RCU Forums - Please Help

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Hey folks I am totally new to this hobby. I have been in the RC car would for many many years , but now I want somethign different. My question is, what do you guys recommend me buying for my first plane? I have never flown before. I was looking at those RTF park flyiers. Do you guys recomend those to start out with? Or should I just pass by those and get something else? I also do not have deep pockets right now so I would like a total kit that includes everything.

If your goal is to eventually fly Glow or Gas planes, I wouldn't start out with a park flyer. Start out with good high wing glow trainer and 4 channels (rudder, ailerons, throttle and elevator). Find a club near you and get someone to help you out. They may have a club trainer and a buddy box. You may be able to find a used trainer that's ready to go for cheap, or you can buy everything new for around $500 to get started. Definitely get some help though, it's totally different than R/C cars.

Hitec Sky Skooter Pro 2 -has everything you'll need, better than a parkie for flying in some wind, and on sale @ Tower now.

theres a alpha.40 out that is a really good trainer it at www.horizonhobby.com it costs 114.99 ok hope that helps

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ORIGINAL: jettstarblue

Hitec Sky Skooter Pro 2 -has everything you'll need, better than a parkie for flying in some wind, and on sale @ Tower now.

Is that plane that has not throttle? You just toss and fly it till the batteries go dead?

Step number 1: find a club
Step number 2: find an instructor
Step number 3: ask if the club owns a trainer

The instructor can "buddy box" you with the trainer and you can get first hand experience right off the bat. You can save yourself a lot of time and money this way and see if you really like flying before you invest anything. If they don't have a club trainer, ask what their recommendations are. If you are dead set on learning yourself, then probably the best plane to get is a Hobbico Nexstar. It has a number of aids that come with it that help to keep the plane flying straight, level and slow. It's not a guarantee by any means, but it's probably got the highest potential for success.

Kerry

What Kerrydel says is quite correct, WITH ONE EXCEPTION - PASS ON THE NEXSTAR. Do a search on the NexStar and see what the majority of people are saying.

I think you will find that the AFS is actually a hinderance in learning how to fly. The majority of people with the Nexstar turn it off. At this point you have paid a premium price for the trainer.

If no one at the club has a used trainer setup for sale, I suggest getting the following:

A 4 channel radio. If the budget allows, get a 6 channel (or more) computer radio. You will not outgrow it in a season. BEFORE you buy anything, see what brand the majority of the people at the field you are flying at are using. I suggest getting that brand. If you have a question/problem, manuals are fine, but a live person who is familiar with your brand of radio is frequently much better.

Get a BALL BEARING 46 engine (Thunder Tiger, Evolution, OS are very good and quite user friendly [they run right out of the box] ) The Ball Beqaring engine is more power than you need for most trainers, BUT, it has more then enough power for your 2nd, 3rd and more planes. You will not need to buy another engine. The bushed bearing engines (OS LA series) are fine for trainers, but rarely have adequate power for your next plane.

Get a FLAT BOTTOM AIRFOIL ARF. There are several out there in the $100 price range that are excellent (Hobbico SuperStar, PT-40, LT-40). They will land slower than a semisymetrical airfoil. The semi symetrical airfoil is advertised as being aerobatic. It is, but the difference in aerobatic abilities will not be that noticeable. As you progress, you can modify the main wing to reduce/remove the dihedrahl. This will increase the aerobatic abilities of the plane. Remember, you are LEARNING how to fly. You want STABLE, and SLOW.

One other thing - most trainers fly pretty much the same.

I know my suggestions will be a little more expensive initially, but overall, you will save money doing it this way.

Hope this is off some help.

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ORIGINAL: wings

Quote:

ORIGINAL: jettstarblue

Hitec Sky Skooter Pro 2 -has everything you'll need, better than a parkie for flying in some wind, and on sale @ Tower now.

Is that plane that has not throttle? You just toss and fly it till the batteries go dead?

No- 3 channel ail/elev/throttle. AND you can remove the horizontal stab/elev, and reflex the ailerons a bit,use the mixer function in the radio, and fly a flying wing!

Hangar 9 Alpha trainer, RTF. Best deal going.

Maybe I am think of the regular ole sky scooter, not the pro.

I don't think they make the regular old one anymore. The pro 2 replaced the pro about a year ago, it has a gearbox like the old "regular" one, not the direct drive like the "old" pro. Also a better speed controller. Good beginer-intermediate/re-entry electric. Can be flown easily in a baseball field.

I have an Avistar and my brother has a Nexstar. We are both very pleased with our planes. The guys at the club seem to agree. My brother has never used the auto pilot thing on the nexstar, so I suppose that is a waste, but it sure is a good looking nice flying airplane.