I am new to the RC and I would like to buy an airplane, I live in Chicago and I am 16 years old and my budget is of about 80 bucks to get an airplane.
To the experts: What would be a good airplane for me to buy?
I have gone to Ebay but I dont know what airplane could be good for me.
Thank you

Welcome to the world of model airplanes!!

Not an expert, but I believe at this point you need to research a little, and decide about the type of propulsion that appeals more to you; electrical motors or fuel engines.

Check these threads:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_8068457/tm.htm

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_8108811/tm.htm

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_8070492/tm.htm

Regards!!

Join a local club and attend a swap meet.

The club will get you going in the right direction. Perhaps some members may help out and provide some free/cheap equipment or accessories. Also, an exprienced pilot may be able to help you score some decent equipment at a swap sale inexpensively.

Jack

Find a local RC club and visit the field. It is amazing that whenever a young kid shows up at the field and expresses an interest in the hobby and a limited budget, one of the old timers manages to scrounge up a trainer that's been gathering dust, and everybody seems to have spare field equipment that they don't use anymore.

At the very least, they will be happy to let you try out the buddy box.

Just please do not go out and spend your money on a cheap r/c plane. You can really burn through a lot of money and have nothing to show for it.

Your budget REALLY makes it tough. You might want to look at planes like these. http://www.hobbyzone.com/rc_planes_h...ommander_2.htm You're not going to find too much better without more cash. Sorry, not a cheap hobby all the time.

I can spend more money, but If I spend like 200 bucks, I want something that could be worth it like you guys mentioned. I will try to fin a club in Chicago that I could join.

don't buy anything until you visit that club and talk with an instructor...they may know of a plane for sale...or take you to a swap meet...besides that instructor will know what is compatable with that clubs equipment
welcome to this wonderful hobby

It kinda depends on whether or not you want a toy or something nicer. Check out this list of trainers http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4537845/tm.htm but do also check the local clubs for good used gear and recommendations. There should be a flood of good radios out there as many are upgrading to a new type of radio that has recently come out. The older radios are still very good though.

What do you guys think if I bought FireBird Commander 2, I think it looks cool and easy to fly

or the super cub

I reviewed the Super Cub for RCU magazine and it is an excellent way to get started.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...rticle_id=1003

Try this to find a club near you:

http://www.modelaircraft.org/clubsearch.aspx

Also find and visit a hobby shop:

http://www.modelaircraft.org/hobbyshopsearch.aspx

Regards!

Ditto on the club. I made the error of having all the stuff before coming to the club for the first time. I thought reading stuff on the internet was all I needed. I could have easily saved several months of aggravation and about $200 by simply asking around and listening for deals. Many clubs own a trainer and even if they don't, many of the club trainers have planes that they will let you fly on the buddy box. If you can train on their equipment, that gives you an idea of what the hobby entails so you can decide if the investment is worth it. It also gives you time to save for something good instead of buying substandard equipment now.

I'm with minn on this one, I have a friend who is a small plane pilot and I bought him the super cub, you'll still need alittle training , and I guarantee someone at the club field will take you under their wing,,didnt read the review but I think the plane can be upgraded to brushless/lipo if not you can always order a few extra batteries for longer flying times,, and you can get replacement parts...Rog

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2fNh08HNz4

you guys think that airplane could be good for me as a beginner? or could the FireBird Commander be good too? I personally like the Firebird Commander 2 but I dont know about this, so any suggestion ? and I will try to go to a RC club close, most of the clubs are kinda far from my house, but I will go to one to check it out.

#1 I'd spend the extra $ and get the supercub. ($160)

#2 Don't go to the local hobby store (LHS), they will talk you into either the plane that's been
sitting the longest or talk you into a plane that is beyond your skill level(not all beginner planes
are beginner friendly)

#3 Don't buy anything from Flyzone - CHEAP UNDERPOWERED JUNK![:@]

Welcome to the RC world, you're gonna get hooked and like it!

Hemicuda

Since my first plane was a Flyzone cub... I could not agree more!


BTW Hemi I still have the glow-plane but added and Easy Star to my hanger and I am loving it!

Heed all the above advice on visiting one or more of the local clubs before spending any of your hard earned money. You will get a lot more than just some good advice. You will find many of the members anxious to help you and you just might get some free stuff as well as good advice.

Ditto what everone above has said, find a club to get help if you can, but I didn't have that option when I started either. Stay away from All of the Fire birds until you have a little experience, they are not as begginer friendly as they appear. I still have a Firebird freedom but I don't let newbies fly it for a reason. Super Cub is a good choice, this is what I use to teach kids with. Check out the user ratings page here in rcuniverse for any plane you consider and make sure to skim over the tips pages as well. Also , be sure and check out "Hobby Zone Super Cub" thread for more info if you consider it. Good luck!!

Find a club - try not to JOIN a club until AFTER you buy your plane - that will cut your $80 budget in half if you're lucky. Here in Southern California there are a bunch of local clubs and few GREAT flying sites with paved runways, but you'll spend more on membership than you will on your first plane/radio/battery/charger.

Also, as a new pilot I found myself getting some very good advice from very experienced pilots, and most say similar - get a good radio you can grow with, and buy a good PLANE not a TOY. However, they know how to fly already. In order to LEARN how to fly, you better get a plane that can take some abuse and withstand the multiple crashes you'll likely encounter.

I have a Firebird Freedom and I like it because it can take the beating from a new pilot who can't fly, and it's affordable to buy and maintain (about $140 RTF). As mentioned before though, and by my friend and experience pilot, the controls are different than a "real" plane. But its loads of fun - when it's in the air.

You don't want to crash your new plane the first day out, and never fly it again. Be sure it can handle multiple crashes.

The Cub might be great for someone who can fly, but will it fly again after a 30 mph nose dive from 50 ft in the air? The Firebird Freedom will.

You don't have to join the club right up front, but it can be very helpfull to vist one a few times before buying your own plane. Someone at the club probably has any plane you are thinking about buying and may even let you try flying it!

I agree that Firebird freedom is tough in nose first crashes, it is also prone to have more of them than a super cub. It is prone to tip stall, will not tolerate much damage to the wings, and can be frustrating to get trimmed if tail section gets damaged or replaced. I started an Rcplane ministry at my church about 8 months ago teaching ages 9yr and up how to fly. So far we have taught about 20 kids and 8 adults how to fly. I have tried about a dozen different electric planes, including Firebirds, in the process of learning to fly and in teaching others. The best one I've found is the Super Cub. We started the ministry with 6 super cubs, and, though some are pretty beat up from multiple crashes and repairs, they are still flying because they are tough as well as cheap and easy to repair. No one has crashed one 30mph nose first into the ground yet. Crash control or the natural flight characteristics of this plane will usually prevent a full nose first crash. But one was crashed full throttle into the side of the church! New prop and repaired the wing struts and it was good to go!. I still have my Firebird and love to fly it, but I reccomend it as a good second or third plane!

thanks to all of you guys. I really appreciate your help. And I will go to a club before buying my airplane. It will be good to go to a club to get some advice from people who have been in this for long time.

Thank you!
-Salvador

You never know what will happen if you visit a club.
I have personally given away 2 glow engine trainers ready to fly to young guys wanting to learn absolutely free of charge.Other members at my club are just as happy to help. At the very least there always seems to be a trainer for sale under $100 in the clubs newsletter.
You may end up with a good deal

Yup, a couple of months ago we saw a kid show up for training, and he did not own a plane nor any equipment.

His father was $50.00 lighter by the time they left, but he left with a complete setup in hand, minus fuel.

Parts of it may have not looked new, but they got a great deal...