Hey I have always wanted to get in to RC aircraftflying. I have some time now so was thinking why not. I have never doneanythinglike this be fore though so am a bit in over my head. I am looking for a fun plane that looks cool and is easy to fly. I really would like a plane what has partsavailablefor it so when I crash "we can rebuild it we have the technology" I am a big WW2 nut so would like a plane from that era. and I was thinking or the RTF planes with a price range of around $100. I live in Ohio so it iw winter now so i would have time to tinker, any Pros out there with ideas?



Thanks,


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Check out the "looking for a trainer, what's available" sticky at the top of this forum. It will be hard to find a warbird trainer for 100.00. Check out your area for up coming RC swap meets. you can run accross some great deals there. There is a lot to consider: In addition to the plane, you will also need, (for a glow Engine plane) an engine, fuel, glow driver, Chicken stick for starting, or electric starter, Prop, Receiver (Rx)for the plane, servo's, Transmitter (tx)-(radio) Rx Battery, fuel delivery system. all this is at a minimum. You can go electric instead of glow, but will still need the Rx and Tx, servos, motor, ecs, rx Battery. There are ready to fly models that come with verything you need, but not for 100.00. Hangar 9 sells a super nice P51 trainer that you can get ready to fly (RTF), but you're looking at over 300.00 for that. You can check out ebay as well or the Classified section here. There are deals to be had, but you just have to be patient and look for them. I've found a few good deals on Craigs list too. But the Swap meets that I mentioned earlier are where you find the best deals. Warbirds are difficult to fly. You might want to consider a standard trainer to "get yer wings" on. They are cheaper as well. Some guys will sell them dirt cheap as soon as they get their second plane. I still have mine and I think I'll keep it. It is easy and fun to fly, very relaxing. Other will tell you to find a club, join the AMA, and get with and instructor to teach you the facts about this hobby and how to fly as well, and they will be correct with those statements. A good instructor (and they cost nothing) is the best approach to learning this hobby and how to fly safely and properly. Last but not least, this forum is the best, an incredible source of information, friendship and advice.
Good luck and welcome to RC flying.

Plan on your budget x 4 (400.00) and you can get the hangar 9 PTS mustang. It's a good trainer but you will and should join a club and get some help. For a hunderd bucks your going to have to go with toy grade aircraft like the Air Hogs and such. Also you could get one of the cox wings WWll aircraft for uner a hundred bucks.

rrragman

Crazy-
Start out with a simulator then go to the "fun plane" thats "easy to fly" then work your way up to the "looks cool"...and if at all possible find yourself somebody to teach you.. I taught myself but I practiced on a sim for an hour or two a day for a month before I tried the simplest plane. Now when I teach people to fly I do it on a GWS Slowstick with a trainer cord. Doesn't "look cool" but it's a "fun plane" thats "easy to fly".

Before you spend your money on a whim, visit one or more of the local RC clubs and see what they are flying. Check (talk and visit with the members) out their preferences for what is best for a newcomer. They may even have a way for you to try out on some of their planes with a trainer cord. Most clubs will welcome a possible new member and give good advice.

Hello, and welcome to RC flying!

I see you have the "cool plane" problem!
For 100 dollars, you CAN buy a little RTF fighter aircraft, but you will have difficulty flying it sucesfully.
Insetead, find a local club and talk to them. Perhaps someone will have a trainer, and will let you fly
on a buddy box - that's how I started.

There are many nice trainers available for sale - If you are on a budget, ask around for a used trainer, preferably with the radio and engine. This will be a good bet for cost, and you won't have the problems you would have with a twitchy foam warbird. It may cost more, but it will be larger (cool factor), probably have a glow engine (more cool) and be considerably easier to fly.
Everyone will reccomend a different trainer, so I won't get into specifics, but if you can find one, my bias says "Sig Kadet Senior"!

Have fun!
Graeme

"Don't count your chickens before they Hatch", "Putting the cart before the horses". Someone can probably come up with a few others. Keep in mind no one here is trying to discourage you, but it's easier to ride a motorcycle if you already know how to ride a bicycle. Your not going to find anything outside of "toy grade" for $100 as mentioned. Looking for used equipement is a good suggestion. Don't think that you have to join a club to learn to fly though. You may simply not want to join a club at this point. Pick up a Hobbyzone Super Cub RTF for about $169 and teach yourself (You may be able to find the older NiMH version locally a little cheaper since the LiPo version is available). If you really like flying, then by all means join a club and jump to a nitro trainer. If you just must have that warbird, paint your high wing trainer Olive Drab and write "Army" on the side of it and tell everyone it's a recon plane.

I think I will take the idea further  - paint the plane white with red circles, and when you crash, you can call it scale flight!  
Judges are bound to be impressed... 

Hey, They DID use Cubs as the top military trainer in the USA during WW2.

Have fun, and safe flying!

Graeme</p>

If your budget really is $100 and that's it, then RC flying isn't for you. This is a hobby that does cost money to do, and you will incur expenses as you go. You might consider control line flying since that doesn't require a radio and the small engines don't cost much. I hope you understand, I don't want to chase anybody out of the hobby because I think it's great, but there are people all around who got into the hobby and spent what money they had on it only to find out they really couldn't afford it and wind up with nothing. A better route is to save your pennies until you can afford a quality plane (the aforementioned Super Cub is decent) and can join a club that has instruction. Allow some money for incidentals so that a small setback like a wreck or a battery going bad won't put you out of the hobby. Then you'll be successful and really enjoy the hobby like you want to.

crazyskypilot-
I have to apologize, I really hate when sombody asks a question and people start acting like it is "Need to Know" information. And I did it myself.

So... Nitroplanes has some cool looking warbirds for around 100 bucks - plus shipping shipping,

[link]http://www.nitroplanes.com/4ch.html[/link]

You might wanna try to get on a sim for a bit and try a high wing or a stick first.They have some also. But no matter what don't let people discourage you, and be safe.
Join the AMA. BW

Crazyskypilot,
Hi and welcome to the RC flying world. You have recieved some good advice so far. And they are accurate about
the AROUND $400.00 thing. Don't be discouraged! There are ways to go low budget here and still get your GOAL of a military(ish) trainer. You can get some decent gear used at about any club. We ussually have flight boxes and starters and such from guys who have quit, reasonable. We don't just give this stuf out to the latest guy that comes down the road though. Ther e is an endless streeam of those guys.
Don't buy anything yet. Join the AMA and then join a club. Get a little buddy box time so you know what is actually going to happen when YOU fly. This will let you know you need a decent trainer. Trainers need not, and in my opinion,and should not be expensive or complicated. Most are easy to repair, all of them will need repairs. Look at SPADTOTHEBONE.COM for VERY inexpensive plane options. DO read the sticky on begining at the top of this forum....those guys are the best info gatherers and online teachers bar none.
Any trainer can be colered or modified some to look miltary. Just don't change its flying ability. Your first plane's motor, radio and many other parts can transfer to your second plane. So buy a decent .45 and a RADIO THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH YOUR INSTRUCTORS RADIO.
If you decide to buy a ready made trainer that looks military I'll second the Hanger nine P51, just loose ALL the extras from the get go.
Many of the guys with fancy planes started with a basic or used trainer and a cardboard box for a flight box. Don't sweat that stuff.
They'll be more impressed if you offer to help mow than with whats in your wallet! This is a well kept secret but students that help with the field work get more buddy box time

OzMo is dead on. Join a club, let them know you want to learn to fly and let them know you have a small budget. Then start doing as much as you can for the club. Guys who see that you aren't just walking around with your hand out will help you if they can. Of course, the number of hours you'll put into earning that kind of help would probably buy what you need anyway. As I said above, I don't want to discourage you either but just answering your question and turning you loose would virtually gurarantee you'll be discouraged later and also $100 poorer. Every one of us has walked the beginner road and we've seen some guys suceed and some guys fail. The vast majority who fail try to do the hobby too cheaply and never learn to fly because their equipment isn't good enough.

hey... i ve just made my first foamie!! its an x 31! please help me figure out what power system i need for it
motor,speed controller,and battery!!! PLEASEE my planes weight is about 280 grams without the electronics.
its a park flyer.
ive found this set up.. will it work?? or fry up the electronics???
motor
1)hacker a 20 m- max powerrange is 150w
rpm/volt is 1130

2)iam using a 30 amp ecs ( more than required)

3 )the battery iam using is 910mah/3s/11.1 v

the motor company recommends using a 20 amp ecs for which a 7.4 v battery is good enough right??
but iam thinking i ll re use this stuff in other bigger planes ... so should i go in for the higher ones??
PLEASEREPLY
THANKS