RC PC9
 

Hey all. Im new to RC planes so i just wanted to jump on here before i take the PC9 up for a test run. I've been into RC cars for years but never had a plane til now..

Here it is...

http://www.geocities.com/table_twitch/RC/myplane.jpg

The kit is originally an electric engine plane but i've converted it to gas.. I've re-inforced all the main points in the nose so it should hold up.

What i wanted to know is there any little hints and tricks that you guys know that can prevent a faliure in the air. Obviously i have no idea what could actually go wrong with it in the air. As far as im concerned its ready to fly - but i just got a feeling somthings gunna come loose and ruin the day.

RE: RC PC9
 

I hate to sound overly negative, but if you've never flown before the biggest thing that's going to go wrong is hitting the ground. That's definitely not a beginner plane. Learning to fly by yourself is a nightmare in itself, and will be made even worse by a plane like that. The best advice I can give you is to hang that plane from the ceiling, buy a trainer, and find an instructor. I know this isn't what you want to hear, but it's going to be the best route to successfully learning to fly.

Ken

RE: RC PC9
 

Hahaha! That is a fear of mine! And your probably right i should learn on a trainer... I've been thinking of getting one of those in-door stunt flyers to train on... So is this plane gunna move? I have no idea when it comes with power and weights and all that stuff. All i know is its a GP 15? Is this gunna be alot faster than i expecting to be?

RE: RC PC9
 

I have to agree with Ken's comments. If you'll search this forum you will find a lot of new pilots that bought a plane and tried to fly it. Almost every single one of them have left the field with parts. There has even been one or two that never found their plane!

Find an RC club, visit them, ask questions, and listen to them. You'll find them friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to help new pilots. Some even have trainer planes for the new guys so you may not even have to buy one.

When I was just starting out I bought a trainer at the recommendation of an instructor at the field the club owned. I flew the trainer with the instructors on a 'buddy' cord (allows the instructor to connect their radio to yours and take control when you lose control) several times. I felt I was ready to solo so I went to a closer private airport where I hangared my plane and tried to fly. I ended up crashing. The reason was because I had not yet advanced to the point where I learned about tuning the engine, checking connecting rods, surfaces, etc.

The bottom line is that you need to start with a plane that is more forgiving, and get instruction from someone that will not only teach you flying, but preflight and postflighting.

What ever you decide, we wish you the best.

Oh yeah, welcome to RCU. You'll get a lot of friendly and knowledgeable advice from the people here.

RE: RC PC9
 

OK thanks for the advice!! I probably wont be taking it up this weekend as planed!! I have a friend who flys an RC plane - i'll ask him where he goes and whats involved.. Its probably best i learn the entire RC plane experience rather than take an over-powered plane for a hoon round the park.. Im just used to taking the nitro car out for a spin in the local carpark! Which is what i'll do this weekend instead of ruining a perfectly flying and landable PC9 with in-experience..

RE: RC PC9
 

Oh yeah - one more thing. I have the contoller set up with ailerons on left and elevator set on left. With throttle and rudder on right. Do many RC pilots fly like this? I've heard this is not the normal way? I've set them this way cause it represents more what a full size plane control stick is like. I've done a few hours in the air so this just feels comfortable this way...

RE: RC PC9
 

Glad to hear you will take it slowly and seek the advice of others. You will enjoy the hobby more, in my opinion.

Setting the controller like you have I believe is called Mode 1, whereas the other way is Mode 2 (if I am wrong someone will correct me). There are several pilots at the field I used to fly at that fly in Mode 1. They say they like it more. I'm a Mode 2 guy because when I flew full scale the throttle was on the left and the stick (ailerons and elevator) on the right.

Good luck and let us all know how you do!

RE: RC PC9
 

That is NOT mode 1 and I don't know of anyone that flies with that setup. I recommend the following which is what the majority in the US use. It is called Mode 2. It puts the ELEV and AIL on the right stick (sort of like a P-51 control stick) and the rudder and throttle an the left stick. Most fighters have the throttles on the left side of the cockpit too. And you just put the rudders in the place that is remaining since there are no foot pedals :D.
Mode 1 swaps the ailerons and rudder controls and is common in Europe and also many "pattern" and old time pilots used it. It was the prevalent system when 4-channel systems were first developed (I believe). I personally prefer mode 2 but there is and always will be a debate on the subject. Your right stick should have a self-centering (neutral trim) feature which you want for the elevator but is bad for throttle. The trottle (left stick) should remain where you place it when you let go of it. Do you want you throttle to move by itself when you let go of it?

RE: RC PC9
 

Wierd - sounds like a debate i'll stay out of! I think i will be able to fly it better with the way i have it set tho. When i went up in the air the intructor said to use my left hand on the stick and right for throttle - which was in the middle of the dash.. So i've allways used my left hand for ailerons and elevator - easy to convert it down to a thumb on that hand.. And the other side is just forwards and left and right - even easier!

RE: RC PC9
 

Which stick is spring loaded to self-center? That need to be the elevator. If you choose to do it any other way - good luck, you'll realllllllly need it. Remember, this is NOT a full scale airplane (which BTW I have @2000 hrs of flying time in) so you need to adapt). In a full scale airplane you do indeed fly with the left hand and control the throttle with the right hand, but not if you fly from the right seat either. Again, you adapt. Please note I am assuming a plane where the pilots sit side-by-side.

RE: RC PC9
 

that prop looks a lot like an apc 'e',please say it isn't.

RE: RC PC9
 

Yeah - the left side is spring loaded in all directions where as the right side is only spring loaded side-ways...

RE: RC PC9
 

What do u mean by "e". Electric?

RE: RC PC9
 

Ok, the radio is set up for mode 1 then.
Usually mode 1 is throttle/ailerons on the right and elevator/rudder on the left but whatever makes you happy I guess.

RE: RC PC9
 

yes,e=electric

RE: RC PC9
 

yeah - it is.. It was more just put on for show - i know i need the right prop or the rev range will be out or somthing...

RE: RC PC9
 

for the sake of your health do not start the engine with that prop fitted,they are not designed to take the stresses an i.c. motor puts them through and it will break,an i.c. apc prop will be fine about 8x6 or 9x4.

RE: RC PC9
 

X don't let people try to convince you to fly in Mode 2 (standard for 90% of flyers), and my girlfried is left-hand dominant and she has to fly in Mode 1 like you. It's just preference that's all. I personally started out with a trainer, but I wish I had gone to a plane that had more control because in evasive maneuvers when the plane got out of control I could have used more control. I only had a 3 channel plane (Rudder, Elevator, and Throttle) and it was the worst thing I ever could have had to start with. I added ailerons and it made a world of difference to me. If you do decide to fly, a buddy cord would be great since your friend knows how to fly and it would be good for you to get to know more flyers around your area. Whatever the case, good luck and remember, "If you don't want to repair them, don't fly them." Crashes will come! Enjoy X!

RE: RC PC9
 

I wont be changing the set-up - my brain is 95% wired to that set-up all-ready. And yeah - wont be starting it with that prop - i'll get another when im ready to take it into the air. For now - i think im just going to hang it on the wall...

RE: RC PC9
 

I'm not trying to convince him to fly mode 2 or any other mode. I had erroneously assumed he had a mode 2 transmitter in the first place. I am trying to help make his plane last more thane 20 feet though.

RE: RC PC9
 

lol:)

RE: RC PC9
 

A. That's Mode 3. Not common anywhere TMK, but perfectly flyable. It's really the equivalent of mode 2 suited to a left handed flyer. Flyers everywhere fly predominently mode 1 or mode 2.

B. What RCKen said in post #2.

C. With an IC .15 and especially if on 36MHz, you shouldn't be flying that illegally and uninsured in a public "park" - anywhere.

D: Your "few hours in the air" will be of zero benefit in this particular instance. FWIW, mode 2 is the control orientation in other than civil lighties and airliners sharing a common throttle quadrant with the command pilot occupying the left seat. In all single seaters and dual tandem (per military, gliders etc), the throttle quadrant is on the left with right hand controlling elevators and ailerons on the stick/yoke.

E. Be part of the fun and the solution rather than part of the problem. Find a club & learn to fly, and do it where you should.

RE: RC PC9
 

That's fine, but do be aware that you'll TRULY be the odd man out. So if you want anyone else to assist you, it'll be slave and use a buddy cord because virtually no-one anywhere flies mode 3. I've tried mode 3 out of sheer curiosity and personally find the transition farily easy and very similar to hopping from the right to left seat. But then I'm a mode 2 flier. OTOH, transition to mode 1 from either is nowhere near as naturally cordinated, so vice versa, all but the most dextrous mode 1 fliers will be completely stuffed if you just shove the box into their hands with a cry of "Help!". I can fly mode 1 if I must, although I strongly prefer to fly mode 2. But most RCers are are completely trapped in the mode they learnt and fly.

For training with a buddy cord it simply doesn't matter (physically) what mode either you or your instructor fly, so if you're hell bent on flying mode 3 in the face of convention, bully for you, but it'd be smart to be appraised of the simply pragmatic problems it's going to present for a fledgling RC flier like yourself.

As an aside, in the several clubs of which I've been a member and some of the odd arrangements I've seen over the years, I've yet to see a mode 3 flier, which is not to suggest it can't or shouldn't be flown. We do have one mode 4 flier at my large current primary club, but he's an import and the only one, and sole one I've personally ever seen who flies other than either mode 2 or 1.