My wife and kids got me a plane for Christmas, pictures are on my profile. Since the plane was already bought by my beloved family, please don't tell me it's the wrong one.

I already put it together and have been playing around with the simulator. My neighbor and I are going to start flying together, he is pretty new too, I believe.

I believe there is a flying club in Tyngsboro, MA. If anybody here belongs or knows about it, shoot me an email.

Thanks for your help and advice!!!!! This looks like a lot of fun.

Matt

Welcome to the fourms & this wonderful hobby (addiction)
Seek out an experienced modeler that can help make sure you get the most out of your trainer
your wife's choice was a good one, next thing you know you will want most everything that comes down the pike(I did) good luck let us know if we can help lots of knowledgeable people on these fourms

Welcome to RCU, and the greatest hobby in the world!!!!

There is nothing at all with that plane. Great choice for a trainer. And with you're looking for a club to learn to fly at you have covered all the basics to ensure successfully learning to fly. Please don't hesitate to ask any questions you may have here in this forum. And by all means keep us posted on your progress!!!!

Ken

You will find all the information you need on these forums and more!! Trainers are the best plane to learn on hence the name so you'll be fine mate. Goodluck and happy flying

Great choice of airplane.

Welcome to your new addiciton.

What a wonderful family you have!!!

You have either an Alpha 40. I've instructed several students with these planes and it will do you well.
Clubs within 25 miles of Tyngsboro:
SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE FLYING EAGLES
5.62 miles DAVID SURWELL 24 NORWICH RD
NASHUA NH 03062-2005
Phone: 603-888-3633
Url: www.snhflyingeagles.org

GRANITE STATE QUIET FLYERS
6.57 miles MAURICE THERIAULT 8 BELLE AIRE AVE
NASHUA NH 03060-3602
Phone: 603/882-6351

495TH RC SQUADRON INC*
11.03 miles JOHN MORLEY PO BOX 426
TEWKSBURY MA 01876
Phone: 978-851-8895
Email: Email
Url: www.495thsquadron.org

SOUTHERN NH RC CLUB
12.42 miles JOHN HAYES 17 MIKE LN
LITCHFIELD NH 03052-1066
Phone: 603.424.7125
Url: www.snhrcc.org

MERRIMACK VALLEY AIR-ISTOCRATS
12.73 miles JAMES FIORELLO 4 DUSTON DR
METHUEN MA 01844-4606
Phone: 978/687-0024

MASSACHUSETTS MODEL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION
13.26 miles THOMAS BOUTUREIRA 78 LOVEJOY RD
ANDOVER MA 01810
Phone: 978.470.1733

NEW HAMPSHIRE FLYING MISFITS
14.25 miles MERCHON COTTRELL 56 JESSICA DRIVE
MERIMAC NH 03054
Phone: 603-424.2835
Url: www.nhflyingmisfits.org

HIDDEN BROOK RADIO CONTROL
15.05 miles JAMES GILLIATT 533 LEXINGTON RD
CONCORD MA 01742-3714
Phone: 978.369.9796

THE NH FLYING TIGERS RC CLUB
16.06 miles STEVE BLACK PO BOX 99
DERRY NH 03038
Phone: 603.661.5537
Url: www.newhampshireflyingtigers.org

CROWE ISLAND RADIO CONTROL
16.60 miles DONALD WEAVER 6 DEWEY ST
MAYNARD MA 01754-2711
Phone: 978-897-9591

BURLINGTON RC FLIERS
18.16 miles JOHN HATFIELD 1 POTTER POND
LEXINGTON MA 02421
Phone: 781-862-6349
Url: www.burlington-rc.com

QUINAPOXIT MODEL FLYING CLUB
20.12 miles ROBERT PERREAULT 65 WACHUSETT ST
LEOMINSTER MA 01453
Phone: 978-537-0850
Url: www.qmfc.org

MIDDLESEX COUNTY R-C FLIERS*
21.07 miles ERASMO CAPOBIANCO 28 GRIFFEN DR
WAKEFIELD MA 01880-1443
Phone: 781-944-6056
Url: www.mcrcf.org

CHARLES RIVER RCERS
22.63 miles JOHN NILSSON 511B RIDGEFIELD CIR
CLINTON MA 01510-1444
Phone: 978-368-7136
Url: www.charlesriverrc.org

NORTHEAST R/C MODEL CLUB
23.66 miles GEORGE DENAULT PO BOX 12
MERRIMAC MA 01860
Phone: 978-346-9611


Additional clubs within 25 miles of Westford:
HIDDEN BROOK RADIO CONTROL
9.44 miles JAMES GILLIATT 533 LEXINGTON RD
CONCORD MA 01742-3714
Phone: 978.369.9796

SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE FLYING EAGLES
10.32 miles DAVID SURWELL 24 NORWICH RD
NASHUA NH 03062-2005
Phone: 603-888-3633
Url: www.snhflyingeagles.org

CROWE ISLAND RADIO CONTROL
10.42 miles DONALD WEAVER 6 DEWEY ST
MAYNARD MA 01754-2711
Phone: 978-897-9591

495TH RC SQUADRON INC*
11.23 miles JOHN MORLEY PO BOX 426
TEWKSBURY MA 01876
Phone: 978-851-8895
Url: www.495thsquadron.org

GRANITE STATE QUIET FLYERS
12.16 miles MAURICE THERIAULT 8 BELLE AIRE AVE
NASHUA NH 03060-3602
Phone: 603/882-6351

BURLINGTON RC FLIERS
14.24 miles JOHN HATFIELD 1 POTTER POND
LEXINGTON MA 02421
Phone: 781-862-6349
Url: www.burlington-rc.com

MASSACHUSETTS MODEL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION
15.15 miles THOMAS BOUTUREIRA 78 LOVEJOY RD
ANDOVER MA 01810
Phone: 978.470.1733

QUINAPOXIT MODEL FLYING CLUB
16.69 miles ROBERT PERREAULT 65 WACHUSETT ST
LEOMINSTER MA 01453
Phone: 978-537-0850
Url: www.qmfc.org

MERRIMACK VALLEY AIR-ISTOCRATS
16.70 miles JAMES FIORELLO 4 DUSTON DR
METHUEN MA 01844-4606
Phone: 978/687-0024

CHARLES RIVER RCERS
17.31 miles JOHN NILSSON 511B RIDGEFIELD CIR
CLINTON MA 01510-1444
Phone: 978-368-7136
Url: www.charlesriverrc.org

SOUTHERN NH RC CLUB
18.16 miles JOHN HAYES 17 MIKE LN
LITCHFIELD NH 03052-1066
Phone: 603.424.7125
Url: www.snhrcc.org

MIDDLESEX COUNTY R-C FLIERS*
19.60 miles ERASMO CAPOBIANCO 28 GRIFFEN DR
WAKEFIELD MA 01880-1443
Phone: 781-944-6056
Url: www.mcrcf.org

NEW HAMPSHIRE FLYING MISFITS
19.75 miles MERCHON COTTRELL 56 JESSICA DRIVE
MERIMAC NH 03054
Phone: 603-424.2835
Url: www.nhflyingmisfits.org

THE NH FLYING TIGERS RC CLUB
22.23 miles STEVE BLACK PO BOX 99
DERRY NH 03038
Phone: 603.661.5537
Url: www.newhampshireflyingtigers.org

NEW ENGLAND WAKEFIELD GROUP
23.07 miles STANLEY COLSON 47 SAMMET ST
EVERETT MA 02149-3139
Phone: 617/389-3313
Url: www.newg.info

CENTRAL MA R/C MODELERS INC*
24.09 miles DAVID WILSON 28 W HILL DR
WESTMINSTER MA 01473-1142
Phone: 978-874-7943
Url: www.cmrcm.org

107TH R/C FLYERS INC
24.92 miles GEORGE BELLOFATTO 26 GENEVA ST
REVERE MA 02151
Phone: 781.286.6884

There will be some repetition.

Welcome Aboard!!!

Now that you have a plane, pick a club and find an instructor!
Both are very important!

The Club is where and the instructor is how.
For everyone's sake don't try to learn on your own... although it is possible, it is hard, demoralizing and expensive. [:'(]

A good instructor can save you time, money and lots of frustration!


Welcome to the world's finest addiction!

And, Pleeease put more rubber bands on that wing before you fly. At least 4 on each side, front to back and at least 3 diagonally on both sides. Good luck, great plane you got there. Nice wife and kids.

I got socks.

You got yourself and excellent trainer! The only problem I see (and it's not really a problem) is the prop. Take the 3 blade prop and chuck it. Switch to a 11x5 or 10x6 (the 11x5 would be a better choice in my opinion). Otherwise good luck & enjoy!

Thanks for all the advice and kind words, everyone. I definitely do not intend on flying this thing on my own. Joining a club and finding an instructor are #1 on my list.

I just put on a couple of rubber bands for the photo, I knew I needed more. I can't get it out of my basement with the wing on, so no chance of flying it as-is.

We have been very lucky with weather her in New England this year, but I doubt it will last. Most likely, I won't really get flying until spring, but I'll start going to club meetings and I'll definitely start frequenting this message board. The crash videos have already scared the crap out of me.

Thank you all,

Matt

The 3-blade is fine for the first flights. It will keep the plane from going too fast and will also help to slow it down for landing. It does break fairly easy so you need to get a spare. Do not use wood props while learning as they also break very easy. When you switch to 2-blade use Master Air Screw (MAS) initially as they are tough props too. eventually many change over to APC props for their efficiency and stiffness but they bugger up easily too so not advisable in the beginning IMO. I've been doing this 30 years off/on and still use MAS because I just like their appearance better.
BTW - when you change to 2-blade you will need to change spinners and most likely remove the flywheel for most brands of spinners to fit properly. Flywheel just pulls right off.

If you're up for the drive, I'm a member of the Burlington RC Flyers. Great field, great bunch of guys. Not many restrictions for flying distance as we're in the middle of nowhere. Give us a look if you are interested, or shoot me a PM for my email addy.

Good luck!

Apparently Ken's never tried "Indoor Body Surfing"

Yes, the Alpha is a great plane to start off with. As Bruce said, when the time comes you may want to (or need it) remove the flywheel on the front of the engine. It won't just "pull" off, but it can easily be tapped off with a socket, hammer and a vise.

Also, if you DO remove the flywheel, be sure to re-balance the plane (Removing that heavy flywheel will make the plane tail-heavy which will make it VERY hairy if not completely uncontrollable)

Welcome to RCU!

It pulls off if you pull it with a "claw hammer". OK, so I made it sound easier than it is, sue me.




BTW - I was kidding about the hammer. Sheeez, got to put in a disclaimer everywhere now.

I learnt on an Alpha this year and I still fly it today, it is a great plane and I really enjoy flying it, and I am sure you will too. One question have you got the surport equipment, you will need a glow plug starter, an engine starter, some fuel, and a way to get the fuel to the plane, you will also find in the future you will need spare glow plugs, and more, but this will be quite well into the future.

A 2 bladed prop and spinner will be needed, the MAS props are great and saved me alot of expense when I learnt to land. However I never removed the flywheel and the engine ran just great until I started to have problems with bad fuel.

just my 2 penith worth.

James