speed from gettin too high. If you push the sticks too far to the right for example it will take the plane a lot longer to turn completly upside down with a 70" wing span than a plane with a 48" wing span. This is easy to see whats happening on the larger plane and also give you time to realize your mistake and correct it. Thats why the Sig LT40 with the 70" wing span is one of the easiest planes to learn on. IT has decent speed at full throttle but will easily glide well and then land at walking speed.

Ok, I understand now. Well I am really getting into this now. Here is a pic of one part of my yard I can fly in. I have another area and will take a pic of it later. But is the P51 Mustang good? I was thinking it is good since I will not have to upgrade for a long time. Here is the part of my yard:

But is the P51 Mustang good? < not good for learning on!! [X(] It can be tricky to keep it straight on the runway while getting up to takeoff speed. It flys fast and is sensitive to stick inputs, It will also stall, and start spinning toward the ground if you slow the plane down too much. Also, sorry dude but the location looks rather poor. I see trees in the way everywhere!! If you flew the plane past the tree line you would lose sight of it over the trees. RC flyers soon learn that trees can move even faster than the planes to swat the planes out of the air. And it only takes 1 tree to get your plane. Based on the new data you have provided I would suggest finding an RC club that has a better field. []

I thought the P51 Mustang was a learning plane? Anyways, I now know that this part is not good! Let me take a pic of the other side of the yard, and then tell me what you think of it.

What are the pros and cons of having an electric and nitro?

Any of the Warbirds such as the P51, Spitfire, or ME109 for example are meant to fly fast and be able to turn quick, not the characteristics you want in a trainer. This is is a pic of our grass field. You can see that except for the pilot stations, there is nothing but wide open sky. Nothing to hit except the ground if you get too low. We have both a N-S and an E-W runway. They are both over 500' long and about 80' wide, big enough for our 1/4 scale plane pilotss.

Yeah, I understand the field concept now. But about the P51, I went to their website and they have those air brakes, and those things on the wings to slow them down. It is meant to be a trainer, and then you take the stuff off and it will be a normal warbird.

If that still is not a good choice, what is one of the better RTF trainer planes?

The P-51 is a trainer until you take the gadgets off. I've seen students learn on them and they did just as good as ones on basic trainers. This way you will have a second plane when you get proficient. Just take off the gadgets and away you go.

Gibbs

Like he said...

But DO join the local club.

If someone comes knocking on your door because of your activities it gives this sport a bad name.

There are liability issues, and the whole thing about potentially being perceived as a community nusiance.

Join the club.

Get going on the glows.

The club membership will make your PTS P-51 last longer than a day. Most clubs have trainers to take your first few (FREE) lessons on, then you can move onto the P-51 PTS.

Yeah you have to pay for AMA membership and THEN club membership, but it is all well worth it. The club will save you it's cost in parts alone. Often you pick up planes in raffles, etc. making the club a better value... then the club also keeps the field going.

It's a big win for everyone involved.


Once you get very proficient, look at the .20-.30 sized electrics.

You may be able to get these flying in your yard, though be forwarned, electrics tend to be more expensive when everything else is equal.

A small electric (E-Flite Ultimate FX 3D) is great for a small field like yours and fun for when you cannot get down to the field.

Once you start with the Nitro planes, you'll stick with the bigger breeds though.

Ok thanks. About that part of my yard, that part is about 1/2 the size of the other half of my yard. It is hard to explain but it is really open, and I have a hill I could fly on. Let me get a pic...

Oh, and are their any other good trainer planes that are cheaper?

I'd recommend the Nexstar or the Super Star Select. These hobbico ready to flies are great, and while I don't recommend it, I taught myself how to fly with no help from anyone on the first flight. I somehow managed to land it, well, arrive it on the ground after an 8 minute flight and only killed the prop. So my first flight was a solo. Knowing what I know now though is DONT DO IT!!! I got lucky, maybe I am a natural, but many others have killed brand new nice airplanes doing the same.

The trainer i had was the Super Star select and i believe from Tower Hobbies you can get it RTF in 20 minutes (quoted by the manufacturer) for about 279 plus flight box, chargers, glow stick, fuel, starter, starter battery, misc tools, props, fuel pumps, etc. Expensive to start, but buy good equipment and it will last you quite a while.

I also recommend flying at an AMA field. I have learned and showed others so much over the years and it has benefited all. Good luck in getting into the hobby. I hope to see you around the forums.

Thanks alot. I am trying to see what would be better, the P-51 or the Super Star. I am leaning towards the P-51 because it is like 2 planes in one, plus it looks cool! Is their any other reasons why to or not to get this plane?

And I believe I have found a place for flying planes. Maybe I can check it out this weekend.

Since winter is upon us, you might want to consider a flight simulator. Learn on that all winter and you will be ready to go at in the spring. A great way to learn and crashes are a lot less expensive.

Rod

my girlfriends dad and brother fly in STOW.

If you like the Hanger 9 P-51 PTS you can learn to fly on it and have a more advanced plane as you learn. PTS means Progressive Trainer System and it is a well thought out design for that purpose. Plus you'll get a Flight Sim with it. My wifes been flying one for about 9 months and says it's a great plane.

I agree you want to find a club and instructor so you are not disappointed with your first attempts. Good Luck.

Best plane to learn on, I used an LT 40 from SIG, to teach my grasshoppers. Then put them into their own NEXSTARS, two planes for the price of one. This has been well received and I still fly my NEXSTAR, we put flaps on them,it's fun and they fly good. Mine is on the third engine.

I like the PTS P-51D a lot, and I learned to fly with it in record time, thanks in part to G3.

That said, the PTS does need some initial work as posted. Not a lot, but it does need it before you fly.

The PTS will also end up a pile of balsa if you do not get some help both setting it up and starting out with it.

Invest the time and money in a club, and if possible a good simulator as well.

I know, you're thinking, too expensive....

Get that out of your mind. The latter two items will save you their prices over and over again.

Don't make the mistakes that most of us former newbies once made.

You'll be kicking yourself for not listening to this later, OR you'll get mad and give up.

Once your hooked though, a club and a sim will be the best things you've done to start out.

Ok, well if it needs some work then do you think maybe the Nexstar would be better? I also will definatly be joining a club. I would like to see some planes flying also, if I can go to the field at the right time.

My wife has a Hanger 9 P-51 PTS as I said before. It did not require additional work to put it together or make flight worthy and it's been flying 9 months. The Nexstar is a good choice but if you really want the P-51 then don't be concerned. Like I said before not only will the plane help you advance your skills, it comes with a flight sim.

Our club has a Nexstar that we use to give people intro flights with and my wife has also flown it. She prefers the P-51 PTS. Nexstar or P-51 PTS, pick the one you like, get an instructor and have some fun.

I meant this in reply to MT RC.

I recommend you buying the Hobbyzone Super Cub. That plane flys really great and and very easy to fly. With the A.C.T (Anti Crash technology), it can prevent crashes and it can switched off with the 3 channel Transmitter. Once you turn of A.C.T, you can perform loops, and other aerobatics (rolls, i don't think so). It is a very recommened beginner plane.

http://www.hobbyzone.com/rc_planes_h..._super_cub.htm