Questions, getting back into R/C
 

Hi all,

After a 10 year hiatus, I am getting back into r/c airplanes, I am specifically interested in electric flight.
I flew a stick type for a first plane (gone now), then built a kit extra 300 .46

I want to buy an electric trainer, I am not sure if I should get a basic trainer or a more advanced one. I would like to get a .46 2 stroke equivalent or greater. Kit or arf, whatever is more appropriate.
Could I have suggestions on specific planes I could buy and why?

As for motors, esc and batteries, can I have suggestions on brands and types? I want to electrify the extra 300 as well.

I am thinking of buying a spektrum dx7 transmitter. It seems to be a good one.

Any general advice would be welcome to help me back into the hobby.

Happy new year to all!

RE: Questions, getting back into R/C
 

I personally prefer e flite stuff and the dx7s is a fantastic transmitter. For the trainer a hobbyzone super cub is quite good as it is easy to fly and easy to repair with hot glue. Hope this helps.

JM

RE: Questions, getting back into R/C
 

I do fly one small electric Extra and have had a couple others but I know almost less then zero about electric power. Whenever I have any questions about it I go to the bottom of the header bar and go over to the wattflyer forum. Not only do they know about every type of plane and power system but watts and volts is all they speak. You can get most of your information just from there stickys they have posted. Also some of the nicest people you will ever want to meet. It's the perfect forum for all things electric. Go sign up and take a look, I think you will really like it!!;)

RE: Questions, getting back into R/C
 

For electrics, what I recommend to my students is the Apprentice 15e or Alpha 450, both from Horizon Hobbies. Either of those are good for training, and its good to always have a trainer anyway for backup or just lazy flying around.
Edwin

RE: Questions, getting back into R/C
 

For anyone choosing equipment, newbie, returnee, or otherwise, you pick the plane then you pick the power system. So if you'd feel comfortable with a sport plane like a Stick or a 4 Star, pick the plane you think you'll fly well. There are few planes on the market around .40 size that are specifically built for electric power, but it's simple enough to convert one. The motor manufacturers have recommendations for replacing various glow engines, even to the point of selling the motor and ESC as a combo with a recommendation for batteries. If you're converting a glow plane, you'll have to build a little box and provide cooling holes for the battery, build or buy a motor mount that attaches to the firewall, and find a spot for the ESC that's in the airflow.

For brands, the aforementioned Eflite is good for motors, as is Rimfire, Himax, and lots of others. Honestly, brushless motors aren't hard to make and there's not a huge amount of difference. Castle ESC's are probably at the top of the market, and batteries are pretty much get what you pay for. Gens Ace is a good cheap battery, Zippys are a lot cheaper and good for about 40 flights. The better ones (such as Maxamps) have fairly long warranties now so if you're going to fly a lot they are a good investment.

RE: Questions, getting back into R/C
 

Wow, thanks all for the replies,

Thanks for confirming the Dx7 is a good transmitter.

The suggestions for the trainers are great.
The apprentice 15e or an Alpha seem like good suggestions to restart the hobby.

I will read around for motors, ESC and batteries. Eflight and Castle seem like a good starting point.

I love Kit planes though. But I am not so sure it is a good idea for a trainer, considering they are more crash prone of course.
Should I consider a kit for a trainer? or abandon the idea and perhaps build an aerobatic plane from a kit as a second plane?
Opinions and suggestions there would be welcome.

Thanks again for the replies!

RE: Questions, getting back into R/C
 

I tell my students to learn to fly first (arf), then go for building. There is insight to be learned from flying that will apply to building.
Edwin

RE: Questions, getting back into R/C
 

That all depends on what you want to do. If you really want to build a kit then build one. It's not like you don't have some time before the weather is hospitable to stay outside all day flying. That said, there aren't a whole lot of kits on the market these days. The mainstream is ARF's which are considerably cheaper than building anyway. For a build, you might consider getting the plans for one of the Joe Bridi trainers. A guy at my club has built all three and loves how they fly. Bridi is the guy who designed the Kaos, Dirty Birdy, and a few other pattern planes and sport planes. His trainers have the same tails as the Kaos and a symmetrical wing, but are high wing dihedral planes for first time flyers. They are considerably better in the wind than any flat bottom trainer and look nice to boot.

RE: Questions, getting back into R/C
 

To build or not to build?? I am given trainers by new pilots that have moved onto more advanced planes and use them to instruct with. I teach using the buddy box like most people these days. The only thing I require from a student is they buy there own fuel, everything else I provide. I have never lost a trainer to a student while on the box. After they solo I let them use my trainer and TX until they get there own equipment and plane. So far I have only lost one trainer doing that. The trainers aren't prone to crashing, it's usually the students second plane that takes a beating.
Nothing wrong at all with going ARF for a trainer or even a second plane.
I too would go onto the Blue Jay Models site and look at the Joe Bridi designs. Saying Joe designed a few planes is a slight understatement but anything Joe designed is going to be an outstanding plane and I love building his kits.
The DX-7 is an outstanding radio. My only problem with it is I don't set up enough planes with it to know all the little tricks. I have had several old students decide on buying it and all have been happy with the radio. I'm lucky that the DX is so popular in my area and when I forget or don't know how to do something with it there are several go to guys at my field that correct any of my mistakes. I still have a problem setting up the two ailerons with it but it's a me problem, not a radio problem. I use a Futaba and they program differently.
Good luck with whatever you decide on doing.

RE: Questions, getting back into R/C
 

Thanks for the insights.

Some people just like to fly the planes, that's why there are arf, rtf and so forth. Thats perfectly fine.
Some people like to build and fly (like me), its too bad there are less kits around, but there will always be builders out there, hence some kits and a loads of plans out there.

I was just worried of crashing a trainer restarting the hobby, but as Gray Beard said, few trainers get wrecked. That gives me options, whether ARF or kit.

This last summer, I visited my uncle, and I flew and landed hiselectric trainer and as he said I landed it smoother than him twice. I will just take it slow and get help from an instructor the first flight or 2 and see where that leads me, I am not worried.

This website is great, made that way with enthusiastic people like you all. Thanks again.

I guess now I have the fun problem on deciding which plane to buy and its electric equipment.
:)

RE: Questions, getting back into R/C
 

You'll probably jump back in the saddle again with no problem. I get a lot of requests from guys like you that have been out for awhile. A lot of times, all I have to do is stand next to them and thats comfort enough for them fly. Otherwise we'll do the buddy box and I usually dont have to take the sticks. A couple of times like that and you might be good.
Edwin

RE: Questions, getting back into R/C
 

If you are capable of making a few circuits and doing a landing without help from an instructor you will do find with a mild sport plane like an Ugly Stick. Bridi designed one of those too if you're sold on his kits.

RE: Questions, getting back into R/C
 

Humm,

So if I wanted a kit for a trainer that is for novice- intermediate or a kit targeted at intermediate, can I have suggestions?

The bridi kits look nice indeed, but which one in my situation?

Talk to you later!

RE: Questions, getting back into R/C
 

This a great place for the new flyer or the older dude getting back into it. Gray Beard and I are on the same page. Most of my student go on to bigger things. They just give me their trainers and I in turn let someone else learn on it. Sir, I think you will find some of the most helpful people around on the forum. Most are very eager to share their hobby with beginners or any others that visit the forum. Like many of these guys will tell you. They learn a thing or two by following this forum. I have not visited here without picking up something useful. So, welcome back and visit often. These dudes are the ones that help make this fun. Droiddr, it will be flying time soon and you need to get ready, we all would like to know what and how it all works out.

RE: Questions, getting back into R/C
 

Here's the ugly stick

http://store.laser-design-services.c...roducts_id=105

Or go with a the .90 size Bridi for better wind handling and easier visibility

http://www.bridiairplanes.com/hangar/bridistick.html

If you're considering an ARF I think this is the sharpest looking one on the market, and of course your LHS may have a suggestion from the lines they normally carry as well

http://www.texasrcplanes.com/dragstick40.html

The only thing you give up with a stick vs. a trainer is that the stick won't level itself out from a sideslip like a trainer will, and it doesn't fight being rolled over on its side like a trainer does. In every other flying characteristic though it's better- it lands easier, handles the wind way better, is more obedient, and can be turned up really hot if you want to. So if you are able to fly circuits without accidentally getting upside down or over rolling your turns you'll be happy you got the stick. Every trainee I've seen (including myself) who went from a traditional trainer to a stick has said that they are surprised how much easier the stick is to fly.

Here's something that might make these decisions easier in the future. To my mind, there are 4 categories of planes that one progresses through as their skill levels increase:

Trainers: self-righting, resistant to being flown any way but straight and upright, very gentle stall characteristics (low stall speed, roots stall first) made for initial pilot training.
Sport planes: not self righting (or not as much), gentle to very gentle stall characteristics, built to be flown hard and abused
Aerobats: no self-righting characteristics, low stall speed but tend to tip stall, built for pilots who know what they are doing and want a plane that will perform
Specialty: This includes many biplanes, heavy scale warbirds, jets and racers, and anything else built with a focus on style rather than flying characteristics. Unforgiving stall characteristics, fast landing and takeoff speeds, sensitive ground maneuvering, and high speed or a narrow flight speed envelope.

So in that understanding, a Stick fits slightly between trainers and sport planes. It's a very mild and forgiving sport plane or an advanced trainer depending on how you look at it. A Cub is a sport plane that ground handles like a specialty plane. A Spitfire is definitely a specialty plane, especially if it's detailed out which adds weight. A Kaos is between sport and aerobat depending on how you set it up. A Cap 232 is an aerobat that won't tolerate piloting errors, while an Extra 260 is a little more forgiving (depending on exactly which one we're talking about) Hopefully that helps a little in making sense of the plethora of choices you have out there. It's really not that hard once you get a handle on what makes a plane forgiving or not to fly and how the aerodynamics make it do with it does. Before long, you'll be able to look at a plane and have a pretty good idea of how it will fly. That along with a few anecdotes will make your choices easy.

RE: Questions, getting back into R/C
 

Jester,

Thanks that is insightful and very helpful, thank you for taking the time to explain it.
Well I am off to the Hobby store. 10 years ago I bought from a mail order store in Canada called Great Hobbies (I live in Canada). Recently they opened a store near me, so I will go encourage them since their prices are inline with other big retailers.

Thanks for the welcome koastrc.

RE: Questions, getting back into R/C
 

If you want a real value, and since you have flown before, I would suggest you go with this 4 channel high wing plane...............the Ares Gamma 370 Pro. The plane is $99.99 and is complete except for a receiver. I fly mine with a Spektrum DX6i Tx and Spektrum AR400 Rx. The plane is available from Hobby Town. It is a great 4 channel "trainer" and an exceptional value. She flies docile or can be made to scoot pretty well; the installed  brushless power system is excellent. I always fly mine first,  in preparation for putting up my warbirds.

RE: Questions, getting back into R/C
 

Hi,

Finally went to the hobby store, bought a greatplanes avistar elite .46. RTF for 339$ with OS .46 engine AXII and transmitter. Figured the engine was a good one for an RTF kit.
Will also buy a Four-star 40 kit and build it through the winter (either electric or glow).
I bought the Spectrum DX7S
I also bought the Phoenix 4 RC flight sim, the guys there were adamant that it will probably save me a few crashes.

On another note, do you think it is possible with slow and careful instruction to teach my 5 year old daughter to fly RC?

Thanks all for the help.

RE: Questions, getting back into R/C
 

I think Chip Hyde was 5 when he first started. Very few fly better.

RE: Questions, getting back into R/C
 

I have found that if a parent is involved in RC, building, flying, and maintenance, then a young kid has a good chance at it. I have taught a bunch of youngsters, not one has finished. But in all of those kids, none of the parents were into rc so they didnt have the support at home that a kid really needs. My experience has been that kids around 14 and up tend to solo, stick with it for a year or two, then discover girls and we dont see them again. But I'm sure they'll show up later in life to fly again. One of my wifes uncles wants me to teach his 5 year old son. I showed them my sim and the kid loved it. I explained that it would help a lot to develop his eye hand coordination and thumb memory on the sim first, let him mature, and we'll do a spot check from time to time to see when he's ready. Daddy is starting to show interest in learning to fly too. Its really hard holding the reins back on them cause they discovered banana hobby and hobby king and got a bad case of the "I wants" and "That is cool" before they came to me. They wanted to do the standard routine, buy a warbird, learn to fly. It was fortunate they had me to talk to before he spent a bunch of money.
Edwin

RE: Questions, getting back into R/C
 

go to www.hobbyking.com and have a look at there trainers for beginners you,ll get a plane complete for under $70 bucks some with radio,s all foam construction you break it pva or tape it back together I,ve got a Bixler withflaps(optional) or a Raptor no glue reg it screws together worth alook plus postage of coarse ,I tried to order a hobby city rev counter from tower item $29 and they wanted $100 postage not courier so thats ended tower hobbies for a lot of kiwi,s when I put the word out and of course Aussie and New Zealand are 240volts tower hobbies said they are not aiming at our market ,,they cut of there noses despite there face cant understand there logic at all