First Post - NEWBIE - Trainer/Plane Questions
 

The closest I have gotten to an RC plane was about 15yrs ago when i came across a field of gentleman flying all sorts of stuff...I am def a newbie to the sport.

Well, it's finally time i gave this a try myself as I am a junkie when it comes to anything propelled by a motor.

After some intial research, this is the plane i was thinking about:
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=HAN3825

or:
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=HAN4425

Both seems to be more progressive which is good for me, b/c i tend to get bored quickly once I've playing around with something for awhile. Also, the firsy I believe comes with a complete trainer software setup so I can learn to fly from my computer. I'm certainly going to look for an actual person to work with, but i thought this might help. Are these simulators useful?

What do you guys think?? Are there other nitro planes you think are a better choice? Simulator software worth the purchase, any you can recommend?

Any help would be great, looks forward to getting to know you guys!!

-Craig

RE: First Post - NEWBIE - Trainer/Plane Questions
 

Simulators are very good for training.
Skip on those two planes. They are targeted toward beginners but they just aren't beginner models. Some will say that they are, but do some research on here about it first.

Your basic trainer plane is really the way to go. Don't worry about the looks too much. You will appreciate the durability of a good trainer and the easy flying chacteristics of the plane.

When you grow beyond the trainer then the engine and electronics can be moved to a different plane. You can buy either one of those planes as ARFs and they make a pretty good second plane.

Pick up an Avistar trainer and a good simulator and your success rate will be much higher.

RE: First Post - NEWBIE - Trainer/Plane Questions
 

Of the two, the P-51 is a much better choice (I have reviewed both of them)

In NEITHER case should you even THINK about doing this without proper training (Unless you care to watch your $400 investment turn into splinters in a matter of seconds).

Simulators are excellent training tools, but they are in NO WAY meant to replace a human standing next to you with a proper buddy box.

RE: First Post - NEWBIE - Trainer/Plane Questions
 

Great, thank you for the info.

I've seen some info on these buddy boxes, have you noticed that most clubs carry them or is it something i usually need to purchase on my own?

RE: First Post - NEWBIE - Trainer/Plane Questions
 

Most clubs have a buddy box. My club will even let you train on their club trainer for the first three flights to see if it's something you will like before spending money on a plane. Check out the clubs in your area. They may have something similar.

RE: First Post - NEWBIE - Trainer/Plane Questions
 

Your transmitter will have a jack in the back that you plug a wire into. It then plugs into your instructor's transmitter. Your instructor will take off and trim the plane out, then he holds a switch on his transmitter and it transfers control to your transmitter. If you get in trouble (Which you will) he just releases the switch and takes over.

Have a look at this website for some good info for beginners:

[link=http://www.gettingairborne.com/index.html]Getting Airborne[/link]

RE: First Post - NEWBIE - Trainer/Plane Questions
 

Thanks guy - much appreciated!

RE: First Post - NEWBIE - Trainer/Plane Questions
 

if you want to try a free flight sim. try this:
http://www.flying-model-simulator.com/

RE: First Post - NEWBIE - Trainer/Plane Questions
 

If you like the Hangar 9 products, a good basic trainer is the Alpha 40 DSM
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=HAN4400
It is a "ready to fly" package with a 2.4ghz spread spectrum radio system and the price is $300.

For $80 you can get the Hangar 9 FS One flight simulator without controller. You use your actual transmitter as the controller.
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...rodID=HANS3000
Or, for $100 you can get it with a controller
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...rodID=HANS2000

I have never used FS One but have no reason to think it is not good. I have used RealFlight from Great Planes. It is good software but it costs twice as much as FS One.

RE: First Post - NEWBIE - Trainer/Plane Questions
 

Having just repaired one of those PTS Mustangs for a friend who thought that instruction wasn't really required, I have to echo Minn's advice. My friend thought "trainer" meant it would almost fly itself... the poor thing lasted about 15 seconds, shot up into the air, stalled, and came down on its wingtip needing $70 and several days in repairs. Start with a more traditional trainer, get some lessons from a qualified instructor, and get as many hours in on a simulator as you can. The Mustang's probably fine once you have a couple of dozen flights under your belt with a traditional trainer, but what they've really done with these PTS planes to make them trainers is to take a plane that wants to be twitchy and fast and force it to be slow and lethargic.

Have a look round on Ebay, your local 2nd hand shops, or the trading pages on this website and find yourself a good, used trainer. If you manage to keep it in one piece for a few months you can sell it off to the next newbie, if not you've not cost yourself a lot of cash. Buy yourself that Mustang or Raptor as a great second plane, and remove all the "go slow" bits. Get yourself a good new 2.4GHz radio (7 channels or more) to go with your first plane and you'll have a radio that'll grow with your skills. I like Spektrum radios (they've got great priced starter packages with receiver, batteries, quality servos etc all included), but Futaba and Airtronics are also very popular.

RE: First Post - NEWBIE - Trainer/Plane Questions
 

I've reached out to a few clubs and I'm hoping to find one with a trainer and individuals to spend some time with me. I completely agree with all your recommendations, practice b4 spending a few hundred.

I was looking around on eBay for used trainer planes but haven't had much luck.

Also, you mentioned radio selection above...the radio that comes with the Hangar RTFs, is it low quality? I always prefer to buy something solid (w.o going overboard) once, then buying a product and realizing it's inferior and upgrading a year or two later anyway.

RE: First Post - NEWBIE - Trainer/Plane Questions
 

No, in fact, the radio that comes with the Mustang is very good

RE: First Post - NEWBIE - Trainer/Plane Questions
 

I can't speak for US clubs, but here in Australia each club tends to have a couple of qualified instructors who supply their own plane for lessons. The same friend I mentioned ended up buying a Boomerang trainer and asked about taking lessons on it and the instructor suggested he not do so for the first few, so at least the plane would be a known quantity (eg: it's not a good look taking your first lesson and having the tail fall off because it wasn't glued on properly! :D ) Find an instructor who has a plane and a pair of radios and try a few lessons - you might find that RC planes aren't actually your thing before you spend up big (I'm fairly confident you'll get as addicted to it as the rest of us though! :) )

I'm fairly familiar with the radio that comes with the Mustang these days (it changed not long back). It's a Spektrum DX6i, which is the little brother of my DX7. They're a good brand that I'd recommend, they have most of the features that the DX7 has ,though some are a little more limited eg: only 10 model memories instead of twenty, smaller LCD screen with fewer characters making reading the output require a little translation etc. I've not used the JR radio sold with the Raptor, however the brand's known as one of the better ones and is compatible with the Spektrum radios. In fact Spektrum & JR share technologies, and JR tends to be the "American version" where Spektrum is the "Japanese version", with the two companies working hand in hand. Either of these radios will have more features than you'll need for your first year or so, such as programmable "mixes" (eg: mixing some rudder into the aileron control automatically). Both these radios will have the "trainer port" in the back, so you can use them with a buddy cord and a second (compatible) radio, or a USB plug into your computer to use with a flight sim.

The downside to the DX6i (and I assume the JR) is that they don't have the same "starter packages" as the DX7. It was the first 2.4GHz radio put out by Spektrum, and to break into the market they packaged up the 7 channel radio with a 7 channel receiver, quite respectable sized batteries for both, a decent switch/charge harness, and four digital servos that provide quite high torque (moving power - useful later on when you're on bigger planes), at a really unbeatable price. These starter packages are starting to get a little thin on the ground now that they've put out 5 and 6 channel radios but there's still a few to be had, and the price difference is very small. For instance, using Horizon's prices the DX7 package is US$341 at the moment. Their DX6i (radio only) is US$199, but the servos are $29.90 each, the 6 channel receiver is $69.90 and you still don't have a switch harness, receiver battery, or charger. The radio also doesn't come with a battery as it's designed to use disposable Alkaline batteries (though it can also use a rechargeable NiMH or NiCd pack). As a beginner needing a transmitter you really can't go past that package deal.

RE: First Post - NEWBIE - Trainer/Plane Questions
 

definetly look at the hobbyzone supercub rtf

it is an amazing starter plane

i had never flown before i got my supercub , and it anoys me to see people saying u need a trainer because i didnt, oviously it would help but it is very easy to pick up and i recommend you buy it

they are sold for about £100 now

DEFINETLY TAKE A LOOK!

RE: First Post - NEWBIE - Trainer/Plane Questions
 

errr.... if [link=http://www.hobbyzone.com/rc_planes_hobbyzone_super_cub.htm]this[/link] is what you're talking about, it is a trainer... a tail dragger admittedly but still a trainer. It looks like it'd be a lot easier to fly than the mustang or raptor having a nice flat high wing. No ailerons though, and only a three channel radio - that's a bit of a pity.

RE: First Post - NEWBIE - Trainer/Plane Questions
 

This is all great info, I love reading all the replies. Any additional info on planes, recommendations for clubs and initial equipment purchases are all very welcome advice!

Please, keep them coming and let me know your thoughts.

RE: First Post - NEWBIE - Trainer/Plane Questions
 

There's a heap of good trainers out there. I started with a Great Planes "Perfect Trainer 40" which is $75 from Tower Hobbies... but they're all much the same. You're looking for a high mounted, flat bottomed wing with good dihedral (the upward slant of the wings) for stability and good slow flight characteristics, and tricycle landing gear (nose wheel as versus tail wheel) for easier take-offs, landings, and taxiing. The biggest choices you face at this point are whether you want a glow engine (that runs on methanol fuel) or an electric one, and how big do you want it? Bigger planes (eg: .60 sized) are more stable and visible in the air, but also more expensive, harder to transport, and thirstier. You can get trainers down to .25 size but I wouldn't go below a .40 size - the smaller ones will get blown around by every gust, and the .40-.46 sized engine will be much more useful later on when you graduate from a trainer.

By the way in case you hadn't figured it out yet, the numbers refer to 2 stroke glow engine sizes, eg: 0.40 cubic inches. RC planes are usually sold by the recommended engine size and unless otherwise stated it refers to a 2 stroke engine. There are also 4 stroke engines but they need to be bigger for the same plane. You also want to look at numbers like wingspan, fuselage length, weight, and wing loading (which is a ratio of wing area to plane weight, the lower it is the easier it flies). Some glow planes can be converted more easily than others for electric motors, and there's more planes every day designed only for electrics. Personally I prefer glow motors, there's something about the smell and noise that I like, but huge debate rages over which is better. They both have positives and negatives eg: on-going fuel costs, time spent cleaning the exhaust residue off the plane & noise vs initial cost & lifespan of batteries, the need to recharge them, costs of electronic speed controllers, comparative flight times etc. There's also as much dispute over various brands of glow engine - everyone has their favourites and I'm sure if you have a couple in mind you'll get more opinions on here than you can poke a stick at. :D

RE: First Post - NEWBIE - Trainer/Plane Questions
 

Matt, I think "trainer" = "instructor" in Super-Cub-boi's reply.

RE: First Post - NEWBIE - Trainer/Plane Questions
 

Oh... fair enuf. Still applies though, get yerself some lessons! :D

RE: First Post - NEWBIE - Trainer/Plane Questions
 

I would avoid buying a used airplane unless it is a local pickup for you. Shipping a built model can be expensive. Also, as a beginner, do you know how to spot crash damage, repairs, shoddy construction, etc?

As mentioned, some clubs have trainers available for beginners to use. My club does not have them. You've probably already found the AMA club finder. If not, plug your zip code in http://www.modelaircraft.org/clubsearch.aspx to see what is in your area. If a phone number is listed, you should use it. Email is not a great way to contact most clubs. Some of our members only check their email once a month.



You asked about initial equipment purchases. If you find a club that will let you learn on their plane, you shouldn't need to buy anything up front.

When you are ready to start buying things, Hangar 9 has a "start up" kit that is pretty much the bare minimum field equipment you'll have to have.
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...rodId=HANSTART
> Fuel pump - this one is a hand cranked pump that should last a long time
> Two Hangar 9 glow plugs. Glow plugs do fail and it is good to have spares
> Glow plug wrench
> Rechargeable glow driver with charger
> Chicken stick - to flip the prop without cutting a finger
> Cardboard box, with handle, to carry the stuff

Eventually you will replace the cardboard box with something more durable. Some buy field boxes from Horizon or other sources. Some use tool boxes, tackle boxes, milk crates, etc. Once you get a big box you will fill it with all sorts of tools, hardware, spare parts, and gadgets. Some will be very useful, and some will just be more stuff to lug around.

RE: First Post - NEWBIE - Trainer/Plane Questions
 

If you like to build; then build a SPAD. Simple Plastic Airplane Design, very low cost to build and if you crash more than likly you will be able to fly that same day. www.spadtothebone.com You can customize your plane, add stickers, etc

RE: First Post - NEWBIE - Trainer/Plane Questions
 

I have the Alpha 40 before it came with the DSM and was pissed, that radio rocks for a noob!

I love the alpha, i crashed pretty hard and only needed 5 min epoxy, a new prop and spinner, few more rubber bands, its still flying solid!!!!

or go for the 60, bigger is better!

my $ .02

RE: First Post - NEWBIE - Trainer/Plane Questions
 

Since you haven't really decided wether you want to start out with electric or glow engine powered planes, I'll give you my two cents on both.

Electric -start with Hobbyzone Super Cub. Can't beat the price, performance, and durability of this plane. It can take off and land in tight places and is very cheap and easy to repair. The radio is junk, but it will work well enough to get you to the point that you are bored with the plane, then you can either upgrade it or sell the whole plane and move on.
If you can not find any experienced help, then this is the only plane that is likely to survive your learning curve.

Glow engine - go with the Hobbico Avistar. It is a trainer, but it will fly like a sport plane when you are ready to try aerobatics. It will handle wind better than most trainers and will keep your interest a lot longer. This is the one trainer that will always be in my hangar. You should not attempt this or any other glow engine plane with out an instructor to help you get started!

RE: First Post - NEWBIE - Trainer/Plane Questions
 

Thanks Hugger - i'm starting with glo engines.

I'm hoping to check out a club or two this wkd and talk to some folks, esp hoping to find a trainer/instructor.

RE: First Post - NEWBIE - Trainer/Plane Questions
 

Glad to hear it... glow rocks :) Before everyone tells you to be a clone and go with OS, I'll recommend Super Tigre engines instead. :)