Inline, where exactly is BFE ky? I'm in louisville and would be happy to help you learn to fly on my supercub or slow stick or micro citabria. They are all fun in different situations and all can do some cool tricks. Do you mean paducah-bfe, or pikeville, or corbin or what?

about an hour east of lexington. we seem to have missed the major winter storm.

Id be happy just getting a cost effective plane and running it into a tree or two.

How the heck did you miss the storm? I was in slade at Red River Gorge this past weekend and they had 4-6 inches.

I dunno man. Im not far from red river gorge, relatively speaking. Last weekend we may have gotten 3" snow but by sunday afternoon, it was gone.

Last night, the roads stayed clear, we might have gotten 1/2" snow, there was light freezing rain but didnt affect traffic.



I think Ive set some parameters on this mystery plane im looking for.

Id like 4ch, ailerons, 480 motor?, driveable rear wheel, 10-15 min flight time, good range and RTF for 100-150, and it has to in some way resemble a plane, , no anorexic grasshoppers please, does this thing exist? Actually, Id be happy piecing everything together, kit plane etc, just as long as I could reach that target budget. Im lost in all the info still, I wouldnt even have an idea where to begin...but open for suggestions.

Just go with the supercub. Its got everything you want except for the ailerons. You can always add them later when you start to make mods like everyone does. The new mini supercub is even cheaper and should be able to do similar moves, but it only weights 8oz and won't handle near the breeze that the supercub will. The parkzone super decathalon is on clearance at Scale Reproductions hobby shop in Louisville for $99.00 which seems like a heck of a deal for brushless power and comes with a lipo. But no ailerons. This plane is usually $169.

Shop Ebay, or RCU markets for used Engine and radio gear and you could get into a Debonair for just over what your limit was. I've seen Engines in the .40-.60 size go for less than $50. Pick up a used radio, preferably from the RCU market, (I dont trust E-bay THAT much LOL) then find a Corro supply and you could have a fully functional 4 channel airplane for under $150. Of course you still should find instruction if you can, but if there really isnt any near enough to you find a REALLY wide open area out of town away from everyone and go for it, just expect to crash a few times. Mind you I am talking Several acres wide open. Our flying field where I fly is considered closed in and its got roughly 5 acres or more open with trees lining behind the runway, and one side of the field.

The SPAD Debonair, built well, will fly nicely. (Mine flies very slow with a .61 motor, but due to some greivous errors in construction she has some unwanted characteristics, READ: Tip stall and other nasty surprises due to overweight and twisted wing)

A side note: here is a list from the AMA site of Kentucky clubs. I know you said there wasnt one near, but if you find thatyou are near one you might look at checking them out.

Name Number Members Contact Address District Intro Pilots
BALSA BUSTERS RC MAC
Flying Site Details
4738 15 MIKE HARRIS
Email Contact 622 OLDHAM AVE
RICHMOND KY 40475
Phone: 859-624-0441
Visit Website
6 No
BLUEGRASS FLYERS
Flying Site Details
1511 14 GREGG FRONDAL
Email Contact 3021 RIVERSIDE DR
DANVILLE KY 40422
Phone: 606.236.8945
6 No
BLUEGRASS MODELERS RC FLYING CLUB
Flying Site Details
3297 27 PHILLIP YOUNG
Email Contact 205 SPRINGWOOD DR
HENDERSON KY 42420
Phone: 270.827.0980
6 No
BLUEGRASS SOARING SOCIETY
Flying Site Details
1709 15 GREG DEHAVEN
Email Contact 257A FONTAINE CIRCLE
LEXINGTON KY 40342
Phone: 270-991-4241
6 No
BOONE COUNTY KENTUCKY RC CLUB
Flying Site Details
3081 37 KEITH SESSIONS
Email Contact 2577 WESTPOINT CT
BURLINGTON KY 45213
Phone: 859.689.0953
6 No
BURGIN BARNSTORMERS
Flying Site Details
2661 21 KENNETH HARRIS
Email Contact 30 KENNEDY LANE
LANCASTER KY 40310
Phone: 859-548-8668
Visit Website
6 No
CAVE RUN AEROMODELERS
Flying Site Details
4872 6 STEVE RIGSBY
Email Contact 144 CLEARFIELD HILL
CLEARFIELD KY 40313
Phone: 606-784-4285
6 No
CINCINNATI SOARING & ELECTRIC
Flying Site Details
1641 34 BARRY ANDERSEN
Email Contact 227 ROSEMONT AVE
FORT THOMAS KY 41075
Phone: 859-781-0929
Visit Website
3 No
CINCY JETS
Flying Site Details
4433 9 JACK BEETZ
Email Contact 3223 RIDGETOP WAY
EDGEWOOD KY 41017
Phone: 859-344-9860
3 No
CLARK COUNTY R/C BARNSTORMERS
Flying Site Details
3503 24 GLENDA BROWN 1170 LOG LICK RD
WINCHESTER KY 40391
Phone: 859-745-4356
Visit Website
6 No
CYNTHIANA MODEL AIRPLANE CLUB
Flying Site Details
3329 17 BILLIE FRYMAN
Email Contact 307 WEBSTER AVE
CYNTHIANA KY 41031
Phone: 859.234.3094
6 No
FLYING CARDINALS OF NORTHERN KY INC
Flying Site Details
863 114 LOU SCHWEITZER
Email Contact 10 FOXCHASE LN APT 3
SOUTHGATE KY 41048
Phone: 859-781-9552
Visit Website
6 No
GREEN RIVER R/C CLUB
4430 20 VAUGHAN SHARP
Email Contact 124 SNOW LN
CAMPBELLSVILLE KY 42718
Phone: 270/789-1256
Visit Website
6 Yes
HARDIN COUNTY R/C MODELERS
4692 15 ALLAN OERTLE
Email Contact 126 BEWLEY RD
VINE GROVE KY 40175
Phone: 270.828.3391
Visit Website
6 No
HENDERSON RC MODEL AIRPLANE CLUB
Flying Site Details
2880 40 ROBERT MORTON
Email Contact 8407 U S 41-A
HENDERSON KY 42420
Phone: 270/826-0116
Visit Website
6 No
INDEPENDENT FLYERS ASSOCIATION
4876 10 WILLIAM HAYES
Email Contact 210 WESTERN DR
CAMPBELLSVILLE KY 42718
Phone: 270-272-2082
6 No
ISOTOPES RC CLUB
Flying Site Details
1734 85 JOHN TAYLOR
Email Contact 5669 WOODCREST LN
OWENSBORO KY 42303
Phone: 270-281-9024
Visit Website
6 Yes
KNOX MODEL AIRPLANE CLUB INC.
Flying Site Details
1129 14 HAROLD BROWN
Email Contact 1596 REDBUD CIR
RADCLIFF KY 40160
Phone: 270.351.1249
Visit Website
6 No
LAWRENCEBURG MODEL AIRPLANE CLUB
Flying Site Details
3440 7 CHARLES LAFOE
Email Contact 140 EMERSON DR
VERSAILLES KY 40383
Phone: 859-873-5132
6 No
LEXINGTON MODEL AIRPLANE CLUB
Flying Site Details
318 143 BRUCE HALL
Email Contact 1754 GRAEFENBURG RD
LAWRENCEBURG KY 40342
Phone: 502/839-5533
Visit Website
6 No
LOUISVILLE AREA SOARING SOC
Flying Site Details
2954 32 EDWIN WILSON
Email Contact 5308 SPRUCEWOOD DR
LOUISVILLE KY 40291
Phone: 502-239-3150
Visit Website
6 No
LOUISVILLE RC CLUB
Flying Site Details
895 127 RONALD MUIR
Email Contact PO BOX 956
BROOKS KY 40229
Phone: 502/551-9953
Visit Website
6 Yes
MURRAY RC MODELERS INC
Flying Site Details
1728 18 ANDREW BATTS
Email Contact 902 OLIVE ST
MURRAY KY 42071
Phone: 270-753-7213
Visit Website
6 No
PADUCAH AEROMODELERS
Flying Site Details
834 78 RANDALL HOPKINS
Email Contact 5024 OLD MAYFIELD RD
PADUCAH KY 42003
Phone: 270/554-3359
Visit Website
6 Yes
RIVER CITY RADIO CONTROLLERS
Flying Site Details
1263 147 WILLIAM FLUKE
Email Contact 8006 SHADOWCREEK RD
CRESTWOOD KY 40014
Phone: 502/241-0344
Visit Website
6 No
SCOTTSVILLE MODEL AIRPLANE
Flying Site Details
2622 13 KELLY COOKSEY 14 SANDY OAK ST
SCOTTSVILLE KY 42164
Phone: 270/237-4485
6 No
SOMERSET MODEL AIRPLANE CLUB
Flying Site Details
3388 79 JAMI ALBRIGHT
Email Contact 33 HARTS LN
SOMERSET KY 42519
Phone: 606-679-3158
Visit Website
6 Yes
SOUTHERN KY MODEL AERO CLUB SKYMAC
Flying Site Details
1158 37 DENNIS BAACK
Email Contact 1200 C SMALLHOUSE RD
BOWLING GREEN KY 42104
Phone: 270-781-1914
Visit Website
6 No
SOUTHERN OHIO R/C FLYERS ASSOC
Flying Site Details
3035 20 REX SANDERS
Email Contact 1423 STATE ROUTE 8
SOUTH PORTSMOUTH KY 45694
Phone: 606.932.4391
3 No
THE FLYING MULES
Flying Site Details
4857 5 GREG NEWMAN
Email Contact 131 CARTER CREEK RD
GREENVILLE KY 42345
Phone: 270-338-4998
6 Yes
TRI COUNTY SKY SHARKS
Flying Site Details
2734 19 DARRELL MEADORS
Email Contact 336 KING MOUNTAIN SPUR RD
WILLIAMSBURG KY 40769
Phone: 606/549-3706
6 Yes
WOODFORD COUNTY AEROMODELERS
Flying Site Details
3817 19 JOHN PECK
Email Contact 131 RAVENWOOD RD
VERSAILLES KY 40383
Phone: 859.873.5172
6 No
X-CELL TEAM
Flying Site Details
3122 108 L MCFARLAND 3404 KEITHSHIRE WAY
LEXINGTON KY 40503
Phone: 859-223-1237
6 No

parkzone super decathalon does look good, is the RTF for sale at 190 or is that the one that you need the controller? ebay has one for 159 and one for 109 but the difference is one is ARF the other RTF

how does the 300 brushless engine compare to the hobbyzone super cub 480? power and run time?

thanks


EDIT. I CONTACTED SCALE REPRODUCTIONS INC. THEY ARE SOLD OUT ON THE PARKZONE SUPER DECATHLON

Closest one is about an hour. Not too bad. Thanks

You're welcome!

I'm sure it does exist in the form of a tiny chinese foam rtf that will not handle even the slightest breeze and will likely be destroyed on it's maiden flight due to the shoddy construction on the plane combined with a lack of pilot experience. Most planes cost more than what you're looking to spend, even for the really low end stuff. You might want to lighten up on the looks requirements and focus on the flying characteristics of the planes that you're looking at. You definitely get what you pay for in this industry.

As suggested earlier, a spad would fit your requirements if you're willing to build. They're not as pretty, but they're tough and dirt cheap to rebuild after a crash. For $100, anything that looks like a real plane is likely to contain very poor quality parts.

Its not a bad idea, but from my perspective, it opens up a new bag of worms..which controller, motors, etc are good etc.

I have no idea.

Tried to learn about wing shape/dimensions earlier.

If you have a link to something not aesthetically horrible but with full blueprints, Id take a look at the link.

I have what amounts to 3/4 of the fuselage from a cox flyboy. has a motor/propeller, not sure another battery would work with it. I tried charging it, push the button but the propeller wont stay running. anoother issue, the wing is battered all to pieces. the upper tail is fine but the rest is gone. it has a two channel controller but Id really like to have throttle control, just to have it. :"D and have elevation control

any thoughts on that?

maybe I should start a thread, with pictures of what I do have and folks jump in and help the newb build something out of it? you think folks would take to that idea or dismiss it as a waste of time?

I thought about making a wing using dowl rod and seran wrap.

Just got home from Scale Reproductions and you are right they are sold out of the Super Decathalon but they now have the mini supercub on sale for $89.00 RTF. Looks like another good deal. My guess is that these sales will continue through Christmas with a different plane every time they sell out of a certain model.

Inline, If you contact your nearest club, you may get able to locate used gear. Many have switched
to 2.4 radios, and will sell their old 72Mhz gear for a song. Used trainer-type planes are also plentifull.
The Hardin County club will have a swap meet in April, also a good source.[sm=shades_smile.gif]

I'm sorry to be so critical of your desires but feel someone should set you straight. Learning to fly these models is not easy nor cheap. Not only should you get a trainer airplane but would surely help if you found an instructor. With that I wish you good luck on your flying.

Post deleted by Adui for lack of constructive content

I too am one of the supporters of getting help when learning, but it doesnt have to be through a club or an "instructor". There are plenty of us who are self taught and i'm sure we enjoy the hobby just as much as the club members. After all, these planes we are talking about are called "Park Flyers" for a reason. I am more than happy to help anyone that needs a little advice here and the, but i think the traditional bubby box system isn't necessary with the RTF park flyers aimed at begginers. When it all comes down to it, have fun, because thats what it is all about!

Once you have a good radio and engine, you can build any of the four SPAD planes I referred you to above for less than about $30.00. Those models are not suitable for learning to fly on. There are many trainer planes on spadtothebone.net that you could build. I hope to be taking off two of those planes in the snow this winter.

Well, it's a few months on and just in case anyone is still interested in this thread and the original question - here's my little contribution.

If you get a Super Cub, you'll get a robust model that you can successfully learn to fly on all by yourself - I did. It's also fun to modify. The first change I made was adding ailerons driven by the rudder servo which cost very little - rolls and inverted flight now possible. The next change was to 3S lipo battery power, still with the stock radio (minus the jumper that sets the BEC cut off voltage) and that cost some money for connectors and batteries and charger - now add fast take-off, Cuban 8 and vertical climbing rolls to the fun, plus double the flight time.

Next upgrade will be four channel radio (which I've already got), brushless motor and 30A ESC. The cost is now going up, but these extra parts will be re-usable in other models. I'll be converting the wing to carry two little servos (HiTec HS55), one for each aileron, and removing all the original electronics. Parts are on order, and I'm checking the letter box daily!

One down side of choosing the Super Cub is that the stock radio, electronics, servos and motor are not the sort of stuff you'd want to put into another model - at least not if you want to move on and up (please pardon the pun!) The servos are five-wire things that don't work with any other radio system than the stock one.

And that's all in my humble opinion, of course