Well christmas is getting close and I want a real plane instead of some cheap toy. I was hoping to get some good suggestions on here. What I want is a good trainer plane that looks good and performs well thats RTF and cost at most $250 US. I dont know where to start for finding a plane thats why im comming on here. I have flight sims and all that ive played with and am ready to get a decent plane so please help me out.

I've put together a list of good first and second planes of all types (kit, ARF, and RTF). Take a look at it and see if anything strikes your fancy!!

[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4537845/tm.htm] Looking for a trainer, what's available. (Updated 10-3-06) [/link]

Ken

Flight sims are great for some things but won't make you ready to "go it alone". Taxing and take offs on sims are super easy, not the same at all on a grass runway that is trying to change the direction of your plane every few seconds. Please find a nearby RC club annd get out there to visit them. You will learn more in 1 hour with an experienced flyer than with 6 months of flight sim flying. [8D]

nothing beats real time experience, but I have to add the sim has done wonders for my flying and as long as you use the rules of flying for sim practice you will reap many benefits from the practice time .
for 250.$$ you are just going to get a basic plane like the tower trainer. the necessary accessorys will cost a bit more I would think.

Bbrown, I just finished going through what you are starting now. IMO I think you have chosen a great place to ask this question. Ken and all the guys here are going to give you some great advice, you have to make the decision whether or not to follow it.

First and foremost you will be reccomended to find a club in your area and check out R/C flying first hand if you haven't alreday done so. This will prove to be a great first step, and may I also reccomend calling or E-mailing the training coordinator at that facility so you can schedule a day to check it out when they are there and can explain what you are seeing. You can also ask the training coordinator if they have a dedicated club aircraft to train you with or if you will need your own.

Second off it will be reccomended that you join the AMA, and this will probably be a requirement of the club you choose before you start your training. I would personally reccomend the 3 month trial membership that way you can train a little and if you don't like it
(which I can't see happening but you never know) you don't waste a whole year membership

Now it will be the time for the all important question, which plane for me? Well by this time you may have already bought a plane and have it ready to fly, I would look very closely at RCkens list all the trainers have one thing in common, and that is they are purpose built to train a new pilot, They are gentle flyers and when powered right are slow enough to give you time to react before the situation gets out of control. Another reason for an instructor is to teach you how to fly a plane safely and how to control the plane if a sticky situation does arise. I personally didn't like the looks of the basic training planes but after flying both of mine I can fully understand why they are made. Both my Sig Senior and PT-40 fly very well with minimal input and slow enough for me to feel comfortable flying them, what I mean is that I feel in control of the plane, not like I am fighting with it to get it to do what I want. The Tower Hobbies trainer looks very nice I have seen it fly and looked closely at it. while it may have the look of a 2x4 with wings as I have heard it referred to,in ready to fly trim it is as just as good of a plane as many higher dollar models. it comes with good equipment that you can use on you second or third plane if you so choose to. I have personally found that the looks of the trainer are not very important
as long as it trains you to fly.

Next off you will need some support equipment
1. Fuel
2. Some way to get fuel from the bottle to the tank. A hand pump or squeeze jug works great
3. A glow plug igniter. There are many on the market I reccomend an inexpensive rechargable one
4. a starting device. Chicken stick or electric starter, your budget dictates this
5. Some hand tools. Screw drivers, pliers, allen wrenches, and an adjustable wrench for tightening the prop, a glow plug wrench is
also nice to have.
6. A spare prop and glow plug.

Then you can have a great time. I was into R/C car racing for 20+ years and I haven't had as much fun at the track as I have had at the flying field in a long time.

If I forgot anything some one else will add it.

So good luck and I hope evrything goes as great for you as it did for me.

The info is nice and I will fallow it. As for the clubs their are no local clubs around and the closest hobby shop is 2 hours away. Yea it sucks. I figure it would be safer to fly a electric for now instead of gas. My flying area will be my neighbors 100+acers of field wich is about 1 foot high soft grass cept for the 300 yard long driveway to his RV barn. I know 250 isnt much to start on but im budget cut right now my dad got hurt on job and where back a year of income and are waiting on a settlement wich finishes up early next year for about 200k for lost income. So for now Im stuck with this. I know trainers arent the pretiest rose of all but i still like looks but i figure ill prob just have to get over that. Now I dont know waht all info would be good for what i want or such but keep talking with me and i can answer all questions for that would assist you in assisting me if that makes sense. This is my first real attempt into planes and not trucks. I dont mind if the plane is slow or not i just want a stable flying trainer that would be great for a half experianced begginer like myself. I have looked at kens list but i want a little more info before i try and make a choice.

Bbrown, I don't know if you went on the AMA website to search for clubs but here is a link to the charter club finder[link]http://www.modelaircraft.org/clubsearch.aspx[/link]

Also if you really can't find a club try to search for someone local who has experience and can help you learn to fly. I realize the hobby shop is a very far ride but it might be very helpful if you take that ride and ask them if they know someone closer to you who might be willing to help you.

I found a nice RTF electric trainer in your price range very similar to the trainers that I am flying right now. I have no experience with electric but here is a link to it. [link]http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJKU3**&P=0[/link]

Good luck and I hope everything works out for you.

Nice find on that trainer i like it ill have to keep looking myself also just to get some options but ill look into that one it looks good. As for clubs i searched the site and their is nothing. Next time i have a chance like at a public library or such ill try to look more into club info somewhere where they might know something. But thank you for the help so far. And im open to more sugestions on planes.

Ok i know i said 250 and electric but i found this [link=http://www.towerhobbies.com/products/hobbico/hcaa60m_n.html]trainer[/link] with a payment plan wich makes it much easier. As for fuel I need a site i can buy it from cheep but quality. If anyone knows one let me know and ill be all set.

Bbrown, Tower hobbies carries all the supplies necassary to complete and fly that plane. fuel ect.

Also look at the tower hobbies trainer, it's a few dollars cheaper.

im not worried bout there trainer that one is perfect. I dont want to buy fuel from tower as they only sell 20% in 4 gallon bottles for 100+ I only want to buy a gallon at a time of 20-30%.

In a trainer, I would be looking at more in the way of 5-10%. It's much less expensive and won't let the engine rev as high. Another advantage of the lower nitro content is that it's much easier to get a good needle setting than it is with the 20 or 30% like you are looking at.

ok then ill take that advice i guess i can go with 10% or so. im just hoping my parents will get the thing i already got a flying area that is perfect picked out. And I finaly found a club near me about a hour away that has 100+ members and several instructors so I can learn to fly now so thak you all for the help.

im thinking of getting an electric p51 d plane for christmas. it will be my first rc plane. what does anyone think about it???

If you found a gas/glow trainer that you like, then go with it. If you want to look at electric RTFs, here are a few I recommend:

READY TO FLY STARTER PLANES - Electric Parkflyers
No building - they practically fly right out of the box. These also
glide well so you can thermal soar many of them with them under the right conditions.
They are in no particular order.


T-Hawk - RTF - Excellent Value - $150-170
This company is really putting together some outstanding
packages. I have flown the T-Hawk. Excellent first plane.
Get the Extreme value package. It comes with an extra wing,
tail and battery. This plane stands up to hard landings
Can be flown on 27 MHz or 72 MHz
http://www.readytoflyfun.com/thawk3chrtf.html
T-Hawk - Without Radio - add your radio and receiver
http://www.readytoflyfun.com/wittran.html
T-Hawk Buddy Box 72 MHz trainer system - $279
This is really unique!
http://www.readytoflyfun.com/t72rtfpatrpa.html
T-Hawk Discussion Thread
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...ighlight=THawk
Videos
http://www.readytoflyfun.com/thawkvideos.html

Multiplex Magister - RTF - $299
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXGZV3&P=ML
This plane is much larger than the others
Close to a .40 glow trainer in size
Reviews
http://www.smoothair.ca/reviews/Magister/magister.htm
http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...article_id=519


Easy Star - RTF - $180
I have flown the Easy Star - Great plane for new flyers!
Super tough foam. Good parkflyer and a good glider
In the US the RTF package comes with a 72 MHz radio
system that can be used to fly other planes
http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/240025.asp
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXFXV0&P=ML
Easy Star - ARF - Add you own radio gear
http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/240009.asp
Build Thread
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=350408
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=459096
Videos
http://plawner.org/video/easygo.wmv
http://plawner.org/video/easystar.wmv
Mods, upgrades and more
http://www.mpx-easystar.de/
Add Ailerons - Start at post 195
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...&page=13&pp=15
Travel Box
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...5&goto=newpost


HobbyZone Super Cub - $159
This is the only semi-scale plane on my list. I have not flown this
one but the flood of excellent reports leads me to recommend
it to new flyers. If you REALLY need a plane that looks like
something people would be in, this is the one I will recommend.
It takes the same Xport accesories as other HobbyZone and ParkZone
planes so you can drop bombs, parachutes and attach other accesories
to extend your fun. There has a steerable tail wheel so
you can effectively taxi the plane. Great for ROG launches.
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=HBZ7100
Photos and Videos
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=HBZ7100
Other Excellent Video - Hi res for high speed connect users
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...25#post6040744
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showa...mentid=1051938
manual
http://www.horizonhobby.com/ProdInfo...ualCropped.pdf
Discussions on the Forums
http://forums.radiocontrolzone.com/s...21#post2130521
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...44#post6385310
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=550899


Aerobird Challenger - RTF Electric - $110 -
I started on an Aerobird RTF. I have over 600 flights on my Aerobirds. I
also thermal and slope soar this plane. Flies well and stands up to hard
landings. Their add on fun accessories for night flying, air to air combat
and drop module add to the fun! The combat module makes a great lost
plane locator, even if you don't plan to fly combat. Great keep in the car
plane - take off the wing and it goes back in the box fully assembled.
Most can't do that!
http://www.hobbyzone.com/rc_planes_h...challenger.htm
Review
http://www.hobbyzonesports.com/Disco...ID=1289#Page01
Discussion Thread
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147621
Video
http://www.parkflyers.com/html/aerobird_video.html
http://www.hobbyzone.com/rc_videos/a...nger_loops.wmv

Ill keep with my decision for the superstar select MkII .40 up there I found. It looks realy good comes with everything including the futaba radio system its got color coded wiring and tubing for easier final assebmly and is prebuild just hook up connections and all and fly wich makes it easy for me lol. But thinks for the list of electrics.

I am sure you will be very successful with your new plane. Good luck!

I hope so last plane i had was a chap foamie and it fallowed a military heli to its death somewhere outa sight didnt recover anything from it. If this goes down i dunno what ill do but since i found a club ill get some noob experiance from a instructor down.