Hey don't depress me, I turn 30 in june and I don't think 36 is old.

I want to know how that evolution engine works out for you. Been thinking about getting one.

Im pretty sure if i get a trainer plane my dad will too. So i could use my dad's controller while the instrtor is using my controller while im doing the buddy box system and vice a verse for my dad. Im just wondering. Do the guys that help out people. Do they want there own controller connected or does it even matter? Me and my dad are checking out field tommorow. We heard about a good one that has about 200 people or so. So that will be a good thing. Like you said mr.flyer how i should buy some of my stuff at the field. If there is about 200 members theres a good chance someone is selling something.

Hi again Impulse,

If you have a matched set of radios, that is the best.

If you have only one and they have something that will work as a trainer box, that is just as good.

Our club keeps a dummy box and trainer cord, most futabas will use this box with no problem, but an exact match is preferred.

Just bring your controller, and with a club that size they will have some kind of program for training.

We only have about 30 members, and have two sets of boxes and cords and also two club planes to fly as trainer planes.

So if you show up with just some fuel and membership (which can be paid by the month) and a AMA card, your in and flying.

Our dues tripled to $90 bucks a year, but for that you get a paved runway, shade, and a clubhouse.

I think you will be very happy when you show up and see that people who fly, do so because that is where they want to be.

It brings out the best in most of us and is a real brotherhood (sisterhood more and more) you will feel very comfortable to be in.

Heres hoping for the best,
MR Flyer57

My first post on this site. The express how this humble beginner started.

A month ago I decided to look into RC flying, I went on the net and found a local field close to me. Found the Presidents phone number and gave him a call, from that point on it has been one awfully kool ride...

He said to come down and meet him and the guys and maybe have a try flying. My heart was already beating, he asked if I had bought any gear which I hadn't, he said that was a good start.

I went down and meet about 8-10 people and they were all very friendly, with lots of advice and as I take advice well I really appreciated it.

After a hour or so I was invited to have a go at flying, I was shown the TX and it's basic use and we practiced with power off. He then took up a another guys trainer after a few minutes I was given control, whoo I had flown heaps of flight sims for many years but to actually have something real respond to my every move was awesome. After a couple of circuits he brought the plane down. My mouth was dry and I was so of lost for words, a few of the guys said I did well for my first time. Anyway I spent the next few hours talking about what type of setup, and where to buy and what not to buy.

A week later everything was bought I went home charged up the TX&RX (I was dying to try it after a few hours but resisted until fully charged 24 hours later). I started to assemble the Boomerang ARF in the middle of our lounge room, my wife stayed away and I banned our dog. (Garage is full as we have just moved house).

I had it all built in a few night's, but I had to wait a week to give it ago. Early this Saturday I woke up to the clearest blue sky, it was warm but not hot, I finished off my field box and then got the engine going and went through the run in steps, I put six tanks through and it was great and loud for a set of units. (I was waiting for one of my neighbours to knock on the door, I know which one). That night I was so excited for my first fly on Sunday, everything was all setup and ready for packing into the car in the morning.

Sunday morning I got up and it was pissing down with rain, great I thought (I'm sure I used something else to describe it, but let's stick with great!)! Anyway I thought I'll go to the field and see if anybody was there, I got there and low and behold there were cars in the parking lot, and some had planes in the back. I meet the guys and for the first few hours we just watched it rain, we did the radio check during a break and had to wait till it stopped completely. A couple of the guys took there planes up during the short breaks but as a beginner with my instructor we had to wait. Finally at about 3pm the rain stopped and my instructor said let's go, so he walked me through the start-up procedure and the safety process and once he felt I know the basics we walked to the runway. By this time we were the only two there, he took off and re trimmed the plane from the earlier flight. He then asked if I was ready and gave me control, it didn't long for him take back control, he tells me it's normal. We a few more circuits I was getting better we did a loop and dropped the throttle and then increased. It was so much fun to be flying by own plane.

He did comment that I was doing well, so he landed and we walked to the plane, he then started to explain the take off process and which direction to fly towards. After a couple of example take offs he said your turn, to which I gulped a mouth full of air. No way I thought but here goes, so he read out instruction and I slowly taxied down the runway, a bit to the right, a bit more straighten up, full throttle, elevator down, elevator down and within a instance I was off the ground and relatively straight, he then took control as I relaxed. I was told that was good, we did this four or five times moving further away from the back of the plane so it was harder to see the plane going straight. He then landed.

We had time for another flight as the sky was clearing so I fuelled up and he took off, after a few more circuits he got me to fly slower and slower and told me to fly straight down the runway at height, after a few passes he said watch me as I land, so he slowly approached the runway describing every move. Before I knew it I was flying the plane in for final approach, I was a bit too short so he took control for another pass, I tried again then again and I got closer and closer to the ground and before I knew it I touched terra ferma, and was taxing down, he then said full throttle and take off which I did, this completed my first touch & go. He then took control as I yelled out some four letter words in exhilaration. We did another land and some rolls and loops, I had the most enjoyable day in a long time, my wife's ears are still ringing.

Hopefully this was interesting for somebody, My main point is that by going through a club and even without the excellent instructor you get support that I believe is invaluable, as a beginner I could not think of a better way to learn.

Arie

Thank you Arie,
No one could have said it better. You can certainly learn and fly without a club or help, but you will miss some very important parts of the experience.
Showing up with the desire and then showing back up later with the equipment is rare. Those (you) are the people that make helping a rewarding experience.
Thank you again for a great read, and good luck!!!!

MR Flyer57

Thank you Arie for the great post........beginners....THAT is the way to do it!!!!

Mike

Thanks Mr Flyer57 & Glowplug, you may have notice my subtle excitement I just had to share.

I mean it took a lot of effort at my job to earn the A$1300 so I could start with everything, and then to try and fly on my own did not seem to make much sense.

Arie

$1,300???? You didn't need that turbine just yet man.

Aussie Dollars my friend about $600 us

Ok, that's more like it. Glad you found you way into the hobby with a good experience.

I just had to Buy a bigger pitched Prop as my engine was running at 12800RPM so my instructer suggested a different Prop to slow the plane down a bit. I was running a 11x6, will try 11x7 & 12x6 on a vmax 46. And more fuel.

The 11 - 7 is a faster prop. If you want to go slower, increase the diameter and decrease the pitch. A 12 - 5 would be a good choice. Don't even think about the 11 - 7.

11x5 might be a good choice too, especially if the 12 inch prop causes ground clearance issues.....

Mike

Hi again Arie

I would just match the prop to the engine and throttle back. You don't have to drive a hotrod flat out, but you might need the power for fun. Also keeping the motor cool and running for a long time is at the top of my "to do" list.

You will almost always have more power and speed than you need when you first start out.

The power to weight ratio for RC planes is a little unreal, but everybody likes as much power as they can get. (goes double for me). :greedy:

If you figure it up, you are running about 5 to 10 times the power as compared to a real airplane. The thing is going to move out!!!

On your 45, I would go to the 11X7 or 12X6, but I would take the sage advice of the more experienced modelers at your field over what is said here. Nothing like being there.

If you put on a bigger prop you will need to lean out your motor to get it to come alive and this ups the chance of burning up a motor. :cry:
I would stay within the manufactures recommendations and let the motor run at its best, then just use less throttle.

At your field you will find a lot of different opinions, but generally small diameter and high pitch is a high speed prop and a bigger diameter with a lower pitch will slow the plane down and let it climb a little better.

After you find a size that the engine likes you can move the diameter and the pitch together increasing one and decreasing the other to get the same load with a different characteristics. The prop will still be matched to the engine.

An easy way to do it is to just multiply the thing out 11X6 is 66 and 12X5 is 60, so if you went to a 12X5.5 you would have about the same load on the engine. (They don't always make the prop with the numbers that you will come up with).

You can take this to extremes and though it is not the perfect formula it will put you in the ball park as too the size you will need.

It also will come in handy when you want to use a three bladed prop. Just add up each blade and the totals will tell you which prop will work. 11X7X2= 154 for a 11X7 two blade and 9X6X3=162 for a 9X6 three blade. This shows that the motor will be a little over propped with the three blade as compared to the two blade. Not a perfect method but close.

My best guess is a 11X7 apc for the engine, yes it will be fast and powerful, but you will love the plane later, but for now I would use a 12X6 master airscrew.

The apc is a much better prop but the master airscrew is great for a trainer. The apc is like a piece of glass, one little touch and it is junk, but the master airscrew is very tough and will take a lot of abuse. They will take prop strikes on the ground and with a file and balancer you are still in business.

Again just one opinion,
MR Flyer57