Getting electric...
 

Guys... I gotta fly more.... I'm seriously think about getting a (GASP! [X(]) Park Flyer.... I'm looking at the Super Impress. I've read the RCU review and looked up some previous posts on it here. Review was pretty favorable. I've got a big ol' bean field (60 + acres I'd guess) behind my house, I know the owner, I don't think he'd mind me flying a "toy airplane" over it. The Super Impress looks like it can get me on the learning curve and then can get into some beginning aerobatics afterwards. Also looking at the Great Planes Tutor. Any thoughts or suggestions?

RE: Getting electric...
 

How much have you flown? Have you soloed with a trainer type plane?

If you're relatively comfortable flying, then I'd say yes, the Impress would be a good choice. If not, then go with something more stable like the GWS Slow Stick.

If you're looking for exciting flights try a Zagi (or it's equivalent) flying wing. Pretty durable too.

Good luck!
Dennis-

RE: Getting electric...
 

just dont stall your zagi...

RE: Getting electric...
 

Nothing against electric - I fly them myself, but why don't you consider the 1/2A planes?

Also, I would recommend Mountain Models planes if you do go electric.

RE: Getting electric...
 

zagi's are good fun. How big is your feild? if it is alittle bigger then a baseball feild infeild, or bigger i would get a SoarStar or a Wingo (same planes exept the SoarStar has a geared motor, and climbs better) but for any electric you have to remember the batteries and chargers they come with arnt too good, buy better ones, (I would go with a Triton battery charger)

RE: Getting electric...
 

agreed on the triton. most people settle for the bare minimum but when you start buying new batteries because you dont know how strong your batteries are or you get a different type of battery and need a new charger, the cost catches up awful fast. the triton will charge any type of rechargable battery. it will even charge your car battery (or any other sealed lead acid for that matter) but will charge nicads, metal hydrides, li-ion and li-poly. it also does cycles and such. great charger

RE: Getting electric...
 

I actually wanted to start with electrics. (I'm a noob with only one day of flying so far) I thought they would be good for flying around close to my house when I didn't have time to get down to the RC club. I actually bought a slow stick before I bought my gas trainer.
Anyway, the slow stick is still hanging on the wall, mostly because of my lack of experience and decision to get a gas trainer and an instructor first, but also because of the wind. After paying attention to the wind for a while now, it doesn't seem like there will often be good days for flying such a small lightweight plane. (at least where I live). Parkflyers look like fun but it looks like the big problem will be ever getting a good day of weather to fly them.

RE: Getting electric...
 

from what i remember, all around alabama doesnt sport particularly good flying weather with sudden windstorms, rainstorms and what not. your trainer should handle it, and the bigger you get the less problems you will have

RE: Getting electric...
 

I like the Zagi idea.... Looks very twicthy though. Needs mixing. right?

RE: Getting electric...
 

Yes. Needs mixing (Elevons, which act as both Elevator and Ailerons), but you can also buy small electronic "mixers" made for this purpose for about $15.
Dennis-

RE: Getting electric...
 

Thank you, I'm going to see about the Zagi.

RE: Getting electric...
 

The best time for park flyers is early morning or early evening. The wind is USUALLY calmest at those times.

RE: Getting electric...
 

Well, when the field is 100' out your back door, you can take advantage of those calm mornings and evenings. That's why I say I want to be able to fly more without the restrictions of glow, noise and time and distance to the field. "Sharpening the sword" is what I'm interested in.:)

RE: Getting electric...
 

Parkflyers, like any light weight plane, will definatly be more sensative to the wind.

I point out that a park flyer is not necessarily a slow flyer or a plane that can fly in a small space. A ZAGI wing is not going to be appropriate to a 100 X 100 foot space out your back door. In fact some of the ZAGIs his over 70 mph right out of the box.

If you are looking for something you can fly in a 1/4 acre open spaced in your back yard or in front of the house, you really need to look for a electric slow flyer like a slow stick, a tiger moth, an IFO or any of a long list of small, light electrics.

There is also a long list of fully 3D electrics that can be flown in this kind of space such as the shockflyers, or an IFO. Again these are very light planes at under 12 ounces all up weight. Their small space capabilites are based on the fact that they are very light, can be launched vertically and are so wildly aerobatic they can literally loop in twice their fuselage length. They can also be pretty pretty fast as they are flying with better than 1:1 thrust to weight, but it is their slow speed capabilities and 3D capabilities that make them suitable for indoor or small space flying. You need quite a bit of flying experience to be able to really fly these in small spaces and again they are not going to like a lot of wind in a small space.

None of these will fly well in over 5 MPH winds and few can handle 10 MPH at all, however if you are aware of that and can find relatively calm air around your home often enough, small light electric slow flyers or fully 3D flyers are great!

1/2A glow planes just aren't going to be able to do what the slow fly electrics do which is fly close and quiet in very small spaces.

RE: Getting electric...
 

I have 60+ acres out my back door.

RE: Getting electric...
 

then get something bigger

RE: Getting electric...
 

With 60 acres, speed and size are non-issues.

Enjoy!