HELP!!!!!!!!
 

Is there a trainer that fits this?
-total cost for all equiptment in the 200 dollar range
-not made by megatech
-can fly in 2 square acres
-my first R/C plane
-can fly without a intructor (if i must have one i guess i will)
-a 16 year old can fly it
Hope a plane fits.... Thanks!

RE: HELP!!!!!!!!
 

Check this one out!!! [link=http://spadworld.net/viewtopic.php?t=6715]protrainer[/link]

RE: HELP!!!!!!!!
 

The protrainer fails on the need for an instructor and the 2 acre flying site.

The average glow powered sport model needs 2 acres CLEARED space to take off and land safely and the flight will be over an appx 6 to 9 acre area. A beginner would need 3 to 4 acres of cleared space to not be hitting trees, fenceposts or anything else (even with an instructor's help).

Its also going to fail on the $200 limit.... Sure you can get the engine and radio for $180... and the stuff to build the plane will be under $20. But what about fuel, glow ignitor, props (need 2 spares) fuel pump and electric starter... (oops I just pushed you over $325)

**************

You may want to look at the Hobby-Lobby website or the Tower Hobbies website at the 3-channel electric models. There should be some appropriate package deals in your price range.

You can TRY to learn without an instructor... it will probably cost you the airplane VERY quickly. Beginner + untrimmed airplane + the prop turning = 3 strikes.

RE: HELP!!!!!!!!
 

What about the Alpha Trainer? I would buy that. Just what do i need to buy with it?

RE: HELP!!!!!!!!
 

Wild
FHHuber's advice is very sound! Try for Hobby-Lobby, they will set you up with virtually everything you will need. They've got some very good beginners/small flight area planes.
Good luck, have fun.
Ward

RE: HELP!!!!!!!!
 

Wild,
As FH has already said, you need to add at least $150 to the cost of the plane, radio and engine, for a typical 40 size glow trainer.

If your budget is $200, and you MUST learn on your own, and have 2 cleared acres, you should probably read up on the GWS Slow Stick. By buying that, you can use standard radio equipment, but mini servos (like Hitec HS-81's) would be better. The radio equipment can then be used in a glow trainer later.

It will run you about $200 for the plane with (electric) motor and gearbox, radio equipment, battery packs and charger, and ESC. You just won't be able to buy a real good radio.

There are other "Park Flyer" type planes that will also come in around that price range, but be careful because many of them require a micro receiver and micro servos. Those will not be useable in a glow trainer if you decide to move up.

If you decide to go the glow trainer route, then you really should join the AMA (most clubs require it for the insurance), then join a local club and go out to talk with them. See what radio equipment they use, and buy compatible stuff. But expect to spend in the $450 to $500 range for all new equipment and memberships.

(Sorry, just re-read your post. Being 16 will save you about $50 on AMA membership, and most clubs have a discount for youths too.)

The other glow option is still the club route, but ask around when you're there. You can often buy used stuff and save $100 to $200.

Good luck,
Dennis-

RE: HELP!!!!!!!!
 

wildwobby,

In my humble opinion trying to learn to fly RC airplanes without assistance is generally an expensive method, because each lesson tends to involve unplanned contact with the ground and the resultant repairs. If at all possible seek out an experienced flier, ask for their assistance, get them to check over your plane for flight worthiness, listen carefully to their suggestions and try to follow them. If you do, you will have a very good chance to become a 'solo' pilot without any major damage to your trainer andhaving had fun all the way!

The 'Alpha' is an excellent first plane! :) Our club instructors tend to steer beginners toward it.

I have helped several beginners reach solo using the Alpha, seven since July. The youngest is 11 and the oldest is 73, so I'm sure a 16 year old can fly it! But, again, I strongly recommend you seek the assistance of an experienced RC pilot!!

The Alpha does, however, fail to meet some of your original requirements [:o];

as you probably know it's closer to $375 in the Ready-To-Fly version, but that include the engine and 4 channel JR radio system. For assembly you need some epoxy, some CA glue, and some minor tools - allen wrenches, screw drivers, pliers, and a small crescent wrench. For flying you will also need the many items FHHUber listed. If your take off and landing area is grass, you may also to purchase larger wheels...depending on how tall the grass gets. If your budget can handle the costs, then I highly recommend the Alpha.

as FHHuber already mentioned, the space for safely flying is more like 7+ acres, our club's cleared area is nearly twelve acres and many flyers still go out over the trees, and/ or "the swamp."

If your budget is locked in to the near $200 level, and/or you're locked in to the 2 acre flying site, you almost have to go the electric-powered route. Even so, I believe you will be hard pressed to keep total costs under $200 for a decent flying, trainer type plane, especially so when including a quality charger, extra batteries and propellers, etc. My co-worker/friend did teach himself the rudimentaries of flying RC with a Soar Star (Hobby Lobby), and in about a 5 acre area. However, after several ground/tree impact lessons and the related repairs, he asked me to assist in fine tuning his skills. I think with the original plane, JR Quatro radio system, three battery packs, and charger, his invest came to about $315-$325. Within a month he also had to purchase replacement propellers, replacement fuselage, and replacement tail section, adding about another $75-85 to his costs.

My only other suggestion is that you talk with whoever might be your instructor before you spend your money. Why? Because if they use a "buddy box" (and most do) you want your radio system brand to be compatible with the 'buddy box'. If they are not using a JR system, you can still buy an Alpha ARF, but you would want to purchase a radio system which matches.

I hope you are succesful in your decision process, and that you come to enjoy the hobby as much as I do!

RE: HELP!!!!!!!!
 

It will be hard to stay under the $200.00 range but tower hobbys trainer will come close but a trainer is recomended, If you want to go without a instructor I would go with the kombat 40 trainer by the airplane factory it Is a great trainer that is indestructable and can be upgraded to a sport flyer easaly and cheep , the 40 trainer itself cost around $84.00 you can check the site out at [link]http://www.kombat40.com[/link]. Jeremy



IF any thing is spelled right I didn't do it

RE: HELP!!!!!!!!
 

OK, I will be able to spend more then 200 dollars... up to 400$ which i have now on just the plane :). I also would like to know if you recomend where a good club is near Northbrook (or north suberb of chicago) is. I am actualy 12 years old (typo, AIMing a 16 year old).
But I might not get all my equiptment til AUGUST! I am spending some money on parts of computers to build a custom one. And want some time in between to Save some more, and ya know Not bye everything at once because 1) I wont focus at school lol 2) have time to talk to people. But who knows i may end up with one in june! (more likely July) And I have Camp for 4 weeks too. Don't wanna bring the plane there lol! too many trees! But I was looking at Blue Max R/C club. I live only like 12 minutes away from there, but I have never seen it or heard anyone else talking about it.

Thanks for the help,
Robby


P.S.) I think The Alpha Trainer Comes with the engine and radio equiptment. And is it posible to change the transmiter?if so, thats what i would do, and whats "buddy box"?

RE: HELP!!!!!!!!
 

If yo are splitting up the purchases f the stuff to fly RC... you can gain abit of experience flying anyway.... Get the radios system first, then go to Wal-Mart and get one of the appx $5 foam gliders (4 1/2 foot Span!) You can put strapping tape n the bottom of the wing )from tip to tip) and install 2 servos the RX and battery to give it rudder and elevator control... go out and practice some gliding. ;)

Then you can get the ARF version of the trainer and the glow engine later, and be a little ahead of the game.

RE: HELP!!!!!!!!
 

why? lol... i dont want crap... and i am not spliting any thing i already have enough for the computer and 400$ left over for R/C And with school ending June 11, I can work, and get a couple more hundred bucks. so...... I need to know What the Pros and cons of getting RTF and ARF or w/e. And also what club i should join.
Thanks,
Robby

RE: HELP!!!!!!!!
 

I was just pointing out a way you can get some flying practice in real world condition in earlier than August...

Its not really a bad thing to do. I still ccasionally go get a foamie and use it for park flying. I install 2 micro servos, a lighter RX and an electric drive, and have a model that for $6 (tape and glue) can do some aerobatics... and makes an excellent disposable trainer. If the student smashes it... 10 min and I can put another in the air.

RE: HELP!!!!!!!!
 

If you can't buy it all at once, leave out the starter and 12 volt battery, and maybe even the fuel pump and glow igniter, but find the club and an instructor first and talk with them about it.

You might be able to ge used stuff for a lot less money. And if you buy new, your trainer will be "used" pretty quickly anyway, so....
Dennis-

RE: HELP!!!!!!!!
 

getting started takes alot of planning. get a ride or drive up to that club or contact someone in it. and ask any questions you can think of they will help you alot. and an instructor is a must have they will set you up with someone younger you can relate to and not feel like its a class at school. my first plane was a full build and I learned alot by building it myself and that made repairs after crashes easer. also figure how often are you going to fly, don't go and spend alot on new equipment if you don't plan on flying but every so often. I started cheep and worked up as I got better at the basics. If I was you I would get a almost ready to fly (arf) combo so you have everything you need minus field gear. that way you know it will all fit just right and save a few bucks too. tower hobbys has some great starter combos. with all you have going on it may be hard to do a full build an arf or rtf will help you get in the air sooner. and a bad day flying, is better than a good day at school,
Jeremy

take your tx to camp with you and practice manuvers in your head.

RE: HELP!!!!!!!!
 

The problem with used is... sometimes its "well used" or "used up" as in ready for the junk-pile.[:@] Unless you know the guy sellng the trainer... its somewhat risky. Even if you know the guy... its not always a good deal.[&:]

If on a budget... the stepping stone approach works, and you know that you bought good stuff because its all new.

One of the nice points to the "SPAD" approach is you can buy the radio... learn a bit with it on a foamie glider. (I know... looks cheap but it can teach you stuff) Then buy the engine and scrounge some old political signs (or get new ones by asking for them in the campaign office. ;) ) and end up with a decent (not the best but it WORKS) trainer much quicker. Chopping nearly the full $100 cost of the ARF model airframe out of the equation does have some bennefits...

Then when you have saved a bit more... you can get a better airplane and toss the SPAD in the trash (and not care because it cost next to nothing)

RE: HELP!!!!!!!!
 

First, unless you have a LOT OF MONEY, find a club and have them provide an instructor (clubs provide free training/lessons). This will allow you to learn to fly safely in the shortest period of time with the least amount of damage to your plane/equipment.

As for your question.....................

An RTF has everything pre installed (except some MINOR gluing) for you - engine, radio, control rods/surfaces. The downside to this is: The engine, while USUALLY fine for that plane, is marginal for use in a second plane. The radio provided, while doing the job quite well, is USUALLY a low end radio and may not be the brand you would like or have features you prefer.

An ARF, requires you to do minor gluing, and installation of the engine, fuel tank and radio (VERY easy for a beginner to do). It has the advantage of you being able to select an engine that will be useable for a second plane, and you being able to select the brand and grade of radio you would like. The disadvantage is that INITIALLY your cost is higher, BUT, in the long run it USUALLY winds up being lower.

A prime example of what I am talking about is: MOST RTF come with a bushed bearing 40 engine. These engines are fine for trainers, but USUALLY do not have the power/performance needed for a second plane. By you being able to select the engine, you would PROBABLY select a ball bearing 46 engine. Yes, that 46 is probably a little too much engine for the trainer, but when you graduate to your next plane, that motor will have adequate power/performance for you to use in the plane. As for the radio, I suggest seeing what brand(s) are PRIMARILY being used at your flying field and getting the same brand. The reason - if you have a problem, someone at the field should be able to help you.

A suggestion.....IF you can afford it, seriously consider a computer radio and preferably a 6 channel radio. Yes, the price is higher than a 4 channel radio, however, you will most likely be using (or wanting to use) features that are on the radio within a short period of time.

Hope this provides some help to you.

RE: HELP!!!!!!!!
 

Get this plane:


[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LE1536**&P=1]Hobbico SuperStar EP Select 3-Channel RTF 48.75" [/link]


It is 159.99 and comes with everything you need, except a charger. It even comes with a battery pack. A charger is about $20.00-30.00 for a half decent one. Get a extra propeller, because i head they break if you crash for $4 and if you want a extra battery pack for $15-20, to double your fly time.


I will probally be getting this one. Good price and i have heard good thing about it

RE: HELP!!!!!!!!
 

HEY GUY,
YOU HAVE LITTLE OPTIONS, THEREFORE I RECOMMEND THE REAL FLIGHT G2 FLIGHT SIMMULATOR. YOU CAN GET ALOT OF EXPERIENCE (SIMMULATOR) THAT WILL REALLY HELP YOU WHEN YOU ARE REALLY READY. THIS HOBBY CAN BE EXPENSIVE BUT SOME EXPERIENCE CAN CUT DOWN ON COST, ALSO PATIENCE.

WORD TO THE WISE ! !
EJAMES

RE: HELP!!!!!!!!
 

EJames,
He's on a very limited budget, and buying Real Flight would chew up half of it. (Please turn off your cap locks. Reading all capital letters is difficult and considered rude; it looks like you're SHOUTING! ;))

FH,
While it's certainly possible to end up with "used up" equipment when buying used, going to a club and asking about used isn't a bad idea. I've had a number of kids show up at our club looking to get started, and I've yet to see any of our members try to unload junk on them.

One member sold a 15 year old a used 40 size trainer with a good engine and radio for $150. He threw in a couple glow plugs and props as well. The trainer didn't have so much as a patch on it. The only problem was that the radio equipment was Airtronics (no one here uses them), so he also loaned him a second transmitter and a buddy cord so the kid could get instruction without "passing the Tx".

I would never recommend that a beginner just go out and shop for used on his own, but getting with a club makes your chances pretty good.

To find a local club, go to the AMA website. They have a club locater page, all you do is plug in your Zip Code.
http://www.modelair.org/
Dennis-