Hi guys my name is Michael and I want to start up r/c Planes.
I have a bit of knowledge about cars but not planes.
I am planning ofbuildinga p-51 Mustang that will be electricpowered not nitro.

I have a few Questions;

1. How do you set your plane up with servos and electronics? what is important topositioning engines and servos and stuff

2. Also what is the best website for plans and stuff for early Warbirds.

Thanks Kindly Michael Bilsborow

A Mustang or any other warbird will not make a good trainer.....Warbirds by their nature are not forgiving airplanes.....they can stall into a snap roll and then a "death sprial" that the most seasoned pilot can't get out of unless he has some altitude.......Unlike cars we can't pull to the side and stop until we reset ourselves.....
Instead I recommend a good high wing trainer like the LT-40, Alpha, etc. that are forgiving aircraft and don't have any bad habits......
Finally get yourself an instructor and learn to fly the easy and cheap way.....Like most things it is better to start out slowly and work yourself up to a Mustang as a 3rd or 4th airplane....go to your local flying club ask questions meet the folks there....the next thing you now you're on your way.....good luck

Great advice. If you start out with a scratch built P51 it is 100% probability that you will destroy it about 10 seconds into its first flight. Some stick time on a trainer with an AMA intro pilot program instructor will save you a world of aggravation.

I would have to agree. Resist the urge to start with the p-51. I know there is a trainer version of one but its pretty split as to whether it really is a good trainer. Take your time and progress up to the warbird. You want learning to be as easy as possible and not frustrating. The trainers are called that for a reason, very forgiving, easy to fly and cheaper to rebuild.

Finding an instructor is a great idea- even better is to join the AMA and a local club. Most clubs have an instructor, and some clubs even have a trainer for students to get their first few flights on. The nicest thing about joining a club is you will be surrounded by fellow R/Cers with a ton of knowlege/ experience that love to help out the new guys!

Michael,

There is a thread currently on the first page entitled "Crashed my first flight" which details the saga of one individual who is trying to get started on his own. Fishing is a great solitary sport, while RC Airplanes is a great community sport. I would strongly agree with others who recommend starting with a trainer and a trainer pilot rather than starting out with a shot hot plane only to watch it auger into the ground after 10 seconds. Good luck!

I also would have to agree with the above advice. I am very new to this as well but I have already leaned some lessons. Against the recommendations of experienced friends I purchased a plane that was beyond my experience level. This resulted in about 3-4 minutes total of flight time before I crashed and broke the plane beyond flyable. Eventhough it wasn't expensive, it was still about $140 down the drain. I have since done a lot of research and purchased a plane more suited to my experience level. It may not be fancy and may not look cool in the air but with it I can take off, fly around and land coming home with an unbroken and flyable plane which is much more gratifying than seeing a cool looking plane in the air for a few moments only to watch it come screaming towards tera firma towards it's inevetable end. Look for something with a high wing and dihedral, this will help with stability and self righting capabilities. Larger the wing span the more stable. Most importantly do your home work and heed the advice of the experienced member, even if it isn't what you want to hear.

Good Luck

Brett

I second all that was said above. Also, get a cheap flight simulator. FMS is a free download. You can get FMS and a operator for about $25 on-line. Practice - practice - practice! Every time you crash on the simulator you get a brand new airplane absolutely free!

Find a local club. Go to the AMA web-site or ask at your local hobby-shop about local clubs. Once you find a local club you will be half way there! Most clubs have instructors and some even have club trainer planes to help new fliers.

Good luck..

First off, welcome to the great hobby of RC flight.

Now, on to business. Everything that everyone here has said is true. Get a simulator (any is better than none, the physics and graphics will be better on the higher end simulators), a plane designed to be a trainer, and join the AMA and a club. Fly on the simulator as much as you possibly can, and get to where you can easily take off and land with a few different planes on the sim. Once you can do that, start your instruction at a club with a club instructor. You won't regret it. You'll not only learn the proper way to fly an airplane (IE, not learn the bad habbits that you may pick up learning on your own), as well as help from local pilots when you need it, and the comraderie of being with a group of people that enjoy doing the same thing you do.

Visit your local club before purchasing your first plane, as they can give you further recommendations on what to get and what they prefer to train on.

The Hangar 9 P-51 Mustang PTS is the trainer Mustang that was mentioned. I learned on one of them. It is a very good flying airplane, and does make a good trainer when used with the training gear. However, it's not the best trainer for everyone. If you get a good simulator, practice on the simulator frequently for a good while to get the basics and orientation to a somewhat familiar level, find an instructor that has either taught someone else on one or is open to the idea of teaching with one, and use the training gear, you will have a higher likelyhood of having success with the PTS Mustang. There is also another upside to going with the PTS Mustang (if it has been deemed the right trainer for you), and that is that it can also serve as your second plane by removing the training gear and installing the flap servos (if you go with the PTS Mustang, you will likely change the prop to a 2 bladed prop before you reach solo). It can also serve as somewhat of a 3rd plane by installing a more powerful engine in it, such as the OS .55AX, Saito 72, or Saito 82, giving it more performance and giving you more of a feel of what's to come from more advanced airplanes. It is a glow powered plane, but should be able to be converted to electric with a few part changes. If you do choose to go the electric conversion route, I'd recommend getting the Hangar 9 P-51 Mustang 40 ARF. It's essentially the same airplane as the PTS Mustang Mk. II, but you'll have to choose your power source, radio gear, servos, and buy the wing droops and speed brakes serperately. It is fitted for retracts, but includes fixed gear (if I'm not mistaken), which you should use at least until you're comfortable flying the plane in it's "high performance" configuration (no training aids).

I have had a lot of luck with the Tower 40, and you can get this plane ready to fly for about $260. You would still need to buy the necessary field accessories though. For the money, this is a great flying plane.

Hey guys<div>
</div><div>Thanks for all the info,</div><div>I have downloaded flight simulator 2004 so ill get started on that, I think  there is an R/C one so i'll give that a try.</div><div>
</div><div>Also  I think I can get a good trainer plane for next to nothing of a friend so I'll learn that first.</div><div>
</div><div>Does anyone know an airplane club in South Australia?</div><div>
</div><div>Thanks Greatly Michael</div>

Go find a club near you. Trust me, it will be the funnest part of the hobby....and it will save you allot of money in the end. Clubs are filled with experienced pilots, and there is something about this hobby that attracts helpful friendly people. Somebody will probably have a trainer that they will buddy box you on and trust me that trainer will get your nerves going so much that you'll think it's a P-51. After that you'll feel just fine about flying your own high wing trainer around for a while. Here's my advice. Don't skimp on gear your first time around. You'll end up spending more money in the end when you want to advance in the hobby. Get a good radio the first time around. I made the mistake of getting a four channel JR that I replaced within a year. For a little more money I could have just bought the 7 channel that I still use today. I wouldn't recommend anything less than 7 channels.....the more the better. Also, buy a motor, ESC, Battery, Servos....etc. that can transfer to the mustang later. When you're ready to put the trainer away and fly the mustang, you'll already have the gear you need to put in it (assuming it survives the training process). good luck and have fun.

WARNING! if you choose to build that P-51 and fly it.....it will most definitely crash. and you will be so heart broken you'll probably give up the hobby.

Good for you Michael......I am so glad you have taken our advice......we don't mean to sound harsh...It's just that we have seen others go down the road you were, fail and we never see them again....what a shame.......I remember a gentleman that we had never seen before, ask if he coild fly as a guest....he had a beautiful Mustang.....come to find out...he was not a RC pilot...we offered advice and then we offered help....He announced quite loudly that we was a full scale pilot and he could handle this airplane...we again asked if we could assist as the flying isn't the same....with his arrogance in full bloom...we watched as the Mustang tracked straight down the runway, the tail lifted followed by the mains...the aircraft maintained runway heading, as it climbed and begun the departure turn to the right with too much angle of bank.....rolled over and impacted the ground..a total loss...this guy was madder than I'd ever seen anyone after a crash.....once he calmed down and his arrogant attitude was checked he explained that this was the thrid Mustang he had crashed that he had never brought one home in one piece...and his wife was gonna kill him......he never saw him again.....
You see we just want you to be successful..and aviod what happened above......