RE: Looking For goof Trainer
 

Dennis-

Chuck gives excellent advice. If you decide to go with an ARF instead of an RTF, I agree with everything in his first two lists of necessary items. As far as the list of ground equipment is concerned, I would wait until you get a few flights with your instructor to start gathering your ground equipment. For the first few flights, you can probably use your instructor's ground equipment (just bring your own fuel).

That way, you can get a feel for what you really need, and avoid buying things you don't need. For example, I started out buying an electric starter, a motorcycle battery for the starter, and a rechargeable glow driver. I kept everything in a plastic tub. After a few months, I got a field box with power panel and a glow driver that connects to the power panel. It turned out the battery wouldn't quite fit in the field box, so I had to get a new battery, and I no longer use my rechargeable glow driver at all.

-Scott

RE: Looking For goof Trainer
 

Hi Dennis,

All the above advice is good, and it sounds as if you are doing things right by not jumping in. You are researching and picking the options that are best for you.

My recommendations would be for you to go with whatever your instructor recommends - they will feel comfortable with the equipment and plane and will know what to do if anything is not quite right. In fact, they may be able to direct you to another club member who has learned and has training equipment for sale. If the instructor recommends it, and is willing to teach you to fly on it, chances are it will be in good shape. Remeber, first planes may not last long, this is what makes the hobby so challenging, you'll have to "stick in there", with your experience with cars, it shouldn't take too long to learn.

Club instructors normally do not charge, but they usually require you to join the club and the national association. As mentioned, giving them an appreciation gift after you get your wings is a good gesture.

Another option not mentioned is a good flight simulator for your PC. If you get one of these, you can practise at night and on bad days - flight simulator crashes don't cost!

Hope the above helps, good luck! Please keep us informed of your progress.

Fly4Fun,

Wayne Miller

RE: Looking For goof Trainer
 

xDennis,,hold up buckaroo.... forget that .40 stuff,, go to the 1/2a forum and look up Tim Wiltse or a post he wrote and pm him,,he's in Concord, go to quantum models and check out the Ace series of planes with/for .049's,,The Whizard is a mini Kadet for an .049or JKAerotech.com T-52,,now there is a plane you can build and fly without a care for IT'S safety, if it crashes, go dust it off and start it up again,, once you can fly a 1/2a plane.. a .40 is cake/boring to fly easier to learn to belly land without wheels, and since every flight is a deadstick (engine runs out of fuel) your learning curve is exponential..join the Carolina Crew we have fun flys several times a year ,I plan on having 3 or 4 here in Burlington,NC this year, our big swap meet is here in Jan..I'm sure he'd be glad to bring you up here with him, he is one of our 1/2a engine guru's and a good guy all around.... Rog

RE: Looking For goof Trainer
 

Hey Guys,

Wow. I can't seem to get enough info my notebook is filling up fast then in my phsyics class[X(]

Rog: I will look him up, maybe if I'm free I can go up to burlington in january, I kinda got alittle confused on some of your lingo[:o] (2/5a ,T-52 etc.) But I will search it all to see what I can come up with.


Can you guys give me some good etiquite to use while im at the airfield? Or is that something That I should talk to the instructor about?

RE: Looking For goof Trainer
 

Dennis-

Rog is refering to "1/2A" size planes which generally use little .049 size engines with no throttle control and have small wingspans of about 36 inches or less. Most people would recommend against trying to learn to fly with one of these. They are much harder to see and don't handle the wind as well as larger planes. As Rog says, if you can fly one of these, a .40 size trainer will seem like a piece of cake.

As far as etiquette is concerned, just follow whatever rules your club has. For example, clubs usually have rules about who all can be behind the fence at the flight line, notifying everyone who is flying when you are taxiing out onto the runway, landing, walking onto the runway, etc. All of these rules are designed for safety. Just check with your instructor. The other suggestion is just not to make a pompous _ss of yourself. RC people are pretty good folks, but generally "low key." Judging by the polite nature of all your posts, I don't think you'll have a problem.

-Scott

RE: Looking For goof Trainer
 

Ok Guys,
I have a change of plans.

I was talking to my dad tonight and he wants to go a different as me. He's an engineer and really looks fwd to building the actual plane. And I really want to build later fly now :)

So Everything that was mentioned in this post so far is for me, I will be getting into the training part and start flying with My trainer and he will start building a plane. I'm guessing I should take this conversation of to the KIT area, but you guys are such a good help I know you can point me in the right direction...again :D

For my dad: He enjoys a challenge, When it comes to kits i know nothing about them and what they take to complete (parts they come with and what you need to buy) He would like a kit that is more intermediate to build, he was in the airforce as an engineer so he knows how planes are put together. A Kit that will take a .40-46engine, I will be at towerhobbies looking into different models and sized.

Dennis

edit: When looking at different planes on the internet the titles usually mension engine size's then then have ex. 58" Is that wingspan or from tail to nose?

Thanks.

RE: Looking For goof Trainer
 

Dennis, this actually works quite well. Buy the ARF trainer, a good radio and engine. Both of you start learning on it. Meanwhile, your father begins building the kit, which can be the second plane for both of you. There are lots of recommendations in this forum for good second planes.

Hopefully, by the time he's got the kit built both of you should have soloed. This means you can move the radio and engine to the new plane. If you choose a computer radio, all you need for the second plane is an additional flight pack (receiver, servos, switch, and battery) and another engine, but you would not be able to fly both planes at the same time. Alternatively, you could get a second radio. This will give you two planes to fly. Since there are two of you, it's probably good to have two transmitters.

Edit: usually wingspan. :D

RE: Looking For goof Trainer
 

Just got my first kit today... (Second Airplane)...

4 Star 60 by Sig...

Easy to build, fly etc...

Check it out...

Matt

RE: Looking For goof Trainer
 

I have decided to go with the Carl Goldberg Eagle II.

I may spend a little bite more on this plane but I think that it will be right for me and What I want to do down the road.

To power this plane I will be using the O.S .46ax ABL engine, and to control this baby I will be using the Futaba 6EXA :-)

Thanks to everyone that posted in this thread helping me out!

Dennis R

RE: Looking For goof Trainer
 

Dennis-

That will be a good combo. Keep us posted when you have your first flight.

-Scott

RE: Looking For goof Trainer
 

Sounds like a good combo. Be sure to post some flight reports.
Happy Holidays.

RE: Looking For goof Trainer
 

You'll like that plane. I started out on it! Makes me want one again!!!

RE: Looking For goof Trainer
 

I got to this thread late and it looks as if you have already decided on a plane. At any rate FWIW I'm going to throw the suggestion of the Hobbico Superstar or Avistar out there. I have the Superstar and I still am flying it even though I've moved on to other planes. If I had it to do over I'd probably get the Avistar as it's a little more aerobatic than the Superstar.
I'd definitely start out with a glow powered bird if I were you. I love electrics too but I think everyone should get the experience of flying an engine powered plane. Just my 2 cents worth.
Have fun,
Michael

RE: Looking For goof Trainer
 

Hey MIchael, I actually was going to consider a avistar but I just kept going back to the eagle 2. And yes, I am starting out with a glow powered engine ;)

RE: Looking For goof Trainer
 

Guys,

GUESS WHAT!

Change of plans.. I THINK.. After picking out a kit for my dad, LT-40. He was looking at the Seniorita but there are no ailerons, and I think he would get bored of it quickly. I think I want one now!! I think I am going to change from the Eagle II to the LT-40! I really want to build this thing, I don't know what changed my mind but it looks like a lot of fun. Is the LT-40 capable of "hovering" with a AX do you think? Also, Is it capable of aerpbatics. Also, do the wings colapse for easy transportation?

Thanks,
Dennis R

P.S. Sorry for my rollercoaster ride. Man, I just need to but these things so I don't keep changing my mind!! I just know I want the .46ax, I will probally get the same engine for my dad.

RE: Looking For good Trainer
 

Hi Dennis, I did not read every post, but what I did read nothing was mentioned of a flight simulator. I purshased a Great Planes G2 and found it to be the best $150 dollars I ever spent. I has been very helpful and I give it alot of praise as it has helped me be a much better flyer. I don't necessairly recomend Great Planes as they are all pretty good. This option just might save your aircraft. Best of luck, and I hope you enjoy the hobby as much as I. Ken

RE: Looking For good Trainer
 

Hi,

I just checked and a flight simulator was mentioned in post number 27 of this thread.

I agree, you should purchase a good flight simulator, it will allow you practise on bad flying days, evenings etc. and the best thing is that your mistakes don't cost a lot, or take a lot of time fixin' .

One recommendation, be sure you have the view set so you looking at the plane from the ground. I once knew a beginner who set his view as if he was in the plane flying it - this does not simulate real RC flying and he was behind the other students, that is until we found out the problem.

If possible, check with other flyers, or your local hobby shop (LHS), and give a simulator a try. I think you will be pleased.

Fly4Fun,

Wayne MIller

RE: Looking For goof Trainer
 

XDennis,

I read here that some guys have hovered there trainers(not allways on purpose I bet:D) If I were you I'd use for its intended purpose learning to fly by the time you have mastered flying you will be ready to upgrade to a plane that is designed specifically for this style of flying. Yes trainers are capable of areobatics. But remember they were designed to make learning to fly eaiser and in that area they really shine. Good luck I think you will enjoy building as much as flying

RE: Looking For goof Trainer
 

Dennis-

I don't know if you've picked up on this theme yet, but THEY'RE ALL GOOD TRAINERS!:) There is very little practical difference between an Eagle, an LT-40, a Superstar, etc. The only difference you will see is that some trainers, such as the Avistar, have a semi-symmetrical airfoil, while most have a flat bottom airfoil.

Here's my point. It really doesn't make that big a difference. My trainer was a beat-up, previously used (very used) Sig Kadet Mk II. It has packing tape covering a couple holes in the wing from transit damage. The horizontal stabilizer has a strange warp to it, so to fly level I trim in about 10 degrees of down elevator. And it flies fine. I had a couple of buddy box flights and then soloed. I spent the rest of the summer teaching myself to do everything possible on that Kadet.

If I were you, I wouldn't spend my time building a trainer. I would get an ARF trainer and then maybe a kit you want for your second plane, like a Sig 4 Star. Get flying right away and then start building the second plane. By part way through the summer you'll probably be ready to start flying the plane you've built.

RE: Looking For goof Trainer
 

RC SIM - Yes, my dad actually mentioned it, I will be looking into the RC sim forums to see whats recomended. I do think they are a good idea and will probally end up adding one to my bag of tricks.

Jaywagner: I Think I will follow your advice and get a ARF in the air while my second plane will be a trainer. There are so many options, your right they are all good! Now I see why some people have 20+ planes!

RE: Looking For goof Trainer
 

Dennis-

After you have gotten a little air time under your belt, someone from your club can probably recommend a good second plane for you to build as a kit, based on your flying progress. It probably wouldn't be another high wing trainer, but rather a low wing, easy flying plane such as the Four Star or Goldberg Tiger 2, etc. Get a feel for what you like and take things one step at a time. You will be able to get plenty of use out of your first trainer. If you find yourself getting bored, it means you're not challenging yourself enough.

Have fun!
Scott

RE: Looking For goof Trainer
 

On the subject of flight sims, I haven't seen FMS mentioned here. This is a free flight simulator program or at least it was when I last used it. It's really quite good for a freebie. If you are handy with a soldering iron or know someone who is, you can even whip up a cable that will hook up the trainer jack of your transmitter to the printer port of your computer and allow you to control the sim. I have Realflight G2 now but the first thing I ever used was FMS with a homebrew cable and my transmitter. You can also fly it with a regular computer joystick but it isn't as realistic. The only drawback I can remember was that you couldn't use the cable/transmitter setup I had with Windoze XP, only Windoze Me, 98 and before. That's why I ended up with Realflight G2. I wish I'd gotten Aerofly Pro instead but that's another story. Don't have a link handy for FMS but just plug it into a search engine and you should find something.
Michael

RE: Looking For goof Trainer
 

Michael,
I actually downloaded FMS and about 500model planes for it. It is a pretty good sim as far as I can tell, I do not have a radio hookup though I have just been using the keyboard.

I use winXP so I guess I can't use a controller.

RE: Looking For goof Trainer
 

After posting I got to thinking about FMS and what it might be looking like these days so i did a little research and found out that there are ways to use it with XP. If you look at the links page on the FMS website there are now several places to get USB to radio adapters that they say will work with FMS and XP. Around 50 bucks from what I can see. If I could find a circuit diagram I'd build my own. Still in the end I want Aerofly Pro so I'll probably be saving my pennies for that. Just thought I'd pass that on though.
Michael

RE: Looking For goof Trainer
 

Good Info Michael,
Thanks.

Honestly I like FMS with the exception I can't use a radio. Now, I have never used another RC SIM so I really don't know any better.

One thing that is hard, Sometimes the views are crazy if you are right next to the run way I can never land on it because I can't really see it. If the runway sitn visible until the last 10seconds of your flight its hard to make good judgment.

Dennis R