beginner
 

i have been on this forum a while, into cars.
I was thinking about getting into airplanes. I don't know how hard it is to fly a trainer. Could I fly a Tower Trainer?

Also, I have a few basic stupid questions.

1. Does the plane move when there is no throttle.
2. Do they have brakes?
3. How hard is it to land?
4. Do the engines die constatly like they seem to in cars at the beginning of breakin? It seems like that could make you crash...
5.

The rudder controls turning/banking ?
Throttle makes propellor spin faster(more gas)
Elevator controls height
Aileron controls ?????


Thanks

RE: beginner
 

If you've never flown before, get a trainer -- preferably one with a simulator included. Spend ALOT of time on the simulator before you go to the field. It's ok to crash on the computer (again and again), not so fun when you're at the field with a real plane. The Hobicco Nextstar might be a good choice. Easy to learn on, comes with a decent engine (OS .46 FXi) that can be reused when you're ready to move in to a more aggressive plane.

Get with a club, join, and get good instruction. Stay on a buddy box as long as you can. You can't park a plane in the middle of flight. It's a different world and a lot of fun.

See this link for an explanation of flight characteristics -- http://www.allstar.fiu.edu/aero/fltmidcont.htm

RE: beginner
 

Could I fly a Tower Trainer?
Possibly, with an instructor. Get with a local club and talk to some of the instructor pilots there. Instruction is usually free, or paid for in the price of the club membership.

Also, I have a few basic stupid questions.

1. Does the plane move when there is no throttle.
Yes, unless it's stopped rolling after landing or been crashed.

2. Do they have brakes?
Not usually.

3. How hard is it to land?
Depends on how hard you want to land. :D

4. Do the engines die constatly like they seem to in cars at the beginning of breakin? It seems like that could make you crash...
No, most engines only die when crashed hard into the ground.

5. The rudder controls turning/banking ?
The rudder controls yaw.

Throttle makes propellor spin faster(more gas)
Yes.

Elevator controls height
No, the elevator controls attitude. The throttle controls altitude.

Aileron controls ?????
Roll.

Now that I've had a little fun...check some of the beginner books out there. Higley publishes a couple of good ones, and some may be available at your LHS. Also, talk to some local club members. We'll all try to help you in this forum, but some of your questions would require a separate new thread to properly and completely answer.

Throttle balanced with elevator controls altitude and rate of climb. Ailerons control roll. ailerons and/or rudder may be used to turn the plane, depending on the type of wing.

The plane will glide up to a point when flying speed is lost.

The engines are very reliable and will not usually die in the air.

Dr.1

RE: beginner
 

If you find these useful, I suggest you e-mail them to yourself or print them out as the site where they are hosted is closing down. If you are not interested in electrics, just ignore those links near the bottom.


The New Flyer's Handbook
by Ed Anderson - AEAJR on the Forums

If you are new to RC Flying, this series of articles may be helpful in your
training. Consider them part of a beginners handbook. They are written with
the new flyer in mind.

How RC Planes Differ from RC Cars
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=17

Stall
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=31

Take Off and Land into the Wind
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=43

Parts of the Plane
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=54

The Radio - The Pilots Cockpit
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=59

Why Join a Club
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=64

Lost Model Locators
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=67

Radio Systems Part 1 - Standard Radios
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=44

Radio Systems Part 2 - Computer Radios - A Better Investment
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=65

OTHER RESOURCES

Landing techniques
http://www.masportaviator.com/ah.asp?CatID=8&ID=20

The AMA, the Academy of Model Aeronautics, is an outstanding resource to the
new and experienced flyer. I encourage you to become a member. Here is an
outstanding series of articles published by the AMA that will be really useful
to new pilots. It is called, "From the Ground Up" by Bob Aberle. I highly
recommend it.
http://www.modelaircraft.org/mag/FTGU/Part1/index.html

RC Clubs in the United States:
http://www.modelaircraft.org/clubmai...5E31DE4FA6F552

International RC Clubs
http://www.fai.org/fai_members/addresses.asp

An excellent site for new flyers by Ian Pullar of Australia
http://www.newrcflyers.com/

Another great resource for new flyers by Patrick Plawner
http://plawner.net/3/

New Electric Flyer FAQs
http://www.ezonemag.com/pages/faq/a105.shtml

Electric Motor information
Click on Motor Chart link on this page too
http://parkflyermotors.com/secure/sh...m.asp?recid=11

Reviews on electric motors
http://www.rcuniverse.com/product_guide/engineguide.cfm

Plane reviews
http://www.rcuniverse.com/product_gu...planeguide.cfm

Reviews on radio equipment
http://www.rcuniverse.com/product_guide/radioguide.cfm

RC Definitions of terms
http://www.rc-airplane-advisor.com/r...finitions.html

Good luck new pilot and welcome to RC flying!

RE: beginner
 

Hey, if ya keep this up, your gonna have this fella soloed in no time!;)

Actually, it is great that there is such a wealth of info and assistance available now. I wish I had had this when I started (attempted to with an .049 cox Zero) out in this addiction,,,,,,,,

The worst question is the one you ask after the crash.

RE: beginner
 

Everyone's answers and advise have been right on target. I would just like to emphasize that "training" is generally required. Trying to fly on your own, without help, is not the way to go. It is almost never successful.

RE: beginner
 

My experience is in electics and sailplanes, not glow. Working from that background I know way too many people who started on their own and are now flying lots of planes who received little or no help, beyond the forums.

I can certainly see the wisdom of an instructor if you are starting in the glow world. Between engine set-up and tuning and the higher speeds, weights and wing loadings, there is a lot more going on and a lot more damage that can occur if something goes wrong. Hitting something with a 16 ounce 20 mph rear propeller foamy is quite different from a 60 ounce 40 mph balsa object with a fast spinning prop on the front.

On the 3 channel RTF electics, basically you charge, plug in, hit the throttle and go. The motors don't stall and they don't run lean so the motor knowlege/training pretty much goes away. And most of the electric ARFs either come with motors or give you specific recommendations so figuring out electric motors has gotten a lot easier.

Once you get past the power systems they fly pretty much the same. Pitch/Roll/Throttle on 3 channel and Pitch/Roll/yaw/throttle for 4 channel.

Since the glow planes do tend to be heavier and faster than the typical RTF/ARF electic, they do handle wind better. I recommend new electric flyers, especially ones training on their own, do their early flights in calm to 5 mph and no more. One you get good, 10-15 mph winds can become a fun challenge.

You can certainly learn to fly on your own with the small electrics or gliders. But frankly it is a faster and a much more fun process to at least get a coach/advisor/friend to help you. And, an instructor is always the best way to learn.

RE: beginner
 

It's just plane SMART to get some assistance ( instruction ). ENJOY !!! RED





EGO'S BREAK PLANES !!!!

RE: beginner
 

Agree with all of the above. Some have it and some don't. The knack to pick up flying quickly I mean. Get an instructor that is calm and patient. RC planes are not like cars. Cars will usually hit something on the ground and stop not far from where you are. A plane can travel for miles if control is lost and destroy property and injure people. I'm not rying to scare ya, just tell you the facts about flying around 4-30 pound bullets you hope, under control. The key thing to remember they are not toys, even though my wife thinks they are. Not just anyone gets in a real cessna and takes off by himself. The same holds true for RC planes. Once built they must be thouroughly inspected prior to flight, just like the big ones. Radio gear must be checked and batteries must be in good condition. When I started in this I learned not to push the batteries threshold of capacity. Not much scarier than a screaming plane heading toward you or your buddies with a 12 inch food processor strapped to the front and not responding to control inputs.
Find and club and some help. Be weary of the instructor that can't seem to wait to get your plane in the air without inspecting it like an FAA inspector. If it isn't right you don't fly. Just ask yourself if you would fly it if it was a real plane. If you wouldn't, than it is probably not too safe to fly remotely so fix what needs fixing and come back another day. Best of luck and be safe

RE: beginner
 

Good words, 6414. I've sent many newbies home the first day when their planes didn't pass a safety inspection. They grumbled at first, but usually thanked me later when they realized the mistakes could have cost them the plane, radio, engine, or someone's health.

Patience is the keyword in learning to fly R/C safely.

Dr.1

RE: beginner
 

HEY DR 1 ELEVATORS CONTROL PITCH THROTTLE CONTROLS THRUST
COULDNT RESIST SOME FUN OF MY OWN
HAVE FUN

RE: beginner
 

One other thing he needs to remember is that this will become an addiction quite quickly....

And as someone said in another forum, the only known cure is to:

Take two airplanes and go fly in the morning :D

aeajr, I just cecked out all of the links and all I can say is what a wealth of info [X(]

RE: beginner
 

Yea, I got all kinds of stuff laying around. My wife calls me a great collection of useless information.

Glad you liked it.

RE: beginner
 

Hey there... Isn't it great, the possibility to convert a buggy driver to the awsome arena of doing someting in three dimensions:D

All great advice, most important... Safety, patience, and good instructor.

And Dr1.... Is the hun having fun in the sun???

RE: beginner
 

Many converts in RcUniverse... I figure if you like RC Car's - and in my case mostly 1/6th scale what's not to like about planes and heli's? I'm also looking to get into planes since I found that we have a very nice club/airfield nearby. I used to fly heli's in College - or should I say I used to hover heli's (never got into forward flight). I'm a very big techno file and I just purchased my radio - which I know is 100 percent overkill but I could not resist when I saw it was powered by WINCE - the 14MZ. Now I have to figure out how to use it and I need something to use it on!!

I'm looking to pick up some software to train with - will Relfex XTR work - I know its one of the best for HELI's - but not sure if it is recommneded for Airplanes? I have not seen it in action but am told the GFX are much better that RealFlight.