hi guys


just wondering what your opinions are on 1st planes gas or electric? what size? what plane!? what did you start on and how was it for you? all beginner rc planes here! what radio equipment and what anything else for beginers!


thanks guys

basty

Supercub, comes with a Radio and everything for a

Best plane you can get if you've never flown before. It's docile and will teach you the basics. Grab a few extra batts to go with it and you will have a lot of fun.

If it grabs you and why wouldn't it then invest in a DX6i minimum for a radio (if you're sure you will stay in the hobby) and then you will have hundreds of trainer type planes to choose from.

Glow or Leccy, it will be your choice.

I prefer glow, it's just more damn fun!!!!

[link=http://www.hobbyzone.com/rc_planes_hobbyzone_super_cub.htm]Super Cub[/link]

You're from the UK, over here they are about £100

Basty,

There are many good trainers on the market to choose from. I'd suggest a high wing trainer with a high lift airfoil (flat bottomed)for a first plane. The size is pretty much up to you and your budget. There are some good packages offered by Tower and others which include the engine and radio gear.

I started on a sixty size trainer many years ago with a glow engine, electrics were really not all that available or popular at that time. I ended up being mostly self taught with only one flight on a buddy cord. A lot of flights up in three mistakes high country for awhile until I got used to flying the airplane coming toward me. I made some mistakes along the way, but nothing that totally destroyed the airplane. Like anything it depends upon the individual, each of us are different in how we approach things.

It would be advice to find a instructor at your local club which by doing so it will most certainly enhance your success.

I currently am training on an Hobbico Nexstar .46 ; I've had 6 or so flights and it flies great. I'am learning quite quickly, and progressing with each flight (my instructor says I could solo in another week or so) ; One thing that is very helpful is a Simulator, doesn't matter the price, brand, or whatever, they'll do the same thing, and that is teach corrdination. Another thing is that Nexstar's are notorious for decals (not covering) pealing away ; this has happened to me many times (Just clean it w/ rubbing alcohol and CA it)
They're many other great trainers out their - RC Ken has started a list of good trainers and 2nd planes, its the 2nd from the top and is titled - looking for a trainer - whats available







TakingFlight96

I learned on a Hobbico Nexstar. I loved it, and it looks great. After a few weeks I flew the Hobbico Avistar, and couldn't believe the difference! It was so much more agile, and easier to land, especially in wind. The Avistar is a 'high wing trainer' but is a little more sporty than most, due to a little less dihedral (v-shape of the wings) and a 'semi-symmetrical' wing, as opposed to the flat bottom of the Nexstar.

If you're on a very tight budget, the Tower Trainer is an awesome plane, and very inexpensive.

You only need a 4 channel radio to get started. It would be quite a while before you're ready for more than 4 channels. I didn't think this when I started, so I got a 6 channel computer radio. I'm about to start flying my 3rd plane and have no need for more channels. I won't for my 4th plane, either.

I suggest an ARF plane, so you get to assemble it and get an understanding of how the plane goes together, and you get to choose your own engine and radio gear. The Tower Hobbies 4th radio is really a Futaba radio with a different sticker on it, and is a great beginner radio.

Glow engines are fun. I just had the pleasure of cleaning mine after a crash, and having a little fuel powered engine capable of 13000 RPM and somewhere around 1 full horsepower is pretty cool. Electrics are clean and quiet, and battery technology has come a long way, so you can get good flight times. They cost more up front as you should get a few batteries and a good charger to start. Glow planes are a little less up front, but glow fuel is $30/gallon, and if you like to fly as much as I do, you could be buying a gallon maybe every 10 days or so. I like glow planes personally. I like the engines, and the ability to land, refuel, and take off, without needing to charge or switch batteries.

I have an OS engine. They are the pricier brand, but mine starts every day with a flip of a stick, sounds great, and runs the best out of any engine at the field. No problems, no starter, just a great engine.

You will be progressing through planes pretty quickly. It's nice to have the trainer and keep it set up, then get a new plane, new engine, and new receiver so you can use one radio to control both planes. I just crashed a plane and wish I had another to fly while I assemble the one I'm working on. Point is, don't spend a ton of money on this plane. You can spend the extra money on a radio if you want, or on the OS. Then you can put the OS in your second plane and put a cheap engine in your trainer, or if you decide you want a bigger engine, keep the OS in the trainer and buy a bigger engine.

gaRCfield,

Would you recommend the Avistar as a 2nd + 3rd plane or was it mainly designed for training use ? Thanks.


TakingFlight96

It would be a blast as a second plane! Technically it was my second plane. The thing rips if you set it up right (46 with a 10x7 prop for speed). Flies decent upside down. I had it set up with a lot of elevator throw, and you could do some cool stuff with it. I got carried away and dug it 8" deep in the ground; now it's a pile of splinters in the back of my car. I loved that plane, and everyone who flew it had fun with it.

Thanks, my dad and me will look into it.


TakingFlight96

OMG, you're flying a Nexstar now? YOU WILL LOVE THE AVISTAR!!! It will feel really sporty. Landing is faster but easier as the dihedral doesn't fight you like it does on the Nexstar.

I flew a firebird xl while I was building my great planes pt-40. Didnt total either one. I say great planes pt-40

When it comes down to it the nexstar is a very docile trainer. If your a quick learner you'll outgrow it quickly. It flys easy but is thrown around by the slightest winds and it becomes no fun pretty quick. But it does correct istelf pretty easily and unless you real close to the ground doing dumb stuff it will survive what you can dish out to it. You'll outgrpw it quickly but it it does its job with getting you in the air and flying around. Landing are easy, just float and float and float till you want to touch down. The cosmicwind minnow now is a dropper and without any airspeed the control surfaceswill not react. The minnow is a fun plane and quick but if you want something to learn basic aerobatics on go with the pros. The goldberg tigers are nice. But I cant stressanough fly your straight lines and keep the plane pointed where you wanted before movongup into the more advanced aerobatics,

Nextar and Sig Kadet!! Very good and simple to learn on. I have the Goldberg 62 Skylane, and the plane is not as good because it's Semi-Scale and not as forgiving... and putting it together without building experiance can turn in to a nightmare! The Goldberg Eagle II is a very good trainer. I had the original Goldberg Eagle that was built from a kit 3 years ago... and man, I loved that plane! Very stable and smooth.



JFMPE

Luftwaffe Oberst
AMA 856404
Radio Aero Modelers Club
Pulaski, NY


Supporter of Redneck R/C
Fulton, NY

G'day Ask any 3 r/c fliers what the best trainer is and you will get at least 6 answers. It all depends ....

If money is no object then electric is OK but glow is generally cheaper.

If you are young, then just about any ARF high wing trainer will do but the larger the better. If you are over about 35, then you need something big and slow. A Sig Kadet Senior with a 50-65 size four stroke is perfect for the older beginner but a younger flier may out grow it quickly.

If you have never had an engine before then I would go with an OS 40 or 46 LA. They are simple, tough, well made and powerful enough for a trainer. They are also easy to tune, not heavy on fuel and don't need lots of nitro. They also handle crashes better than ballraced engines.

I have had good luck with Hitec radios. I particularly like the Optic 6 but there are plenty of others to choose from. I would suggest a 6 channel computer radio so you have something you can grow into. A simple 4 channel is fine but you will quickly reach its limits.

The trainers of the Sig Kadet range are my particular favourites. They all fly well and they were designed as trainers by people who know what makes a good trainer. With them, if you become disoriented and the plane is heading at some strange attitude, so long as you are high enough, you can just let go the sticks and the plane will return to level flight. The ones you build from a kit are my favourite as you can cover them better than the ARFs but the ARFs are also fine trainers.

Don't try to teach your self. You will crash lots of planes if you do. Getting a plane off the ground is relatively easy - getting it back onto the ground in one piece is not. Go to a club and get someone to instruct you preferably using a "buddy cord" to connect their radio to yours.

I would suggest your first best step is to find a club and go and ask what they suggest. They will be teaching you and they may have favourites that they are happier to teach you on. Conditions vary from place to place and what works well at my site may not suit at yours.

All the best. Mike from Oz

Hello basty,

What you choose for your first plane depends largely on your situation. Do you have access to club? Are you forced to learn on your own? Where do you plan to fly your plane? How much time do you wish to spend on getting it ready to fly?

This page goes through the [link=http://www.hooked-on-rc-airplanes.com/best-rc-airplane.html]factors to consider when choosing your first plane.[/link]

Good luck with whatever you choose!


Wings

The Nexstar is not on the list. I used to but RCKen about this because it was my trainer, and I loved it. It was all I knew at the time. It really is built like a tank, and with the training add-ons, it is very easy to get in the air and have slow and stable flight. After flying another high wing trainer, however, I now realize that there is a reason the plane is not on the list. RCKen has lots of experience and knows what he's talking about. Sometimes I want to disagree, and in the end I find that he is always right. I would choose something from the list. If you do get the Nexstar, I'm sure you will like it, because it will be what you know, and it does look great. There are other trainers out there really are more fun to fly though.

Actually, the NexSTAR IS on Ken's list, both the ARF and RTF. I have had experience on both it, and the Hobbico SuperStar. The SuperStar compares with the Nextar with droops and flaps mounted. The main difference is that the NexSTAR doesn't handle quite as well in wind. The NexSTAR is still far more forgiving than any low-wing or high-wing that's not a trainer. There are two things that make the Nexstar stand out. One, the OS 46 FXi engine, which has ball bearings and sufficient power to handle more advanced models later. It's very similar to the .46 AX. Second, it comes with a free simulator for when a visit to the field is not an option. The main advantage I see with the SuperStar is the lower price. But, there's a trade-off: The SuperStar has an OS 40 LA, which is considered a weak engine for power. The Tower Trainer costs even less, but people have had problems with the included engine. In all honesty, you get what you pay for.

If I were deciding to get into this hobby now, I would most likely consider a Hangar-9 Alpha Trainer with the Spectrum radio. The cost is reasonable, and you get to start with a 2.4ghz radio. The Evolution 46 engine works well for some folks, maybe not everybody. The Alpha compares well to the SuperStar, and has introduced many folks to the hobby. In fact, the Alpha is what I flew on my first introductory flight. As a utility plane, the Alpha has smooth flying charactistics and good lifting ability for a video cam and telemetry equipment. In fact, trainers are more often than not, make an excellent UAV with the Nexstar being no exception.

If you want the best of the best, consider the Sig LT-40 or Kadet Senior. The LT-40 is big, stout, and has an extremely high-lift wing. It's not the prettiest, but it is considered by most RC pilots to be the best trainer available, at any cost. Both it and the Kadet Senior will fly perfectly fine with any .40 sized engine, sleeve or ball bearing including the 40 LA. And again, there's that utility vehicle capability. The Kadet Senior, in fact, is often nicknamed "The Flying SUV", and for a very good reason.

NorfolkSouthern

Oh, Nexstar must be a new addition. It wasn't there a month ago.

I have taught a few folks [including my sisters] to fly with a 6 foot span glider. They are the easiest to build, repair and in my opinion easiest to fly. From there, the next step would be to move into your typical industrial grade 6 pound, .40 powered trainer.
Alternatives to that would be any lightweight plane with a reputation to be easy to fly, like early FF designs converted to RC.
A 3.5 pound, .40 powered 3D profile plane with the controls set to "beginner" will fly circles around any typical 4 channel trainer, be easier to land and more importantly more fun as you gain experience with it. Something to think about, you would end up with a 2nd "trainer" that you could spend the rest of your RC career learning what it can do. I wish I had gone this route instead of spending all those years just spinning my wheels with "Ugly Stick" type sport models

Any of the high wing trainers in RCKens list will be great. One I didnt see mentioned, and im not sure if its in Kens list is the Hangar 9 Arrow. One of the instructors in our club has trained numerous guys on them. He likes it because its a bit more aerobatic then some once you become more advanced. I learned on the Hangar 9 P51 mustang PTS and love it. I soloed with it after 9 flights and now have all the training gear off of it and its a great little sports plane. Oh, and im an old man at 40 and the mustang was the first plane I had ever flown. Some guys say its not the best to learn on, but I found it quite easy myself. To each their own I guess. Might be worth looking into if you like. I bought the rtf with the sim and spent alot of time on it and it did help.
I will agree with several other post in saying a good 2.4 radio like the spektrum dx6i, dx7, or futaba's radios are super. I switched to a dx7 today and made my first flights with it. Fantastic radio. No delay in response and the features are great. Its a far better radio then my jr sx600, but the jr is still a great little entry level radio.

I'll take a stab at this one.

Best trainer planes:
Sig Senior Kadet
Sig LT-40
Hobbico Nexstar

Best Radio:

Buy the most radio you can afford especially if you intend on staying in the hobby.

I like the currently radio I'm flying with, Futaba 9cap
I also liked the Hitec Eclipse 7.

The Nexstar has always been on the list.

Ken

Think you need to decide on a couple of things 1st the main one being are you going to join a club and get an instructor or teach yourself ?????
If you can join a club it's better to get some help especially at the start, for various reasons it didn't suit my circumstances so am self taught as are many on here and it can be done.
If that's the route your going I'd go electric as you can fly them in most decent sized parks and look at the HobbyZone Supercub or the Multiplex Easystar or their new EasyCub BUT get a simulator 1st even if it's a cheapish E-Sky one as it'll save you a fortune in the long run whichever route you decide to take.
If you want to find a club close to you the BMFA website will point you in the right direction http://www.bmfa.org/ and if you ever go anywhere near the South Coast of England am always happy to help someone trying to get started in this hobby.

A bigstick 60 or the 40 is an awesome plane to learn on, anyone that wants to fly nitro or gas planes i always tell them not to go electric as i spend over 300 dollar in a su-31 i believe it was but of course that was with the extra battery, one guy at our field flies nothing but electric's and that is great a p 51 mustang flies so nice with 5000 batteries two of them for 600 dollars just for the batteries, for a ten minute flight is not for my pocket book, but there is an older guy at the field that flies all electrics airplanes that he builds himself and makes the plans to do so and he gets so much time out of a battery, it all comes down to knowing all about the system and what to use, most people do not understand the electric setup, good luck which ever plane you choose.

thanks guys your all being incredibly helpful

the super cub looks good to me because of the sensors onboard. i have experience and am self taught with helicopters and can fly hover and land one confidently, and just about fly towards myself at low speeds. is it similar to airplanes? because i am afraid i am going to be self taught again and think this could be a steep learning curve, although the number of rotor-blades i have been through is incredible! i am confident i could do it but is there any advice you guys could give, any exercises to be carried out to teach myself? and bearing in mind i live in a farming area and have loads of fields all around, and also will be self taught, any other planes i should take a look at!

thanks again guys!

p.s. not getting ahead of myself, but just so i know. how many hours did it take you guys to master the plane and start the aeros?

Everyone is different in how much time it takes to learn the basic flight skills. I imagine those of us that are in clubs with instructors would learn faster than those who are self taught.

There is an amazing heli pilot at our field. He started in the 80's or early 90's, but had a tough time mastering the skills. He started flying planes in the mid 90's, and got back into helis in the late 90's. Now he is totally amazing at flying a helicopter - a real pro. He said learning to fly planes helped him a ton with the helis. Maybe this will help you out, too

If you're not going to get an instructor, definitely get a simulator. FMS is free at www.rc-sim.de . It's a bit crude, but it teaches your thumbs the right movements. Clearview is a bit better, and is maybe $40 or so.

If you are going to fly with an instructor you don't need/want any sensors on your plane. I just say this because I've heard so many people say to remove them or turn them off if you can, though I have no personal experience with them. With an instructor, they can bail you out of a situation, tell you what happened, and give you back control. The sensors might be working against you without you knowing, therefore not teaching you as well.

Good luck!