Hello everyone,

My 9 years old son wants to fly RC airplanes. I am happy to support him and have some questions.

I am thinking about joining a club because my knowledge of flying theory is very limited. I had a helicopter number of years ago but it is different from flying airplane.

Since I want to join a club, do I need to by a simulator for my son? I am asking because in a club he probably will have an instructor to help him.

If yes – what simulator would you recommend?
What trainer would you recommend?
I visited number of hobby shops here in Toronto and they recommend electric trainers because we can fly them anywhere. But if we join a club, is it OK for 9 years old to fly nitro trainer? I just don’t like electric. One I was thinking is SIG LT-40. Are there any RTF bundles?

Thanks in advance,
Igor

I learned on the PTS P-51 form hanger 9. Bought new (i bought mine used) it comes with everything you need (except field equipment) and a nice Sim. I think it sells for ~$400 new.

If you visit hange9 on the web you can find out more about this great plane!!!

Don't forget to contact the [link=http://www.maac.ca]Model Aeronautics Association of Canada[/link]. They can direct you to a club in your area. Luckily, you're in the Toronto area, and Maac is headquartered in Burlington. I think the Lt-40 is a great choice. Your son can join as a junior member with Maac with reduced fees, but I encourage Dad to join too. If your helping him, you might as well join too.

Jim

I prefer training some one on glow fuel than electric. Much quicker to get back in the air between flights and unless you want to spend lots of $$ on huge battery packs, glow fuel provides better power which is handy when it gets windy. Glow fuel traing isn't a problem for younger flyers if the instructor has some experience. [8D]

Interestingly enough, Sig now offers both electric and glow versions of a Ready-to-Fly LT-40:

http://www.sigmfg.com/cgi-bin/dpsmar..._20Trainers_01

Nine years old is a good age to start flight training, and a glow trainer should be no problem in a club setting with a flight instructor. Our local clubs will normally provide flight lessons for children eight years or older.

Any of the commercially available flight sims should work fine as a training aid. Real Flight G3.5, Aerofly Professional Deluxe, Reflex XTR, and FS One are all good products. The folks who developed Aerofly Professional Deluxe have a new product out called Easy Fly 2 that sells for $99.99 with radio adapter, or $129.99 with controller. From a pricing standpoint, it's pretty attractive. The graphics and physics are supposed to be straight from the more expensive APD, it simply offers a reduced number of aircraft and flying fields to choose from.

The simulator will help your son (and you) practice in between flight lessons. There are few things more annoying than waiting all week for "training night" at the club when you're learning to solo, and you end up with rain.

A Sig LT-40 Ready-to-Fly package and a good flight simulator should provide you and your son with many years of enjoyment.

I took my daughter to the flying field with me when she was very young about 5 or so,l always asked her if she wanted to learn how to fly she was more interested in playing in the dirt and looking for frogs than anything else. when she turned 7thru/8 she seemed to get more interest in flying I would ask her from time to time she finally told me she was ready to lern.we built a pt60 for her first plane and since she loves frogs the plane turned out yellow and green JOHN DEER colors.........backing up a little. I purchased a used g2 simm several years ago and she also would play on that, it helped a lot with her orentation.when she finally decided to learn, she told me that she didn’t want to learn to fly sooner because she was afraid she would crash and didn’t want to be embaresed.they are smarter and a lot more sensitive than we think sometimes. I told her I have crashed several times we all do eventually if you stay in this sport you are going to have mishaps regardless of the fault. I think the main thing is not to push them because we want them to get involved they will come around on their own. I have 5 children and always included them in almost everything I do, I think it made for a tighter bond and gives them structure and confidence.wheather they want to stay in this sport or not you will have that time with them and that to me is priceless. I hear people ask the question at what age would be good to start teaching flying, depending on the child and because of their attention span I would say about 8 or so. the smile on my daughters face was worth more to me than anything else when she soloed for the first time.