I am a new pilot and i want to start this hobby i like planes and helis(planes more) and i wanted to know what to do. i cant spend very much money and i was planning on spending less than 100 dollars. The two planes i am looking at now are the slow-v and the firebird phantom. they both seem like good planes but istill would like to know what you think.

I don't do much with electrics, but another RCU moderator and I have put together some very good info on getting started. It's geared more toward glow engine airplanes, but it will still give you some good info.

http://www.gettingairborne.com/

If you don't have a lot of money to spend then perhaps you might want to wait until you have more money. Expenses add up very quickly in this hobby and it would be a disservice to you to suggest that you can do this "on the cheap".
I'm not trying to spoil your dream but a little honest assessment of the situation might be in order.

I'd suggest, like the others, that a bit more cash might be in order. You really get what you pay for in this hobby, or more to the point you rarely get what you don't pay for....

There are numerous small electric park fliers that are usable for learning to fly park fliers, such as those you've mentioned, as well as SkyFly and a few others. Their performance is quite limited, though, but can generally be improved with a bit of time, cash and effort.

For a taste of RC flying, visit a local club. Many have club trainer aircraft and they love roping newbies into the addiction. Our club will let you do your entire flight training with our club trainer aircraft, free of charge, tho few actually take us up on it. Most have a go or 3 on the club bird, and rush out to buy one of their own....

Under 400 bucks buys a real nice glow or electric 25-40 size trainer these days.... And that's a much better way to start (IMHO).

J

best advice is from previus poster. get to a club, talk to an intructor. its easy to loose a bunch of money on a plane if you don't get taught. also there is a saftey part of flying. you wouldnt want a missle with rotating ginsu knifes hitting somebody becuase you have never flown before. who knows you might even get a good deal on a used trainer at a club. its a great hobby but its also not cheap.

it is hard for me to get money and if i did save to get a plane it would take me about a year. if you go to a club are you allowed to use there plane just for fun if you already know how to fly. because the club by me is 40 to join and if i can get in and use an airplane that would be nice to use while i save my money. and my club only allows electric.

Its hard for most of us to get money. I saved for over ten years before I bought my first radio and plane. Go to that club and get to meet some of the flyers there. They will be able to tell you a lot more about what their club is about. There's nothing wrong with starting with electric planes. Most clubs are glad to help a person starting out and you'll probably make some great friends.

Talk to a local club. Someone there might want to part with a trainer and radio cheaply. People outgrow and some get disgusted and throw it away on the first misshap. dumpster diving is good, I got two planes that way, they wern't the greatest but they flew

As hobbies go, ours has become cheaper than golf due to the price of a round of golf now costing more than a yearly membership at our club. To be honest the start up costs with the basics for a plane, engine, radio, servos, field box, fuel pump, fuel, and insurance is around $500.00. Thats about 1/2 of what it was about 3 years ago but its still not "dirt cheap". Its a good hobby for the associated costs but all hobbies take $$.

You might want to check out the beginners section of http://www.wattflyer.com
RCU owns the site and it is dedicated to electric flight.

Horizon Hobby http://www.horizonhobby.com is the US distributor for E-Flite, Hobbyzone, Parkzone, and probably others.

You can see the offerings from Hobbico, Great Planes, ElectriFly, FlyZone, Goldberg, and others at http://www.towerhobbies.com

Hobby-Lobby http://www.hobby-lobby.com/index2.htm (not the arts and crafts store) also sells a lot of electrics

You can order online or buy locally. The web sites make it easy to see a lot of stuff because few local shops would ever be able to stock so many different things.

go with an avistar and theres not much you can do with only a $100 lol

Look locally at clubs or craigslist.com for used trainers. I picked one up while rebuilding my 46Fx for my Avistar. It is a Thunder tiger world trainer + TT40 engine, servos, rx, bat, and cheap JR radio for $50. Doesn't look like much, many repairs, but flys perfect. I plan to give it to my friend when I'm finished with it. Lots of options out there, just keep looking and join a R/C club to learn to fly otherwise you will probably just be throwing your money away on the first flight.

yeah i tried to go to a club but my parents said no. i tried to get them to say yes but they said no

For $10 more and shipping you can get this Hobbico Flyzone Skyfly RTF
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...I=LXUVS3**&P=0

You have to keep in mind too that every plane has a shelf life. You will crash, whether your fault or just plain bad luck, and need to replace it. With luck maybe you will be able to fix it but there will still be additional expense. Like all hobbies there is more to this than the initial cost.

Good Luck to you - hope you are able to get started, it's a great hobby.

I have to agree with everyone else its sad[] but a $100 bucks is not going to take you far, specialy if there not ready to fly with remote, recevier, battiers , servos, motor ,speed controler, charger It sucks we all probley have been there but see if you can just hang out with the guys at the field and enjoy watching them fly and makeing friends with them. I hope you do get a plane that you want don't compermise and by something a little cheaper save up and get what you want good luck!

that is the problem. i cant go to clubs and watch people fly and i cant get money fast. once im 14 next year i will get 80 dolla a month working in the cafeteria at my school.

rcflyer,

talk to your parents about it tell them how much you want to learn to fly and that you are willing to work around the house to earn it , and that its better than being out running around with freinds and getting into trouble.

you might be suprized and if you are willing to work hard they might just agree.




bassman

Hint:

RC is a great start towards a career in the aerospace industry.

i already do work. thats why i get allowance clean the lemons and the bathroom and my room and the cars. they just say i shouldnt be able to because my brother and sister didnt go to any special club. and once i get a job if i saved all my money they wouldnt let me take real flying lessons for 10000 dolla because to them it is a waste of money. they think everything is a waste of money.[sm=cry_smile.gif][sm=cry_smile.gif][sm=cry_smile.gif][sm=cry_smile.gif]

The Firebird Phantom is a great flying little plane, you'd be hard pressed to do better for $59! Be sure to reinforce the tail boom with some carbon fiber rod and thread/floss & CA where the control lines come out, it has been known to break there pretty easily in a crash. Also be sure to disable the "anti-crash" electronics, as it seems to do more harm than good.

I've never flown a Slow-V, but I've heard good things about it, and have heard several guys have learned to fly on one.

Both of these planes are rudder/elevator controlled only (V-tail acts like rudder & elevator), they don't have ailerons. While this makes it less likely that a beginner will accidentally find himself inverted and get into trouble, this also makes them much less maneuverable than a plane with ailerons. If you can save up around $300+ and get a larger 4 channel trainer (with throttle, aileron, elevator & rudder control), and get an experienced pilot to help you out, you won't get board with it as quickly. Tower Hobbies and Horizon both have 4-channel nitro and electric powered RTF trainer packages starting at around $300.

Most clubs will not charge for flying lessons. I know I learned from a trainer at my local club for free.

I am sorry about your situation, but I would have to agree with the others on this forum. I started out trying to be a little frugal, and that did not last long. I started to realize that the stuff I had bought for cheap was not really going to cut it and I had to upgrade fairly early. I ended up buying a plane for $90 off of craigslist and then proceded to purchase a new radio system, a new engine, new servos, as well as field supplies and materials for repairs. That plane was not cheap after all of that.

Is there any way you can get to teh field by yourself, by bike, public transportation, etc to get out and talk to teh current members of the club. While you are there, you might meet someone who is willing to give you rides out to the field, you never know.

Good luck and be patient, your time will come.

it isnt the ride there that is the problem it is the fact that my parents think since my brother and sister never did anything special than i wouldnt be able to. and i know that the club wont charge for flying lessons. my parents said i can spend whatever money i want on robotics but i cant spend much on planes and helis because they are a waste of money. from what is happening i think i wont be able to fly until next year when i work in the cafeteria. i am pretty much getting educated on planes this year but next year i will fly. i cant wait until i can fly i just need the money.[sm=greedy.gif]

Hang in there I can tell you I have spent lots of money on airplanes over the years I can tell you thow its all worth the fun and enjoyment they bring me. Wait tell next year if thats all you can do save your money and work hard by you a plane good luck wish you well. Most kids your age wouldn't think about getting a job to pay for what they want and do it the honest way, you sond like a good kid.

thanx