Hey guys.

Heres the quick version. Im the 21 year old college engineering student. My girlfriend and I room mate with a family that is our best friends. The husband and I were really close friends from a previous job and our respective significant others became close friends by yelling at us (what a concept!). Anyway they have 2 children that my girlfriend and I are like aunt and uncle to. They both love my hobby but the older boy really loves it. Older boy is just turning 11. but more than likely due to a rough past has some maturety and decision making problems, he lost his birth father in a motorcycle accident when he was 1. I would love to pass my hobby to him and thats all he wants for his birthday at the end of the month. But there of course there are differnt options and different negatives with each path.

Zach is his name and he has some focusing issues especially with course work at school, but when it comes to legos the boy will build and build, which is why i thought maybe a kit we could build together. But I have some trust issues with undertaking a build like that with him (he has pinched sharp objects in the past and they wind up in the wrong places, no one ever been hurt, but that gives me pause to even work with those near him even if I use all the sharp tools).

As much as the boy likes my glow planes I am leaning towards electric, for simplicity and also when Im not there and he's learned to fly there are parks right near the apartment complex where the nearest place to fly glow is 20-30 min drive. But I started on a alpha 40 and gone up and my only electric experience is with edf's and a parkzone sukhoi. I was thinking of the super cub as its always recommended. but if he has me to buddy box off of Id rather him start with a true 4 channel plane.

And lastly i have spektrum, futaba, and old JR fm transmitters, what should I look for buddy box equipment. will any of my transmitters be buddy box-able (?) with any of those RTF packages?

Thanks for any pointers.

My 8 yr old soloed this summer on A Flyzone SkyflyMax. Great airplane, and it's four channel!

Here is the review I did on the Skyfly Max:
[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/article_display.cfm?article_id=1254]Skyfly Max[/link]

THe Skyfly is a great plane, but you won't be able to buddy with the transmitter (Unless you buy a second TTX404 transmitter. The transmitter has a built-in WIRELESS buddy box)

I am currently reviewing the new RXR Super Cub from ElectriFly and while I haven't flown it yet, this thing shows a lot of promise.

That said, have you considered getting him a simulator? It's late in the year, so he'll only get a little time in before winter sets in, but he can practise on a sim all winter and be ready to fly next spring

tis true, I do have a simulator. I could get him on that, but we do want to get him something for his birthday at the end of the month. I was considering the sky fly max. Ive also seen the apprentice by eflight i think that comes with spektrum.

Oangehat44,

The Apprentice is a great first plane if you are looking for 4 channel. But it is large. 58" wingspan and needs a little more room than the Skyfly. It does come with a 2.4 radio (DX5e) that can be used in another plane down the road, and buddy boxed. It also comes with a AR500 reciever which is a full range RX. The drawback to the Apprentice is that it cost more. $299.99 most places. Not sure, but it might not be considered a park flyer. I do fly mine at the park behind our home, which is quite large. You would need at least a football field size area.

This maybe a bit of a different approach, but a Radian EP Glider maybe just the ticket.

You can purchase the Radian basically ready to fly complete with a 2.4 Spektrum 5e radio for around $275.00. The Radian is a good flying bird which will certainly teach any flier a great deal. How to fly the wing and not just the power curve of an airplane. The Radian is a good thermal airplane allowing long duration flights on just one battery charge. I have flown my Radian for well over an hour until I got tired with neck strain. Great Bird lots of fun!

good idea about the glider. I had been thinking of getting one for myself lol. Maybe I'll go that route, all different options. we havent really come up with a budget yet.

Since you already have transmitters, might be better to not get a RTF. Do you already have a charger that can do lipos and/or extra lipos? Here are some other ideas where you could use some of your radios:

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...rce=google_ext

http://www.redrockethobbies.com/E_Fl..._p/efl2900.htm

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXXJS4&P=0

Even more options open up if you're open to a kit. StevensAero Squirt400, Mountain Models Dandy, GWS E-starter, just to name a few all would be good choices. Plus might make it sort of cool for him to help build and get to choose the colors to make it unique to him. With any of these you could just get some inexpensive ESC/motor/servo combos from HeadsUp R/C or Hobby City.

A slow stick might be an option. The price is right and the simplicity will work for you with this kind of youngster. They are available every where but here is a reference so you can give it a look. They fly just fine for a new flyer. Short enough build process so he won't loose interest.
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...dID=GWSAE0018I

Try reading <font face="Times New Roman" size="3">electricrcstartersguide.info


It covers lots of stuff for Rc airplanes!</font>