First plane?
02-08-2008 | 09:41 PM
#1
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From: Kent,
WA
First plane?
I am thinking about getting a plane and I truthfully am not sure what to try.
I was thinking about a HobbyZone Super Cub RTF Electric.
Is this one ok to start out with? I am kind of on a budget, and need an RTF that is not going to break the bank, so to speak, and am looking at spending no more than $200.
I have never flown anything at all accept a wire controlled plane about 25 years ago, but I was pretty good at it.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
I was thinking about a HobbyZone Super Cub RTF Electric.
Is this one ok to start out with? I am kind of on a budget, and need an RTF that is not going to break the bank, so to speak, and am looking at spending no more than $200.
I have never flown anything at all accept a wire controlled plane about 25 years ago, but I was pretty good at it.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
02-08-2008 | 11:35 PM
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From: Peebles,
OH
RE: First plane?
Honestly, I'd just get a simulator before I go out and crash a plane. I have realflight g3.5 and it has helped me tremendously. I don't even have a plane or heli yet, but plan on getting one soon if I don't start racing again. A sim is about the best investment you can make when getting into rc airplanes; it has saved me hundreds!
02-09-2008 | 12:04 AM
#6
RE: First plane?
I disagree with all of the above responders and I suggest you follow your original idea to try the Hobbyzone Super Cub RTF. This particular electric airplane package was designed up for beginning pilots to use to teach themselves how to fly. It's an excellent value, and many new RC pilots have reported great success when learning to use the Super Cub RTF from Hobbyzone.
Inexpensive toy-quality RC planes can be entertaining to play with, but they won't teach you the advanced flying skills required for larger "full-house" aircraft. You can spend a lot more than $200 on these and still not progress as a pilot.
The Electristar is indeed a high quality training package and an outstanding value at the current "fire sale" price of $199.99. This price does not include the two batteries or battery charger that you'd need to actually fly the plane, however, and you'd need to spend at least $75 to $100 more to get the plane airborne.
The Skyfly wouldn't be a terrible choice for a first plane, but the Super Cub RTF is generally regarded as higher quality, more powerful, and easier to learn with. I have neither owned nor flown either plane, and am only commenting on what I've read here in the RCU Beginner's forum.
I have Real Flight G3.5 myself, and I find it a useful tool for practicing my flying. Flying the simulator alone, however, won't teach you how to setup, charge, and operate your airplane in real-world conditions, however. You will need actual stick time on a real RC airplane, although a simulator could certainly help you learn faster. Buy the plane, and if you can afford a simulator too, then that is terrific.
You don't need a $200 simulator, though. The Clearview RC flight simulator has excellent slow flight modelling characterisitics, is free to download the demo, and only $39.95 to register for the full version http://rcflightsim.com/index.html. The FMS simulator is a free download and can help a budding new pilot with control orientation http://n.ethz.ch/student/mmoeller/fms/index_e.html
Get out and fly, and save a few bucks for spare wings, propellers, and tail sections. Good luck and good shopping!
hi , you better start with airhogs plane or skyforce by tyco and its pretty cool and you can modified these's little thing !!
you can get the electristar for $199 and thats a much better trainer for the money
If you want 3 channels, you can get the Flyzone Skyfly, I have one, fun plane.
Honestly, I'd just get a simulator before I go out and crash a plane. I have realflight g3.5 and it has helped me tremendously. I don't even have a plane or heli yet, but plan on getting one soon if I don't start racing again. A sim is about the best investment you can make when getting into rc airplanes; it has saved me hundreds!
You don't need a $200 simulator, though. The Clearview RC flight simulator has excellent slow flight modelling characterisitics, is free to download the demo, and only $39.95 to register for the full version http://rcflightsim.com/index.html. The FMS simulator is a free download and can help a budding new pilot with control orientation http://n.ethz.ch/student/mmoeller/fms/index_e.html
Get out and fly, and save a few bucks for spare wings, propellers, and tail sections. Good luck and good shopping!
02-09-2008 | 03:13 AM
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From: El Cajon,
CA
RE: First plane?
Just a quick comment here: My first plane was/is an Easy Star. This thing takes a lot of abuse, and it's very flexible. You can use 6 or 7 cell NiMh packs, NiCd packs, or 2c Lipo. The radio isn't the best (I don't care for 3 channel radios) but the receiver in mine is a 6ch unit, so if I get another FM rig, I can toss the single stick transmitter.
I've seen Easy Stars modified with brushless motors - they'll climb straight up with the right combination of motor and prop. I've also seen aileron mods and landing gear mods (the plane doesn't have gear out of the box.)
I've seen Easy Stars modified with brushless motors - they'll climb straight up with the right combination of motor and prop. I've also seen aileron mods and landing gear mods (the plane doesn't have gear out of the box.)
02-09-2008 | 05:57 AM
#8
RE: First plane?
I certainly wouldn't argue against spending a little more and learning to fly on the Multiplex Easy Star RTF:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXFXV0&P=ML
This airplane has an excellent reputation and comes bundled with higher quality electronics than the Hobbyzone Super Cub RTF, including a 72mhz FM radio system instead of the Super Cub's 27Mhz FM system.
There are certainly other choices of which to take note. The Parkzone Slo-V is an excellent first airplane that can be flown in a gymnasium when weather prevents outdoor flight, despite it's almost 4' wingspan. The GWS Slow Stick ARF can be built very affordably or outfitted with the latest brushless power upgrades and can be flown indoors or outdoors as well.
An aspiring RC pilot would also do well to consider the T-Hawk or Skyseeker GT RTF packages available from www.readytoflyfun.com. I've seen the T-Hawk flown quite confidently by students at the local field, and it seems to be a good, solid value.
There are a lot of good choices for pilots interested in getting their first plane. The problem is there are also plenty of not-so-good choices out there, and you can spend far too much money figuring out the difference if you don't do your homework first!
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXFXV0&P=ML
This airplane has an excellent reputation and comes bundled with higher quality electronics than the Hobbyzone Super Cub RTF, including a 72mhz FM radio system instead of the Super Cub's 27Mhz FM system.
There are certainly other choices of which to take note. The Parkzone Slo-V is an excellent first airplane that can be flown in a gymnasium when weather prevents outdoor flight, despite it's almost 4' wingspan. The GWS Slow Stick ARF can be built very affordably or outfitted with the latest brushless power upgrades and can be flown indoors or outdoors as well.
An aspiring RC pilot would also do well to consider the T-Hawk or Skyseeker GT RTF packages available from www.readytoflyfun.com. I've seen the T-Hawk flown quite confidently by students at the local field, and it seems to be a good, solid value.
There are a lot of good choices for pilots interested in getting their first plane. The problem is there are also plenty of not-so-good choices out there, and you can spend far too much money figuring out the difference if you don't do your homework first!
02-10-2008 | 09:30 AM
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From: Kent,
WA
RE: First plane?
Thanks for all the advice everyone. I just got RealFlight G3 and I am going to give that a shot, and I think I will try either the Super Cub like original, or maybe the Easy Star. SHould be fun. Thanks everyone!
02-10-2008 | 09:58 AM
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From: Chewelah, WA
RE: First plane?
ORIGINAL: Calin666
Thanks for all the advice everyone. I just got RealFlight G3 and I am going to give that a shot, and I think I will try either the Super Cub like original, or maybe the Easy Star. SHould be fun. Thanks everyone!
Thanks for all the advice everyone. I just got RealFlight G3 and I am going to give that a shot, and I think I will try either the Super Cub like original, or maybe the Easy Star. SHould be fun. Thanks everyone!
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=PKZ4400
02-11-2008 | 07:02 AM
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From: monroeville,
OH
RE: First plane?
if you just got realflight g-3, you can get onto realflight's website to download the free upgrade to 3.5 which will have the electristar and other newer airplanes.
02-17-2008 | 08:38 AM
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From: schuylkill haven, PA
RE: First plane?
ORIGINAL: bigedmustafa
I disagree with all of the above responders and I suggest you follow your original idea to try the Hobbyzone Super Cub RTF. This particular electric airplane package was designed up for beginning pilots to use to teach themselves how to fly. It's an excellent value, and many new RC pilots have reported great success when learning to use the Super Cub RTF from Hobbyzone.
Inexpensive toy-quality RC planes can be entertaining to play with, but they won't teach you the advanced flying skills required for larger "full-house" aircraft. You can spend a lot more than $200 on these and still not progress as a pilot.
The Electristar is indeed a high quality training package and an outstanding value at the current "fire sale" price of $199.99. This price does not include the two batteries or battery charger that you'd need to actually fly the plane, however, and you'd need to spend at least $75 to $100 more to get the plane airborne.
The Skyfly wouldn't be a terrible choice for a first plane, but the Super Cub RTF is generally regarded as higher quality, more powerful, and easier to learn with. I have neither owned nor flown either plane, and am only commenting on what I've read here in the RCU Beginner's forum.
I have Real Flight G3.5 myself, and I find it a useful tool for practicing my flying. Flying the simulator alone, however, won't teach you how to setup, charge, and operate your airplane in real-world conditions, however. You will need actual stick time on a real RC airplane, although a simulator could certainly help you learn faster. Buy the plane, and if you can afford a simulator too, then that is terrific.
You don't need a $200 simulator, though. The Clearview RC flight simulator has excellent slow flight modelling characterisitics, is free to download the demo, and only $39.95 to register for the full version http://rcflightsim.com/index.html. The FMS simulator is a free download and can help a budding new pilot with control orientation http://n.ethz.ch/student/mmoeller/fms/index_e.html
Get out and fly, and save a few bucks for spare wings, propellers, and tail sections. Good luck and good shopping!
I disagree with all of the above responders and I suggest you follow your original idea to try the Hobbyzone Super Cub RTF. This particular electric airplane package was designed up for beginning pilots to use to teach themselves how to fly. It's an excellent value, and many new RC pilots have reported great success when learning to use the Super Cub RTF from Hobbyzone.
hi , you better start with airhogs plane or skyforce by tyco and its pretty cool and you can modified these's little thing !!
you can get the electristar for $199 and thats a much better trainer for the money
If you want 3 channels, you can get the Flyzone Skyfly, I have one, fun plane.
Honestly, I'd just get a simulator before I go out and crash a plane. I have realflight g3.5 and it has helped me tremendously. I don't even have a plane or heli yet, but plan on getting one soon if I don't start racing again. A sim is about the best investment you can make when getting into rc airplanes; it has saved me hundreds!
You don't need a $200 simulator, though. The Clearview RC flight simulator has excellent slow flight modelling characterisitics, is free to download the demo, and only $39.95 to register for the full version http://rcflightsim.com/index.html. The FMS simulator is a free download and can help a budding new pilot with control orientation http://n.ethz.ch/student/mmoeller/fms/index_e.html
Get out and fly, and save a few bucks for spare wings, propellers, and tail sections. Good luck and good shopping!
I totaly agree
Austin
02-17-2008 | 10:08 AM
#17
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RE: First plane?
ORIGINAL: dirtjumpdaniel
I would go with the Super Cub. It is durable and great for beginners.
I would go with the Super Cub. It is durable and great for beginners.
You just asked in another thread "if the Supercub is a good plane for beginners." So you have become very experienced on this in about 20 minutes?
02-17-2008 | 10:56 AM
#18
RE: First plane?
dirtjumpdanial: How can you give advice if you've never seen, let flown flown a HobbyZone Super Cub yet? Now I'm having this sinking feeling that you're going to end up spending more money on that park flyer than you would a 40 sized trainer and club membership.
Calin666: The old adage holds true that you get what you pay for. My recommendation is that you SAVE up and buy a Hangar-9 Alpha Trainer. Then, join a club and have them teach you how to fly it. In about a year, you WON'T regret it!
NorfolkSouthern
Calin666: The old adage holds true that you get what you pay for. My recommendation is that you SAVE up and buy a Hangar-9 Alpha Trainer. Then, join a club and have them teach you how to fly it. In about a year, you WON'T regret it!
NorfolkSouthern
