Hello Flyer's,

My son and I are preparing to buy our first plane, but have no idea where to start. We only have limited experience flying the very low end planes and helis like airhogs, havoc heli. and that new dragon fly you can buy at a local Walmart. We are interested in a professional RC plane the uses fuel and can be modified to fly on both land and water. We only have a budget of about $350 to spend, but want to get the best flying experience for the money. We need some suggestions from all you pros out there that could recommend types of planes, models, and general tips to help us get started. Thanks in advance.

Jimmy & Quinn

This is a great starter RTF plane . [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCXF4**&P=0]Traner 259.00[/link]

Spend the money and join the AMA , you`ll need it to fly at most feilds.

Get intouch with a local club and hook up with an insructor.
Good luck

There are many good trainers out there and I will post a link a list to some in a moment. Be advised that the chances of using the FIRST one long enough to put it on floats is slim but possible. I'd suggest concentrating on learning to fly off a proper field first and then move on most likely with the second plane. Water flying adds many complications.

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

And I also suggest joining a local club for excellent training and improving the lifespan of your plane and your enjoyment of the hobby. Plug your zip code into this link for clubs near you: http://www.modelaircraft.org/clubsearch.aspx

Good luck

Thanks for the links and advice....Very Helpful indeed!!!

ALSO what is a good radio to start with and what is "Glow Powered"???

alpa 40 rtf by hanger 9 great

check RCKens thread at the top of the beginners forum,there is a bunch of trainers to look at there all pretty good,then go to http://www.modelaircraft.org/ the AMA site where you can join the membership provides insurance as well as a magazine.

most clubs require some sort of insurance and depending on your sons age his membership should be fairly inexpensive,the AMA also has a club locator, to find one in your area.
before you purchase a trainer check out the local club and see what they are using radio brand and the availability of instruction some clubs have formal rules for instructors some are more flexable you just show up and someone who is willing helps out,best to check out as many as you can to see which one fits your style and what you want to pursue such as scale warbirds,pattern flying,competition or just lesurly putting around the sky whatever interests you and your son.

something to invest in as well would be a simulator for the computer, its a invaluable training aid there are several, the one I have is the realflight G-3.5 there's now a G-4 which is the newest version of that brand.

I will second the Tower trainer recomendation at the $250 level. That leaves money for some field equipment, AMA dues and any local club membership fees

That would actually be an Alpha 40 by Hangar 9.
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=HAN2475
It is a good plane and so is the Tower Trainer 40 mentioned earlier.

the 2 basic methods of powering most trainers is glow fuel,a mixture of alcohol,oil,and nitromethane hence the term GLOW POWER.
the other is electric powered, models using rechargable batterys the same as the airhoggs toys just a bit larger and more expensive.
there's also gasoline engines but there mainly for much larger aircraft.

My brother and nephew(12yrs old) no instructer trained with hoobico nexterstars which you can get from tower hobbies (379.00), these plane were impresive. I myself learned on a .40 size bigstik which I would not recommend it was faster than i thought for learning. One of the biggest things I learned the hard way is to pay close attention to equiptment checks before and between flights. First ever flight went out with experienced pilot he took it off for me plane flew great gave the controls to me I got nervous gave the controler back did 2 more turns heard big clunk motor died and hanging from throttle control rod. I'm 3 years into this now still learnig everyday good luck its a fun sport to do with the family my father,brother,nephew,and I fly just about every weekend morning in the summer, winter gets to be long up her gives you time to build or rebuild.

Jimmy,

You have started in the right way, and that is by seeking advice from experienced modelers. I'm sure you will find that RC fliers will help you any way that they can. I have helped more than a few learn to fly RC and here are some words of advice:

Get a good, solid trainer and ask for help at the local flying field setting it up. The models in the links above are fine. If you want to learn to build as well, you cannot beat a Sig Kadet. Make sure that the control surface travels, directions, and the aircraft center of gravity (balance point) are correct (per the plans).

A four channel radio from Airtronics, JR or any other name brand will do fine. It is not necessary to buy an expensive programmable radio at this phase. It is wise to buy a radio that will work in trainer mode with the club flight instructor. This way you can avoid handing the radio back and forth.

Ask for help running your engine to avoid frustration. A few pointers from an experienced person will do. (glow powered refers to an internal combustion model engine that runs on nitro-methane fuel available at your local hobby store).

A simulator is a great way to learn the basics without risking an aircraft. I believe that for some modelers they will pay for themselves by avoiding expensive crashes.

Learn the basics of aerodynamics, propulsion, and electronics. The internet is your friend here.

Don't get in a hurry. Moving too quickly will only cost you. Moving forward from here without some flight instruction will cause you to crash for sure. I have seen people new to the hobby arrive with the attitude "I'm a pilot and an engineer, I don't need any help". They either learn right away that they are wrong or fail.

Hope this helps,

Mitch

BEFORE YOU BUY ANYTHING!!!

Do as bruce88123 said and plug your zip code into this link for clubs near you: http://www.modelaircraft.org/clubsearch.aspx

Join a club and ask a lot of questions from the instructors there. Many clubs have trainers that they will let you fly. You may have to join the club but you will learn a lot more in the long run. This will save you money too because they will not only teach you how to fly but how to tune, safety, etc.

Good luck and welcome to the hobby!

I learned off of a Tower Hobbies .40 trainer. For the money I dont think that you will find a better trainer. It is inexpensive and pretty tough. Mine survived being transported around when I was in college...I must have finally damaged the wing this past year as the wing folded on me in flight Despite the amount of dihedral in the wing the plane is still maneuverable enough to have fun with it after you get some hours in and some confidence. I would always get some laughs as my Tower Hobbies trainer was flying inverted around the airfield. Good luck and have fun!!

I just did a search on Sig Kadet and came across this link: [link]http://www.his.com/~rb/rob/senior.htm[/link]

The aircraft is a perfect example of a good trainer. The article is a good read for some basic info if nothing else.

Removed by HC. Somewhere i hit a wrong key prior to doing my thing!!!!!![sm=red_smile.gif]

Radio? Any of the major brands will do well: JR, Hitec, Airtronics, Futaba. As stated above you don't need the fancy computer radio however all computer radios are not so fancy anymore. The Hobby Shop owner will tell you differently in that he thinks everyone needs a 10 channel JR and a turbine to get started.

One caution: Futaba along with their secondary Tower radios have several different Buddy-Cord/radios as they started several years ago configuring transmitters for computers. I know of at least 3 different cords. Unless, as previously advised, if you don't check around with your local club/instructor group/s, you may well come up short. In addition some LHS will sell you a computer cord and tell you that it will work your airplane. NAY not so. Just went through that with one of my current students. Funny thing it worked an older radio but not his new radio, which he uses. [:-]
Personally, I go JR, Hitec or Airtronics.

"Glow Powered" refers to a type of 2 or 4 stroke wet engine that uses a GLOW PLUG for ignition. The fuel is composed of methyl alcohol and an oil, either synthetic, high grade castor Oil or a combination of syn. and castor. In the USA the fuel usually contains some of an oxidizer, usually nitro methane. Nitro Methane is generally not used in other countries due to the high cost. Actually if you fly international competition referred to as FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale) you are limited to 80% methanol and 20% castor oil fuel.
Glow Plugs have a small wire coil which is heated by a battery of some 1.5 volts. 1.2 works, 2 will burn out most, but not all. The
wire coil has some platinum which in conjunction with methanol, creates heat. The battery heating and the reaction of platinum and methanol keeps the plug hot between explosions. Lower priced plugs usually have less platinum. They tend to go bad earlier than the higher platinum content plugs. Some plugs are called "cold", heavier wire, for higher nitro fuels. Smaller wire plugs are generally considered "hot" for low nitro fuels. You probably cannot tell the diff. by eyeball.

"Glow Powered" refers to the IGNITION source, and NOT the fuel mixture.

I apologize for so much detail, however as one that was modeling when Ray Arden invented the Glow Plug, I kind of wonder where the name "nitro powered", "glow powered means the fuel," and such unlearned statements come from. [sm=confused.gif] Guess it has to be like kid's text message language.

BTW, most any of the High Wing Trainers will do a good job. After you become an accomplished pilot, hang some floats on it and it will still provide you with many flights getting the hang of off-water flight. For me all I care to do with ROW is take-off and land. that's the fun of it.

Best of luck in your new venture.

Well I guess eveyone gave the advice, let me just say good luck
and happy flying.

"Glow powered" refers to the fact that engine starts by making the "plug" glow by applying voltage. This is as opposed to "spark"ignition like in your car or "Diesel" which uses no plug. Diesles run as a result of high compression.(simplified but essentially correct) "Glow" engines use a fuel consisting of Methanol and oil with USUALLY about 10-15% Nitro-Methane. More or less Nitro is fine but 10-15% is typical.

Best radio? If you choose an RTF (Ready To Fly) like suggested above the plane will come with a nice "Starter" radio pre-installed and ready to go after charging and safety checks.
If you choose an ARF (Almost Ready to Fly) or build a kit then you will need to provide a radio system. If you are going to be serious and continue in this hobby I'd recommend a 6 or 7 channel radio as you will quickly outgrow anything less if a typical pilot. One point is to find out what brand is used by the instructors at your new club (Yep, don't forget that) and see that you can "Buddy" up to their radios for training. Going the ARF way is a bit more expensive and you would also need to provide an engine which is included in an RTF. With your stated budjet I'd say a RTF is the way to go.

You guys are great and my son and I truly appreciate all the advice and the time you took in finding links, suggesting trainers and the great explanations provided. I cant wait to become a part of this friendly and exciting community.

Thanks Again

Where in ga.?I live in Elberton Ga. thats north east.
Falcon

I'm not sure where Lithonia is, but I fly in Griffin. The club name is Flying Griffins. You are welcome to come there. You'll get all the help you need...and then some

Bruce what is this??? With your stated budjet I'd say a RTF is the way to go.

In Tennessee we call that a typo.

Give me a break, one mistake in 9000+ posts? I think I deserve ONE.[sm=bananahead.gif]

Forget it? Noway ! , we`ve been waiting 9000 post for it. lol

Call me "old school",BUT its winter, why a arf? or a rtf theres plenty of time before great weather gets here, father an son project build a plane. What a original idea. There are so many out there that fly an build easy. Most kits are cut with a cnc or lazor. no more die smashed parts, the parts fit great. the covering is easy. Not only will they bond , but they will learn a few things along the way. just my thoughts. ill offer any help i can, not just take , as will others that build.
Falcon