thinking about a plane.
 

Well ive been into rc for years but i have always been afraid of a plane or a heli. I got the real flight g5.5 a few weeks ago and have been playing that a whole bunch. Ive have got flying in that simulator all figured out and im not that bad. Im wondering if im ready for the real deal now. I have been looking at a few planes and im wanting a electric warbird. I really like the parkzone p-51 and f4u corsair. Are these good begginer planes? Or should i just keep playing the simulator for a while longer?

RE: thinking about a plane.
 

If you like warbird types the Parkzone T-28 is recomended as a trainer by many poeple.

RE: thinking about a plane.
 

When you think you are "wonderful" at the simulatior, you are finally ready to try a real plane WITH AN INSTRUCTOR.

The simulator helps reduce the amount of learning you'll have to do at the club field.

It will not eliminate it.

CG Retired and RCKen have a nice writeup of what the Simulator cannot teach you... but an Instructor will guide you through.

I've taught people that have practiced extensively with the sim, to the point that they needed 2 or 3 intensive clases to solo.... and no more.

Because of the sim I only needed 3 sessions myself.

But those three sessions were real eye openers... I learned quite a lot that I had not known from the sim.

RE: thinking about a plane.
 

2nd the ParkZone T-28

RE: thinking about a plane.
 

well i like the t-28 alot now that i looked at one. there is a rc airfield about a mile away from the rc track i drive at, so ill stop by there one day while im at the track and watch.  When you mentioned a instructor, is there people that you pay to teach you? or just ask an experienced person for some tips?

RE: thinking about a plane.
 

most clubs have an instructor or two who will teach you to fly and not charge you as long as you join the club

RE: thinking about a plane.
 

If you stop by the field and talk to the people there, they will probably introduce you to an instructor if one is there, or give you the contact info to get you hooked up with one. As stated above, most clubs have instructors that teach for free, assuming you join the club, which you'll need to do anyways if you need a place to fly. Don't give up on the simulator in the meantime. I've found that I get most pilots soloed in two or three lessons if they have enough time actually practicing on the sim. Practice is the key word. Time seeing how spectacular a crash you can have does not count ;)

RE: thinking about a plane.
 

Hey.  If you think you are ready for a plane, then you are getting used to flying with the sim.  Buy a trainer that some of the other more experienced people here will lead you to.  What I found is that the sim. and real R.C. flying are different.  Without my instructor, I would no longer have my NexSTAR, which by the way I still own, and is still in two pieces.  What I found most important about the 2 months I spent with the sim. , before I bought my NexSTAR is transmitter control.  This ( as I'm sure you now know ) changes with the plane coming at you, and away from you.  Right is left, and left is right.  Wrong is always wrong.  Have lots of fun.  That is what this is all about. :)

RE: thinking about a plane.
 

I think that you should get ahold of an instructor and let him guide you to a suitable trainer. Low winged warbirds are no way to start and will discourage you. I don't care how much sim time you have there is no replacement for really flying an airplane and you need an instructor to do that. A good high-winged trainer is the way to start and there are plenty to choose from especially in this day and age when a lot of people are going to electrics and don't get a small plane get something you can see and has more chance to survive in the wind. These little airplanes are good for experienced pilots but are really figity and you have to be on top of them all the time. Buy a "real" airplane and you won't be sorry.

Just my two cents......................but I've been flying for over 30 years and have seen the same mistakes over and over again.

Cheers,
Andy

RE: thinking about a plane.
 

My advise when you go to the field talk to everyone. But get your real advise from the people that actually do most of the flying at the field.

RE: thinking about a plane.
 

NOPE! Well yes, though your correct, its easier to teach someone "Low wing gets the stick". It takes ALL the lefts and rights out of the equation. When the plane is COMING at you, moving the stick toward the low wing picks it up and levels the plane.

After 15, 20 or maybe 50 flights, you will get a little out of shape and instinctively respond instantly with out thinking. You will immediately start to grin knowing you just over came one more hurtle in the learning process. ;) Have fun, take it slow and easy.

my 2 cents anyway

RE: thinking about a plane.
 

well ive been playing the simulator nonstop now. since you guys mentioned another plane with high wings ive taken a liking to the parkzone super cub. Is this a good trainer? Im gonna try and go to the local rc airfield soon and see if there is an instructor. Thanks for all the responses. Also witch plane in the simulator should i keep practicing with? I only have the planes that came on the orginal disc,

RE: thinking about a plane.
 

Scooter,

Great advice. Move the stick to the low wing when the plane is coming at you. Best advice don't think left or right. Point stick to low wing.

HPI,

That plane is one of the best beginner planes on the market. In my opinion. I used it with a girl who wanted to learn RC. First time out she soloed. Good Luck. Keep us informed. Just make sure you turn the autopilot off. It really doesn't help.

RE: thinking about a plane.
 

X2

RE: thinking about a plane.
 

Iam in the same boat you are in. I bought a simulator first then took the plunge. I ended up getting both the T-28 and the F4U Corsair. The T-28 is much more stable and predictable in the air and a whole lot of fun. The Corsair was fun too but needs a little more attention, especially take-offs and landings. If I were to get just one, I would definatly getthe T-28 first.

fun fact:
My father in Law saw my T-28 box in my living room and said "hey I use to fly those" I thought he meant the RC T-28. He said "No, the real one"

apparently the real T-28 is a Navy training plane that can do acrobatics. He said the real T-28 was the most fun plane he has flown. When we flew my RC T-28,he said that it flew very similar to the real one.

RE: thinking about a plane.
 

Can you fly all the planes on the sim? I usually encourage those looking to get into RC planes to fly, fly fly on the sim- and get to were they can fly any plane on there. That way, if they can fly the jets/3D planes/helis, they will find their .40 trainer a lot easier to fly when it's time. While your at it, go to the menu and max out the simulation speed, and dial in some wind too. Another thing that can help you build your oncoming orientation is to crank the wind up to 50 knots, then fly the model toward you- just see if you can hold a "hover" for a while before getting blown away or crashing.

RE: thinking about a plane.
 

Don't focus on "which plane should I get".... ( better not to ask that question ! )

Instead as already suggested, go find a club ( and join! ) then see about training.

What you'll find at the field will change your choices completely... so any decision you make now, you will likely regret ( or go out of your way to self-justify ) later....

RE: thinking about a plane.
 

i can fly all the planes on the sim pretty well except a few helis. ill try to mess with the wind and all that today.

i havent been able to go out to a local club yet because of all the rain st.louis has been getting lately so i figure no one will be out there.

RE: thinking about a plane.
 

Around here, rain predictions do not necessarily stop flying... lightning on the other hand does.

RE: thinking about a plane.
 

If you do go out to the field with all this bad weather and there are people flying. I would say they are pretty hardcore. Good people to talk too.!!!!! :D