I need help deciding everything!
 

I have recently decided to venture into rc planes and I need some help deciding what things to buy. I have read the a computerized 6 channel radio is the way to go so I was thinking about a JR 6 channel, is this a good bet?

Also I have never really flown my own plane before but I can't stand the look of any of the trainers. I have decided to go glow powered and I like the look of the Global P47d and the modeltech J3 cub. Does anyone have any other plane suggestions or know anything about these planes? I am really having trouble deciding, or am I way in over my head?

I need help deciding everything!
 

There are people who learn to fly on planes other than trainers, but that is way far from being normal... with the help that a trainer provides, most people still have some mishaps before they're really competent -- and a scale plane is usually not designed to survive those mishaps. A trainer will sometimes be OK.

The best advice I've heard on trainers is something I learned from a master carpenter about doing demolition to somebody else's house... the best way to get past it is to just make believe it's somebody else's house (or somebody else's trainer) and do it! The appearance thing is only what you make -- nobody who's learned to fly will think anything less of a trainer for training use and most will have a lot more respect for it.

What do the guys at the local club advise? We're no smarter than they are, ya know (well, some of us may be a little smarter... :))

I need help deciding everything!
 

For my money, flying a trainer successfully beats the heck out of crashing a P47!
I learned to fly on the "lowly" Butterfly.
Second plane was an eaglet.
Third plane was a Super Sportster.
Now I fly pattern.
There is certainly no stigma attached to flying a trainer.
BTW: a Cub is by no means a trainer....croz

Re: I need help deciding everything!
 

Did you learn to drive using an indy car because you didn't like the look of an economy car? Trainers have their place in this hobby - to help train the pilot. Once you know how to fly, then you can move on to more advanced planes. There's alot of learning required before you're ready for them.

I need help deciding everything!
 

JR radios seem to be well made, but pricey for what you actually get. You may want to check into the Hitec 7 channel. Both are good.

Now, on to the plane. DON'T GET A WARBIRD AS A FIRST PLANE. Get a trainer, learn to fly, then move on.

O.K. I'm calm again.

I need help deciding everything!
 

Do you want to learn to fly an RC plane?

Or do you want to buy a lot of replacement scale planes?

If you've already decided, the I'd recommend a LOT of practice on a simulator. Maybe you could find a field which supplies trainers to students.

Cubs ain't so easy to takeoff. Of my 5 flyable planes, the cub is the only one which has not yet flown due to wheel alignment and pilot issues.

Have you looked at and rejected all of the trainers? I agree somewhat - most of the trainers are dog-ugly. The Hobbico Avistar ain't so bad looking.

I need help deciding everything!
 

I am still confused I defintely do not want a trainer. I do not want something that is impossible to fly either. I really like the old warplane look. What about the AT-6 Texan from global. In fact does anyone have any pros or cons on global or modeltech?

I need help deciding everything!
 

I'll relieve you of your confusion. :) Get a simulator (G2 is nice), and an instructor, and a stack of $100 bills. Fly your plane of choice in the simulator with instructor assistance. Every time you crash, place a few $100 bills in a second stack. The instructor should be able to tell you how many bills are required (1-5). When you've moved all of the $100 bills from the first to the second stack, repeat the excersize with the PT-40.

I need help deciding everything!
 

OK, so you've decided you'd like a glow R/C plane. Assume that we we've decided for you that you definitely need a trainer of some sort....

The next decision is one of three (I think) options:

1. a package, almost ready to go out of the box. This consists of a trainer with radio and engine installed. The two best ones are probably the Hanger 9 Alpha and the Hobbico Superstar 40 select.

2. An ARF plane. THis will take around 20 hours to get airworthy with the minimum of extra tools and supplies. You also get to choose your own radio and engine.

3. A kit. More time to build, but a lot more control on the final look of the aircraft.

BTW The above options include durable and SPAD planes (as I'm sure these guys will butt in sooner or later) as well as more traditional balsa / ply designs.

Option 1 will not allow you to choose a 6 channel radio., Although the Alpha does have a JR radio. It will, however, allow you to get in the air with the minimum cost and time.

Option 2 for a lot of people is probably a good compromise. You get to choose the components, still get in the air relatively quick, and learn some basic biulding skills along the way (depending on how much work there is to finish the ARF).

Option 3: How long is it until flying season starts? You get to choose your own color scheme, and you'll definitely be on first name terms with the LHS owner...

BTW I have a computer JR radio, the XF631. It has the basic functions you need and is IMO easier to set up than a cheaper non-computer radio. Depending on how fast you progress, you may find the JR 6 channels limiting though as the main feature they're lacking is a proportional flap knob.

I need help deciding everything!
 

A good instructor could probably teach you to fly on something other than a trainer assuming you have loads of time and use a buddy box.

Find your instructor first and see how they feel about it, if it were me I would spend some hours trying to talk you into buying a trainer!

According to the replies you have had so, far I make it 8-0 in favor of getting a trainer.

Simon.

I need help deciding everything!
 

I wish that you lived much closer than you do from me, but I would have little if any trouble teaching you on something other than a trainer. The teaching method I use works so well, that it is very possible that I could teach you to fly a trainer quite well within a couple of hours or so and then have you finish your training on just about any low wing (advanced) aircraft, all within the same day of your first ever RC flying experience.

Just stating that learning to fly in a very short time frame is very possible. In fact, I have trained a few people who gave flight training themselves within a week's time of their first ever flying experiience. Locally, I am offering to train school teachers to fly so they can create RC aeromodeling programs in their technology classes. Any teachers out there interested in learning more?

Take care,
CCR
http://www.kites.org/rc_instructors

I need help deciding everything!
 

Make that 9-0

Just remember something, even with a trainer, there's a good chance you're going to bash it up a few times before you get the hang of it. A trainer will be repairable after all but the most violent crashes, but a simple slip with an advanced plane will ruin it.

So get a trainer (I know you don't want to, but just follow me on this) bash it up while you learn to fly. Meanwhile, start building your warbird. When you're confident enough to fly your warbird without the fear of demolishing it, swap the radio and engine out of the trainer, and go have a ball.

Of course, once you've flown the trainer, you may realize that what we will say next is the right thing to do, which is to get an intermediate trainer before trying the warbird.

I need help deciding everything!
 

ok so you hate trainers.... yes... they look ugly but that can be fixed.

take your standard pt-40.. and convert it to a tail dragger... this will make it a bit more difficult to take off but you will learn quick enough with practice.

now cover it white with a red nose and tail. throw some mil markings on it and abracadabra, a stand-off L-21 http://www.highgallery.com/military-aircraft-l-21a.jpg

the ease of learning on a trainer without the "ugly trainer" syndrome.

note I picked something that would be bright and easy to see against the sky and the treeline... a camo job can make landing in front of trees a bit difficult for a new pilot.

you can go with the cub if you REALLY must have a scale plane. alot of people think cubs are hard to fly but thats not the case... they just have some quirks you need to figure out.

a: they like to groundloop.
b: you need to co-ordinate your turns
c: landing they are prone to noseing over if you are carrying too much speed...
d: they dont like to slow down.... its not that they fly bad when slow its just that they dont like to loose any speed... they just glide and glide and glide and glide....so slowing it down to land takes a bit of practice.
e: crosswinds can be FUN... and by fun I mean "how the @!#$ am I going to land a plane that is crabbing 45 degrees to the runway" fun

so if you MUST ABSOLUTLY NEED to go scale a cub is probably the way to go. and besides... I think everyone needs to fly a cub, its just something that RC pilots do....

I need help deciding everything!
 

I agree with Unstable. Get a trainer and cover it in a scale manner. The Midwest Aerostar 40 is a great kit and plane.

I need help deciding everything!
 

I'd second the vote for the Aerostar. I just built one a couple of months ago and will try to post a pic (if I can remember to take home my digital camera). When finished out, it looks just like a Cessna, not flashy mind you, but no less flashy than a cub. And it is VERY forgiving in the air. The two instructors I used to learn with kept raving over how much they liked it over the other trainers they've used.

Reason I'm partial to it:

1) you'll get kit building experience which will come in very handy for the warbird that will no doubt be in your future.

2) instructions are excellent and very easy to follow.

3) flies great.

4) I paired it with an evolution .46 trainer engine. Once I had the hang of things, removed the flywheel and changed the prop and WHAMMO, this puppy screams!

5) and like I said, its a good lookin' plane, for a trainer.

If you're dead set against the typical trainer plane, consider a Sig Four Star. They're low-wing tail draggers and many say they're easier to fly than most trainers.

Good luck in your quest,
Heath

I need help deciding everything!
 

Give a look at the 4 star 40 from SIg. Nice looking airplane that can be spruced up to look nice, but is very easy to fly.

I need help deciding everything!
 

You'll be glad later if you start on one of the "ugly" trainers. I have seen too many people bit off more than they can chew, crash a plane too advance for them to be flying......result.....discouragement and they're done with the sport. I learned on a Hanger 9 Alpha, (still fly it some and have a ball). After about a dozen flights, got rid of the 3 blade prop and went to a 2 blade, and could not believe the difference. I have since moved up to a World Models Super Sports 40 and feel comfortable flying it. Some of the trainers actually look pretty cool. I think the Hanger 9 Alpha does. Comes with a 4 channel JR radio, only takes about one hour to have it completed, and you cant beat the Evolution .40 for simplicity. Dont want a bunch of things to have to deal with like computer radios and that, while learning to fly. Just my .02 cents worth. Keep it simple while learning.

I need help deciding everything!
 

Well, all the good advice has been advised already. So there's no place for me in this thread. :(

That's never stopped me from inflicting my opinion on others before though...

If you don't want an ugly trainer, get a sporty trainer and do a nice finish on it. Maybe Sig Kavalier. It's a little on the hot side for a trainer, but if your P-47 lasts past the first day, I'd be really surprised.

What hasn't been mentioned is that everyone at the field you go to is going to expect you to fail and in their hearts they will want you to fail because they all learned on "ugly" trainers (sometimes more than one trainger) and it will really piss them off if you're successful with a warbird. Sorry, but that's the reality check. You're not going to find a single person who wants to see you succeed recommend that you buy that P-47.

If your absolutely set on it, then you didn't need to post a thread and ask for advice. You've gotten the advice. Make your decision and accept the outcome whatever it may be. Good luck!

I need help deciding everything!
 

Know what looks really crappy? a 400 dollar bag of splintered balsa :) A trainer that you've put together yourself takes on a most beautiful sheen-especially when the baby takes off flies and lands-all in one piece! like the others said, cover in a fun way that pleases you. Sometimes you can do somethings with balsa to enclose the cowl for a scale effect. If it has wndows, and a pilot figure, or tint them. Build in a bit less dihedral if the kit shows an obscenely unscale like amount. ps the aerostar is kind of good looking for a trainer and flys nice. PPS if you make mods to your trainer kit make sure that proper cg is maintained.

I need help deciding everything!
 

Your warbird won't look like a warbird for very long if you try to learn on it. And, I don't think you will find any instructors that are going to teach you how to fly without starting with a trainer plane. You might find one that will teach you on a plane like a 4*, mid star or eacy sport.

Most of us started witht he same goals as you which are to fly our favorite warbird or aerobatic plane, but we soon realized that learning to fly on one of these planes only leads to disaster. When you learn to fly full scale, is the first plane you fly a F16, or P51 mustang? No, you start on a Cessna or similar plane that has a high wing and stable flying characteristics.

One other thing to think about is that without some building experience, that warbird is not going to come out as well as it would if you have a few builds under your belt.

Also, you trainer can later be converted into a great payload carrying plane. You can drop bombs (fake) or mount a camera on it or find other uses.

Finally, just swallow your pride and buy a trainer, everyone else has been there too and no one will look down on you. But if you show up at the field with a warbird and expect to fly it without any experience they are going to say the same thing that is being said on this board.

I need help deciding everything!
 

Experience is the best teacher Steamroller, so get what you want then go forth and learn.

Nice plane Unstable. Personally, I like the looks of a trainer type plane. They have more character than some other types, especially when they've been modified some.

I need help deciding everything!
 

Hello

What would you think if I told you that ,I felt the same way , I wanted to fly war birds , right out of the gate , LOL, it was fun for about three seconds when it ground looped at take off ,I still have it , well sort of , I bagged it up and brought it home , replaced a couple of trashed servo's sent my reciever in to be checked and fixed , put it all in a royal trainer , which is now retired and hanging from the ceiling ,

and after several years Im still building a trainer as we speak,even though I have several , other planes , I still like the relaxation of flying a trainer now and then ,

just a suggestion, but as I build another trainer , I give my older ones to someone and introduce them to this hobby, its a great way of building new pilots and also a good reason to build another.

Highlander

Read my Current Post in Bigginers.
 

If you read my current post in bigginers tittled Soloed, No Trainer No teacher, it will give my personal insight.

Dennis Spyridakos

I need help deciding everything!
 

I have only been flying 2 months. I started on an "ugly" trainer...... well, not too ugly. I also invested in a simulator.....G2 RealFlight. With the help of these "tools" I soloed on my second day. I didn't care what the plane looked like because I was so happy to be flying on my own. I have crashed my trainer 2x..... both because of an engine problem and inexperience in landing deadstick...both were easily fixable.... but, I have made about 50 flights on it no problem. In just a short period I have moved up to a Model Tech Magic and am working on flying a 4*40. Take your time with the trainer and it will make your experience much more enjoyable. Don't waste your money and get frustrated cause you bit off more than you could chew. Just my $0.02...... from experience..

Best of luck with whatever you decide!

Alex

I need help deciding everything!
 

PS- a trainer is a very valuable "TOOL".... not just a "TOY"