Hello guys,

I want to get into rc airplanes, and I'm a total noob.
I do have old rc airplane from global hobby called freestyle 46 ([link]http://www.rcuniverse.com/product_guide/kitprofile.cfm?kit_id=1203[/link]),
and also do have rx and tx but no servos and no engine.

Is this airplane out of the question for a beginner to learn on? As I understand, it's underpowered with 46 and most poeple put 60+ engines.
Should I look for another smaller airplane (perhaps a electric)?
Plz tell me what you guys think. Thank you!

Best regards,

Alex

G'day Alex,
If you get a freestyle, make sure you have a plastic bag & a camera with you, bag for the bits that are left after the crash, & camera to post the pix of the damage on here.
I'm sure you don't want to hear that, but it's true, none the less.
You need to check out the beginners forum about the best trainer/ engine/ radio combination, Here, http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_5329989/tm.htm
Then go & find a club, near you & talk to the guys at that club, they will be glad to help you.

The Freestyle is a good 3D plane but it is definately NOT a trainer.

I've put together a list of planes that make good trainers and second planes. All of them on the list are proven planes that are well suited for successfully letting students learn to fly, or advance to a second plane. Check out the list here
[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4537845/tm.htm] Looking for a trainer- what's available. (Updated 1-19-07) [/link]

Hope this helps

Ken

That Global Freestyle is too aerobatic to make a good starter plane. That's something you'd only want to fly after mastering a couple of more gently-flying planes first.

eHobbies.com has a terrific sale price right now on various Thunder Tiger trainer supercombos, with the airframe, engine, and radio system all pre-installed and ready-to-fly. You can buy the Pegasus .40 super combo with GP-42 engine and Hitec Laser 4 radio system for $219.99, or the Tiger Trainer .60 super combo with GP-61 engine and Airtronics VG400 radio system for $279.99:

http://www.ehobbies.com/ttr4556-f12.html

http://www.ehobbies.com/ttr4503-f12.html

Thunder Tiger also sells their Side Kick flight accessories pack for $29.99 that includes all of the basics to get your new glow trainer in the air except fuel:

http://www.ehobbies.com/ttr3002.html

You should get yourself a trainer package and and start out with something more suitable to learn on. You'll be flying your Freestyle in a season or two.

Hello, thank you all for replies. I'll save freestyle for later and start with an easier airplane. And thanks for pointing out lists and specific models. It always helps newbies when you "feed them" the info.
Since I'll be getting another airplane, would you guys recommend a good electric to learn on? Preferably with full functioning controls (ailerons, elevators, and rudder). I've checked out some, but most electrics are either park flyers (w/o full funtions) or some other's with full functions do not seem right for a beginner. I know people here on the forums been recommening Typhoon from Hobby Zone ([link]http://www.hobbyzone.com/rc_planes_parkzone_typhoon.htm[/link]), so I'll keep this as an option. But are there any more? It does not have to be RTF. How about foamies? They are electric, can have full functions, and relatively cheap, although I guess it's different from learning on trainers.
So please share what you guys think. Thank you.

Best regards,

Alex

Actually, Alex, you'll find the larger glow-powered planes to be easier to learn on. They have more control authority and they are less succeptable to being tossed around by the wind. The Pegusus .40 super combo that I mentioned (as well as the Tiger Trainer .60 super combo) even include trainer ports on the back of the radio so you can hook up a "buddy box" system to fly with a more experienced pilot. They're the ideal aircraft for learning to fly.

If you want to buy a parkflyer, there are quite a few good ones available. In the RTF category, you should look at the Parkzone Slo-V (not the Typhoon), the Hobbyzone Super Cub, the Park Flyer RC BeginAir, the Hobbico Flyzone Ventura/Mini Ventura, or the Hobbico Flyzone Sky Pilot. In the ARF category, you'll find the GWS Slow Stick highly recommended by quite a few experienced pilots.

The Pegusus super combo at $219.99 is as inexpensive as the Parkzone Typhoon that someone else recommended. The Typhoon is designed more for aerobatics training for experienced pilots and would not be a good first plane. The Parkzone Slo-V, on the other hand, is a great first airplane and can actually be flown in a large gym when the wind and rain prevent you from flying outdoors.

The new Hobbico Electristar Select RTF is an awfully nice full-sized electric trainer in a Ready-to-Fly package, but it's not quite ready to fly. It comes with a 63" wingspan .40-sized airframe with a brushless outrunner motor and speed controller preinstalled. It also comes with a nice 4-channel Futaba computer radio system pre-installed. Tower Hobbies sells the Electristar RTF for $349.99, but you'll need to buy a pair of $25 batteries and a $50 charger to actually fly the thing. At $450 for the turn-key package, it's not cheap, but it's definitely done right.

You could put your own trainer package together if you don't mind a little bit of extra assembly. There are plenty of great airframes available in the $69 to $79 price range like the Hangar 9 Solo Star, the Tower Hobbies Trainer .40 MkII, the Seagull Arising Star, the World Models Sky Raider Mach I, and the VMar Discovery. You could add a good $59 2-stroke glow engine like the SK .50, the Thunder Tiger GP-42, the O.S. .40 LA, the GMS .40, the Super Tigre GS-40 ($49), or the Magnum XLS .46A. To finish it up just purchase a nice 6-channel computer radio like the Airtronics VG6000 or JR Sport SX600 system complete with receiver, NiCds, charger, servos, and power switch. Not only will you have a great training package, but you can start out with a good computer radio that you can use to fly your more advanced planes with later as well as your trainer.

I bought a Hobbyzone Aerobird Challenger when I first wanted to learn how to fly, but mostly I just went out to the park and kept crashing it into the ground. It wasn't until I learned to fly my Nexstar glow trainer that I was able to go back to the Aerobird and fly it successfully as well. I found my glow trainer to be much easier to learn with, and once I became proficient at flying it, I found electric parkflyers were also much easier to handle.

Hands down the best value for a quality trainer is the Thunder Tiger Pegasus Super Combo that I mentioned in my first reply. You have an awful lot of choices available to you, but the Pegasus is what I'd buy if I need a primary trainer to learn on all over again. Good luck and good shopping!

Thank you for replying again. I really appreicate the detailed advice on the choice of trainers and we'll consider Pegasus super combo. The price seems very good for a fully packaged, capable glow trainer. But like you suggested I might put together my own "trainer package" since I already have a radio and some gears. Once again, thank you for great help!!

Best regards,

Alex

All of my stuff is glow powered. I don't know much about electrics but there are several that look pretty good.

Hobbico has an ARF version of the Superstar EP. It has a brushed motor and 48" wing span.
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXGVZ3&P=SM

I know SIG has an electric version of one of their Kadet trainers. I think it is an ARF. www.sigmfg.com

Hobby-Lobby (not the craft store) has an electric Telemaster. One of our club members has this plane and it flies very well.

Hi, I apologize for late response.
Hobbico Superstar is one of the planes I'm thinking of. But thank you for pointing out the other two.
I'm not in rush to get into airplanes so I'll give some thoughts on all the models mentioned above + glow powered trainers.

Best regards,

Alex