Which Plane for a newbie?
 

I am looking at getting my first RC Plane. I have two in mind and I would like everyone's opinion on which to get.
I am looking at:

1. Sport Cub S RTF with SAFE
2. Apprentice S 15e RTF with SAFE

I was told the sport cub is more designed for smaller spaces and the apprentice is better for larger areas.

Which do you recommend flying?

if you can try and get a boomerang 40 or 60. the 40 size put a os 46ax or in the 60 size put a os75ax both are very good combo's . the boomerang is made by phenix can;t spell sorry buthey fly great and a good learning plane very forgiving and can do basic earobatics

Before you buy anything go to your local flying club and speak with an instructor. Ask him about aircraft, radio equipment etc. you may even get a flight on the clubs aircraft.
Then ask that instructor to teach you to fly.
You can teach yourself but it's not the best approach.
Good luck

To answer you're specific question, of those 2 planes I would recommend the Apprentice. Its a good first plane, flies very well for a foamie, and for its size, it does remarkably well in the wind. I've taught several students to fly on them. I haven't flown the Sport Cub but cubs are generally not the most friendly planes for beginners. They're ok in straight flight but can be squirrelly on take off and really need rudder for coordinated turns. Beginners usually have enough to worry about managing ailerons and elevator. A third control can be overload.

Having answered you're question, I'll then second the recommendation to find a local flying club and instructor. It will save you a lot of time and money in the long run. You may not even need to buy a trainer as the club may supply one.

Several people I talked about said to get the Apprentice. So that is probably what I will get.

I talked to two different clubs and so far can not find an instructor. There is a club about 45 min from me that I think I found an instructor at. He seems pretty cool and is retired so can fly a lot. Several people also recommended getting the Real Flight sim to start to learn the basics, which is what I did. I have been practicing with the a lot.

Good plan. The SIM sill help a lot but nothing will beat having an instructor on the other end of a buddy box when you get into trouble, which you will.

Yes I agree, an instructor is definitely needed. Just need to find an instructor.

I'm a fan of working with an instructor before using the sim. You do not know what you do not know. And you can learn some bad habits on the sim that will bite you in real life. You need an instructor to show you how to do things right and show you what you need to work on. If you're a teenager, you'll probably be able to fly your apprentice on your own after 3-4 sessions with the instructor if you work at it. Then you'll need a good flying site, so a club membership and AMA dues will be your next expense in the hobby.

I had a friend who taught me the basics but that was about it. I am hoping to find someone to teach me. It seems to be rather challenging to find someone who will instruct.

It's not usually hard at all to find an instructor when you join a club. If you haven't already, check the club locator on the AMA's website. Yes, the club will cost you some money. But it will save you at least as much and probably more with the help you get from experienced pilots and the proper flying facility that the club provides.

I don't know about that. I joined a club and the instructors always seem to be unavailable. I think I'm just going to buy a cheap electric trainer and try to learn on my own. If I crash it I won't be out more than $150. Heck I blew more than that in casinos before. I am getting the Real Flight 7.5 sim soon.

I have found the same problem, I am having a hard time finding an instructor. I also had one who wanted to charge me $40 per hour to fly. The search for an instructor continues, but I will still start on the sim and hopefully find someone. If anyone is in Western WA and wants to teach me, let me know!

That's ridiculous that is almost what flight schools charge to train you to fly a full scale Cessna or Diamond. Between carrying out all the gear, setting up the plane, fueling, actually flying, you can easily spend three hours at the field, so you'll pay him $120? I contacted an instructor who wanted $20 an hour and I almost went with him but then decided to join the club that offers free instruction. Maybe this weekend one of them will be out at the "airport."

I don't mind paying a little but I thought $40 was a little excessive. I also have my private pilot's license and didn't pay the instructor that much when I got my license.

1. Sport Cub S RTF with SAFE
2. Apprentice S 15e RTF with SAFE

I was told the sport cub is more designed for smaller spaces and the apprentice is better for larger areas.

Which do you recommend flying?[/QUOTE]


Either plane will allow you to teach yourself.

I have the Sport Cub S and to me it is the only trainer I really need. I also have an E-Flyte Sportsman Glasair as well.

I have only flown the Sportsman a couple of times, due to its 55" wingspan. To fly that plane or any plane of similar size you really should be using a designated rc flying site. The nearest site for me to fly the Sportsman is a 3/4 hour drive. Once there is it is a good flying day there will be a dozen or so flyers on site and each will wait their turn.

I have since bought a Sportsman Cub S and I can fly that plane in any of the numerous playfields or parks in the area, plus most school sites on the weekends or when school is out. I usually fly with another rc flyer and we will spots for each other at the parks, and at a couple of the very large playing fields we will both fly when there are no other people around which is most of the time.

Our flying time is usually in the morning and there are next to no people out most days.

He also has one of the Sport Cub S planes and we usually fly three or four batteries, some days more and using the local playing fields have little travel to do in order to fly our planes.

I would opt to have just the one plane, the Sport Cub S if I had too choose, it is a full four channel plane and as I am a fairly new flyer it is all I need or want at present.

I do have a couple of other planes which I will fly at a later date once I have become a fairly proficient flyer and these planes being larger will require using a designated rc flying site most likely and having to do some travel for sure.

For the present, little to know travel, flying as often as weather permits and for as long as my battery supply for this plane lasts.

You good a great deal then. When I took lessons at a flight school for my private I was paying an arm and a leg. I don't remember exactly what they charged per hour but I was paying around $250-$300 a lesson. Take two lessons a week and you're looking at $2,400 a month! Full scale flying is a rich man's hobby.

What do you think of flying on huge parking lots? There is this one stadium lot I pass everyday that is always empty and keep thinking how nice it would be to fly there. Maybe I'll take a picture of it one day and post it so you guys can advise me if it's a suitable place or not.

I have seen very few parking lots that did not have too many lamp poles, if the lamp poles are located mainly around the parking lot and you are flying a smaller plane you will most likely be fine.

However, colliding with a lamp pole will likely be the end of your plane.

I would opt to fly in a ball park or other playing field that a parking lot. Also, grass will absorb a crash a lot better than pavement should you crash.

Now this is the way to answer a newbie's question. To immediately throw your own opinions as to what to do or not to do just turns people off from asking.
Bravo, RBACONS.

The two planes are both trainers and come with the built in SAFE technology, but are so different from each other in terms of size and of course ease of use. You will definitely be able to teach yourself to fly if you buy either of these planes.

The Apprentice has a large wing span of 59" and you definitely need to use a very large site to fly it properly. IMHO your local parks and ball fields are not where this plane belongs. I would urge anyone owning this plane to fly it at a designated rc flying site, a farmers field would be great if you had any around.

This plane with the SAFE technology has both the size and power to be able to handle winds far better than the Sport Cub S with its 24" wingspan and its very light weight.

There is no doubt that your overall flying skill using the far larger plane will be better as you will be able to learn how to fly in windy conditions and that would prohibit flying the smaller Sports Cub S.

However, with the Sports Cub S you can just hop in your car and not worry about breaking a wing with the small size Super Cub S and go to the nearest park or playfield, or if on the weekend one of the local school sites.

For me to fly one of my large planes it is a minimum 3/4 hour drive each way to a designated rc plane field to which if you want to use you need to join one of the MAAC local flying chapters.

LOL maybe I will have to get both.

Sapper0six,

My suggestion to you is that you go and find a local flying club in the area of where you live. Most clubs will have experienced pilots that should be willing to train you to fly.

The plane of choice would be the Apprentice as it has a larger wing span and will handle most weather conditions over the smaller Cub S.

Next you should join the AMA and this will give you the extra liability insurance that is required to be able to fly at the designated RC field.

Also anyone in a club trying to charge you $$$ to learn how to is breaking one of the AMA rules
which is just not the right approach to take in this Hobby.

Another good plane to learn on is the parkzone T-28... I used a flight sim and then flew the parkzone without any issues, however a instructor and club is the way to go.