<input type="hidden" id="gwProxy" /><!Session data><input type="hidden" onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" />Hey everybody. My name is Steve. Iam a pilot (full size haha), have been for about 5 years and have around 800 hours.My family (brothers and Dad) runs a buisness that makes Bi-Planes (WacoAircraft in battle creek). Anyway i am thinking about getting into RC and i know that i like the idea of building a plane from a kit. Ido have a lot of experience wood working (for clear reasons) so that is not so much an issue

What are some good trainier "kits" out there. Iam looking at http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...LXBSB8&amp;P=7 the Elder 40 from top flite.

Iam wondering if anyone else here on the forum is a pilot.

anyway here is a photo of our factory floor. Come to think about it if there are any scale guys out there that are building a YMF-5 i would be more then happy to supply measurments and photos. Iwould like to build a large scale 33% of a YMF5 someday, but for now i think i am going to cut my teeth on somehting a bit more realistic. (or at least something that i wont cry if i crash)

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I think you will find that there is a high percentage of both active as well as retired pilots including most other aviation professionals as well throughout the hobby/sport/passion.

I would highly reccomend you forego the Elder and instead choose from one of the real trainers in the list at the top of this forum.

But before you do that first connect with a mentor/instructor who will be working with you and allow some imput from him on what equipment you will be training on. Connecting with a mentor is the most important first step you can make. Check you local clubs.


John

If you want to build a trainer from a kit, two good kits are Great Planes PT-40 or SIG LT-40. Both are good kit building trainers that teach you how to build kits as well as they teach you how to fly RC. I have built the PT40 and if I had to do it over again, I would build the SIG. The SIG LT-40 is a better looking and better flying plane in my opinion.

Another option you might consider if you really have your heart set on building that elder (and seeing what you do for a living I can see why the elder would appeal to you) is to buy an ARF trainer like a Tower Trainer and be learning to fly while you are building the elder. That way by the time you are done building it, you will also be ready to fly it!

Get a good simulator for your computer, join a club, and work a little with an instructor and you should be good to go. Nice hangar by the way.

And check the scale building forum, I'll bet there are lots of guys there who would be interested in scale documentation

Hi and welcome aboard! Great looking planes on your factory floor.

I am with John and Dash on this, forget the Elder for now (at least the flying part of it) and get yourself a real trainer. Don't worry about looks, get a stable plane that is going to teach you to fly, there is plenty of time to get nicer looking planes down the road.

This link should give you a good idea as to what's available to get you started:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4537845/tm.htm

I also second the recommendation of getting a simulator, I believe it is a great investment and a cheap way to teach you basic flying and get you oriented.

<div>Welcome bowerss2. I agree with what has been said. I too am a beginner, and I love to build. So I purchased an ARF to get me in the air and learning while I am building a plane, Building takes time, longer than you would think. It is really important to hook up with a mentor (instructor). You will progress much faster with less stress on your CC. Some will also say that being a full-scale pilot is not much help when it comes to flying RC, although having an understanding of flight helps. Good luck and enjoy.</div><div></div><div>I like the hanger, nice planes.</div><div></div><div>TB</div>

"I am wondering if anyone else here on the forum is a pilot."


We are all pilots here.


SIG LT-40 is a nice kit to begin with. Get some help when first flying though.

Welcome to RCU forums, Steve!

Here you can find RC model airplane clubs in your area:

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

Those RC pilots will advise about what equipemnt to buy that matches what they have for trainning.

Think of a flight simulator for beginner and advance practice:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/forumid_138/tt.htm

Also, read through old and new posts in the Beginners forum.

We also have the Scale, Golden Age and Full Size forums:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/forumid_169/tt.htm

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/forumid_255/tt.htm

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/forumid_196/tt.htm