Just getting back into the hobby after taking about 15 years off. I have built a few planes from kits (some years ago) and am fairly confident with my building skills. I started with a Sig Kadet markII then a sweet stick(midwest?) later a clipped wing cub and a then a hotts II by midwest (I think) All where .40 size and 4 channel. I could fly them all but the stick was my favorite and I could fly it the best. I got back into the hobby when I got a mini ventura by hobbico as a gift. I can fly it and get it down in 1 piece but it is a handful for me at least. I then bought a GWS slow stick to reassure myself that I could still fly! It flys great and I can get it to do almost anything I want and even land when and where I want it to! I want to get a bigger glow powered plane and have checked into the local clubs and will be joining one this summer. I want to get a plane and have it ready to go but am somewhat overwhelmed by whats out there now. Radio gear, engines, and models have come a long way in 15 years! I have done some research and like the 2.4 gz option for a radio. As far as planes I like the Great Planes Big Stick 40 and the hanger 9 tango. ( I will be using an instructor in the early going) Looking for something about that size and like the idea of an ARF for now since I don''t have much time to build. Just looking for some input and some first hand experience if anyone has one of these planes. Any suggestions on a radio would be much appreciated as well. Thanks

The Big Stik ARF would be a great place to pick up again. They can slow down and land as gentle as any trainer, but once you get your "flying thumbs" back, you''ll be able to really crank things up and have some fun. The Great Planes Easy Sport is basically just a .40-size stik with a canopy on the wing, it would also be worth considering.

Virtually every ARF manufacturer offers their own "flavors" of the classic Ugly Stik design. You can certainly look around at other offerings before deciding on any one particular brand.

As for 2.4Ghz radios, the Spektrum DX6i is a really outstanding value at $179.99. You''ll need to buy your servos seperately, but can pick whichever brand you like. The DX6i should be fairly easy to operate right out of the box, but it offers a nice selection of programming and mixing features that will let you grow in the hobby without needing a new radio down the road.

Thanks, the stick does seem to be a time proven favorite but the tango seemed similar as far as what it could do. I am leaning toward the stick even if there are several of them at the field at any given time. As far as engines go can I still count on OS? thats what I had in the past. As far as radios you are the second to mention the spektrum. (a guy at work has one loves it). I have always had futaba but am not married to the brand. I have a 72mgz fm now but the 2.4gz seems almost fool proof and interference free.

My Big Stik .60 is still favorite and most loyal plane. Its just a nice forgiving plane that doesnt have really any bad habits and even flies great in a mild wind. I''m more relaxed flying it than any of my other planes,and is still as much fun.....maybe thats why. And the Tri-cycle landing gear is also something your gonna really want for now again. Like I said,mine is a .60 sized Big Stik......but I''m sure a .40 cant be much different. Just make make sure you get an O.S. engine for it. You''ll be glad you did. And yes....in my opinion,in the 2 stroke world.....other motors will work,but none as well as O.S. Guess times never change!

And I have a Futaba 2.4,and its fine. I always liked futaba and never had a single issue with any futaba radio in my life. With all the programming there is to do on it (its a 6 channel),I'm just wondering if the DX radio would be easier to program etc.(think I heard that somewhere). The thing I like best about futaba is that most stuff is designed with futaba in mind and all the accesseries are much more common in stores and stuff. I think If I had to buy one next week,I'd buy a DX just to experiment with,but keep in mind.......futaba is ALWAYS a safe bet.


Have fun and good luck! And please keep us posted on your progress.....its always cool to watch other peoples progress.

OS engines are the "Cadillacs" of the RC engine world still. I am getting back into it as well, except I was just a little one when me and my dad were flying.

Futaba is struggling a bit in the 2.4Ghz radio market. Spektrum/JR and Airtronics are offering transmitters with more features for less money and additional receivers are available at a much more bearable price. I''ve only flown Futaba 72Mhz radios myself, but when I make the jump to 2.4Ghz it likely won''t be with Futaba.

If several folks at your field are flying the Big Stik ARF, then maybe the Easy Sport is a good choice for something that flies the same but looks different. The Easy Sport .40 ARF shares virtually all of the Big Stik ARF''s virtues. You could pair either the Big Stik .40 ARF or the Easy Sport .40 ARF with the O.S. Max .46 AX and the radio system of your choice and enjoy terrific flying for many years to come.

Good luck and good shopping!

looks like my slow stik might just need a big stik for company. I knew the stick flew well from past experience. Guess others agree. Is the great planes big stik .40 a good choice? I know hanger 9 and many other have their version of this classic design.

The Great Planes Big Stick is what I have and would recommend. And as far as worrying about too many other people having them........thats kinda the beauty of a big stick! Its kinda like being in a club,lol. I think it should be mandatory upon joining a club that you own a Big Stick.


....I just hate when someone shows up with a Giant Big Stick thats bigger than mine! [>:]

The Great Planes Big Stik and the Hangar 9 Ultra Stik are generally regarded as the best of the best. Other options include:

Model Tech Luck Stik
Model Tech Joss Stik
Hangar 9 Super Stick
Thunder Tiger Tiger Stick
World Models Super Stunts
VMar V-Stik
VMar Xtreme Stik Shoulder Wing
VMar Xtreme Stik Low Wing
Sportsman Aviation Sport Stik
Goldberg Wild Stik
Black Horse Models Stick 4D

I''m probably missing a number of other good choices from this list, but most every brand of ARF on the market offers some kind of ugly stik varient.

I was in the same spot a while back. I''d go with an Ultra Stick with a Saito 100. Easy to fly with power to play with when you''re ready. Also Airtronics is selling their 8 channel 2.4Ghz for $229.00. That''s hard to beat in the 2.4Ghz market and you''ll have a hard time out growing it. Plus the receivers are $80 when you buy more aircraft.

Does the Spektrum DX6i come with a receiver? I was looking at it on Horizon, and it didn''t say if it did or not, unless I didn''t read closely enough, or I''m just being an idiot.

Yes, it comes with the receiver.


Ken

As long as you''re posting on this thread, RC Ken, I''m curious as to your opinion. Do you think a beginner pilot who hasn''t owned or operated a computer radio before would more easily adapt to using a Spektrum DX6i or an Airtronics RDS8000?

I recommended the DX6i based on the assumption that few channels and programming options would make the DX6i less intimidating than the RDS8000 as a first computer radio. I was wondering if you would agree with that presumption.

Ed,
I''ve been using Airtronics radios for a long time, so I know them forward and backwards. IMHO I think that the programming for the RDS8000 (RD8000 & RD6000 as well) is some of the easiest to learn and program. I think that the RDS8000 might actually be a little better of a radio for the beginners. But...... Yes, there is a but....... The RDS8000 package is transmitter and receiver only. The pilot needs to get servos on their own. This might be a little confusing for a beginner pilot to have to go out and get servos now. So in that department the DX6i wins because it''s an "all inclusive" package. They both have pluses and minuses.

Ken

Are you talking about someone who has NO equipment, or do these receivers require special servos, too?

I''m talking about a beginner that has no equipment at all. Airtronics receivers are now "standard" to all the rest of the ones on the market, no more of the reversed wired. The receivers will accept standard Z connectors that JR/Spectrum/Hitec use, and will accept Futaba servos after removing the alignment tab.

I was referring that it could be confusing for a new pilot to buy the radio and when they open the box they discover that now they have to go out and buy servos too.

Ken

Thanks, Ken. Just wondering, as I am looking to purchase.

Yetti,
Please re-read my post. I realized that I had a typo in my message that changed the whole message. I said that they are "not" standard when I really meant that they are "now" standard. Yes, you can use any servo with the receiver.

Ken

Okay, got it, thanks!

The DX6i doesn''t come with any servos, either. You have to move up to the $310 + DX7 to get a full flight pack with your Spektrum radio.

In this case whiteout750 isn''t a complete beginner, he''s just been out of circulation for a very long time and has probably never owned a computer radio before. I''m sure picking up four 94102Z servos or 4 Hitec HS-425BB servos won''t be too big of a challenge.

Get both, the Tango and the Stik! Stuff the Tango with an OS 55 AX and a 12 x 4 prop. Did that with mine, and it goes vertical at 1/2 throttle. Spins like a fishing lure. Swims like a Flint River carp when facing a headwind. Then you can slow down and land better than a trainer!

NorfolkSouthern

I didn''t realize that the DX6i didn''t come with servos. If that is the case either radio would be great for this. As I said, I love the Airtronics radios and they are what I have used for 12 years now. The RDS8000 is a rock solid 2.4 Ghz radio and the programing is very easy to learn.

Ken

Thanks for the great input and advice! I have unable to post for a few daysbeen busy at work and even put some more flights on my slow stick! Since there seems to be much input about radios I would like to continue there. Putting brands aside for now is the 2.4gz the way to go? The way I understand it the rx and tx "bind" to each other and interference is all but impossible. Does this mean I can always be ready to fly and don't have to worry about someone else having the pin i need off the board?

I renewed myself a few years ago with a Hanger 9 Ultra Stick and had to make the first flight myself, as I fly Mode One (there are very few of us left). New airplane, new radio, new engine and a pilot that hadn't flown in 10 years or so. Took off, trimed it out, did a loop and a roll and then had to land "dead stick".

If you were comfortable flying a "The Hots", I gotta think a stick of some sort will be fine. I have my second Ultra Stick and it's really my favorite plane to just go out and have fun with

Yes