cheap begginer plane?
 

:confused: :confused: :confused:

cheap begginer plane?
 

Thanks for the clarification.

All of your points are well taken and I will not dispute any of them as you are a former owner of one of the planes in their two channel line. However from a cheap way to get in, I think they do OK. In fact the sealed nature, no user serviceable parts, was one of the things I like about it. Just buy, charge and fly!

The Aerobird, being a three channel plane, addresses most of your issues, so you might want to check it out.
Here is a link to a review of the Aerobird:
http://www1.wildhobbies.com/news/def...&articleid=853

I am not suggesting you buy one, only that you recognize how it differs from these others. However, you are certainly entitled to your opinion.

Clear skies and safe flying!

:)

cheap begginer plane?
 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Crashem
In my opinion the HobbyZone firebird series which includes the Firebird II, FirebirdXL and the Fighterbird. Are about the worst mistake any beginner can make.


I could not agree more. These airplanes will provide virtually nothing in a training environment and will just slow down your progression to your goal while increasing your total financial investment trying to reach that goal.

A large number of people show up at our field with these and we do our best to help but almost all soon realize that they cannot function as a trainer because of poor aerodynamic control system design and a high percentage of these people are lost to the sport because this.

The Aerobird with the conventional tail and a real rudder that does not impart a pitch up every time a directional imput is made may be far better, I have not seen one of those yet however I thank a lot of damage has already been done by the others in the series.

John

cheap begginer plane?
 

One point I need to make in defense of these low end two channel planes is that, at no time, have I ever hear or seen the manufacturer call them trainers. NEVER!

They call them beginner planes or entry level planes, but never trainers. I just realized that you think they are purchased as trainers. I would agree that would not be a good use.

Anyone who buys a firebird as a trainer would be making a mistake. They are entry level planes suitable for beginners who would like to have something they can fly. They fit that requirement perfectly.

But they are not trainers. The purpose of a trainer is to prepare you for a specific next step. These planes do not have any such purpose. They are just simple, easy to fly planes. That's all they try to be.

Happy flying! :D

GO to :Spad
 

Go to: Spad Page

cheap begginer plane?
 

crafty1

If there was supposed to be a link in your post, it doesn't work.

Cheap planes=Spad Page
 

Sorry I didn not put in a link,just go to Yahoo blank out the address and type (SPAD) you will then find a site for free plans made out of corogated plastic sheet real cheap. you can buy a 4x8 sheet for 10 dollars.
Everyone is doing it

cheap begginer plane?
 

Take it from someone who has gone this route, the cheap little "bird" type planes are not the way to go. I bought one when I decided to learn to fly, and what a mistake. It "flew" like crap. $169 down the drain. I am now a relatively experienced pilot, and I still can't get that thing to fly very well. You say you would eventually like to progress to jets, these little electrics are not a step in that progression. Take everyone's advice, save up for a good 4 channel glow powered trainer. Any of the ARFs in this category will fit the bill. Check out your local hobby shop. They will be happy to set you up with a proper trainer package, and point you in the direction of a club and some instruction. If you don't have a shop locally, Tower sells the Superstar and Avistar select packages for $300. This includes plane, engine, and radio, all installed for you. Not really that much more than you are looking to spend, but worth every penny!

cheap begginer plane?
 

AEAJR,

I think this is the link crafty1 was referring to.

http://www.spadtothebone.com

Spad and Coroplastic and Foam
 

There are so many trainers made from Coroplastic and foam and plastic gutter pipe the stuff is so cheap. you can build a plane for 20 dollars in a few days and not be hurt when you crash it which I do alot. Me personally , I am a expert builder but a beginner pilot .

RE: Spad and Coroplastic and Foam
 

With the introduction of the Firebird Outlaw, Hobbyzone has once again pushed down the cost of entry, now around $60.

One of our club members came into the club with the Firebird Outlaw, so I now have a little time on one helping him learn to fly.

First, this is a really cute plane. However it is VERY light so that the slightest breeze pushes it around.

While dif thrust works, I have to say that the motors are not really strong enough to control the plane well in anything over about 3-4 MPH breeze. I am sure someone will say they have flown in 10 MPH, but there just isn't enough thrust.

Anyway, they guy was flying. He made an adjustment on the tail so that he got some better climb and was really doing well. He got it up about 100 feet and was having a ball when it just started to climb faster than he expected. The plane had found a thermal.

He shut the motor off and was just floating along. He was loving it until he realized he couldn't get the plane back down.

When I go the controls, the plane was up about 400 feet. I could not power out of the thermal and was not able to induce a spirial dive since there is no tail surface you can control, as there is on a Firebird, XL, Commnder or Fighterbird. We had contact from the transmitter because we could get the plane to turn, but when it hit the edge of the thermal, it would be spun back in. We could not break out of the funnel.

Despite our best efforts the thermal just sucked the plane into the sky.

Be VERY careful with this plane if you get it above tree level. It has so little power it can not fight against wind and can easily be sucked up by a thermal. I never saw anything like this.

RE: cheap begginer plane?
 

the most durable "kit plane" i have seen is the us aircore planes they are made out of corogated plastic sheet and folded in to shape with a min of wood parts. i guess this is basically a spad kit lol. but have seen one hit concrete light poles and live have seen it auger in to asphalt etc. the most damage ive seen was a busted engine head but thats not the plane is it. i think they must be close to indestructable

RE: cheap begginer plane?
 

I'd say - just remember the old English saying: "We are not so rich to buy cheap things". If you go too cheap you will end up paying more one way or another.

Just consider this:

1. If you buy a good engine (and take a good care about it) it may "migrate" to your next plane, and may be to the next... Good engines are known to run for years!!!

2. Good radio - I'd say nothing less than 6 channels, if possible computerized. With this radio you may spend at least couple of years, as it can hold number of plane configurations. You will be also able to do some neat things with it, e.g. flaps, retracts, etc.

3. Quality materials and construction are definitely something to look for.

To summarize: look around and do not let small price to full you. Also, do not ignore RCU’s market place and auctions, like eBay. There are often really good buys there.

Good flying!