First plane considerations
 

OK, so it looks like I'll have a bit of extra cash available this month, and I'm thinking of buying an RC plane. I've never flown anything before, so obviously I ought to be looking at simple, easy to fly, inexpensive (as opposed to "cheap") planes.

I should mention that I'm not intending to get too deep into the hobby: probably whatever I buy will be what I fly for quite some time. I've got too many other expensive hobbies to sink much money in, but this looks like a fun thing to try (and dovetails nicely with another hobby, photography). My price range at the moment is in the $100 range... less would be better, a little more is acceptable if necessary.

It looks like the most reasonable options within my price range are:

1) GWS Slow Stick. Pros: Slow, easy-to-fly, cheap, and I could probably run it in my back yard once I figured out what I was doing. (I've got a big yard, but there are a couple of trees in the middle seems like an issue while learning.) Cons: Not RTF, and I think it's ugly. That'll reduce how much I want to fly it later, but it's cheap enough that that might not matter. Having to buy all the parts separately isn't a huge deal, but it does mean that before I can learn to fly, I have to learn to build a plane.

2) Slope Diver/Accipiter Badius or something like it. I'll be honest this is my favorite of the choices. I like the price point, I like the look, and I think Icould enjoy flying it for a long time. Pros: I like the look, it's apparently pretty easy to fly and nearly indestructible. Parts are easily available. Cons: The stock transmitter is completely non-standard, so buying a new transmitter/receiver set would probably be a really good idea.

For either of the first two, I'd probably consider the Exceed-RC FS-CT6X tranmitter/reciever set: from the reviews I've read, they're not top end, but they're acceptable quality inexpensive 2.4GHz radios.

3) Super Cub. Pros: I like the look, it's a recommended trainer on just about every forum I've read, and I could probably add on to it as I get to be a better pilot skis for warmer days with snow (not unusual here in New England), floats for days at the lake, and so on. Cons: Way outside my intended price range.

4) Some other model of slow-stick type plane: the Parkzone Slo-V seems like an option, for instance. Pros: same as the GWS, except it's ready to fly. Indoor flight seems unlikely, but could be entertaining if it ever happens. Cons: I still think it's ugly.


If anyone has any thoughts or recommendations, I'd be interested to hear them!

RE: First plane considerations
 

I gotta say man, I did not know you could get into this hobby for so little scratch.  I build my own and a cheap trainer w/radio and engine will run you over 300.  The airplane kit,  engine and radio I am getting for Xmas will run around 500.  And then the additional stuff like retractable gear, covering, paint, etc.  will easily run another 200+.  So be prepared.  If this hobby grabs you its gonna start to cost a bit more. 

RE: First plane considerations
 

Last time I looked at RC planes, I figured I'd never be able to afford it hundreds just for the radio, then hundreds to thousands for a plane! Ihave a long history of getting into hobbies at the beginner level, and never bothering to learn enough to get out of it, so I'm hoping that'll hold true here, too. Though I'll probably sell one of my motorcycles next spring, so if I get too far into this, I can buy planes instead of a new bike. 8-)

RE: First plane considerations
 

A cheaper solution, better oriented for the "go it alone" first timer.

Please watch the videos about first flights, upgrades, etc.

[link=http://www.********.com/airplanes/wildhawkplane-about.htm]Click me![/link]

RE: First plane considerations
 

Interesting... how do you feel about the controller?As pictured, from what I've seen it's pretty much completely non-standard for a plane controller (it's got a stick on the right and a slider on the left....) and is pretty similar to the Slope Diver I mentioned. Iagree, it looks like a decent first plane, and is enough under my "limit" that Icould probably afford to swap out the transmitter and receiver to make it easier to upgrade later. Thanks!

RE: First plane considerations
 

<font size="2">

I've put together a list of planes that make good trainers and second planes. All of them on the list are proven planes that are well suited for successfully letting students learn to fly, or advance to a second plane. Check out the list here</p>



Hope this helps</p>

Ken</p></font><u><font size="2" color="#0000ff">Looking for a trainer- what's available. (Updated 01-03-2009)</font></u><font size="2" face="Arial"> </font>

RE: First plane considerations
 

Ken's post above is perfect for you.

For myself, I'm self taught and learned on a FlyZone Sky Fly. It's okay and I did learn on it fine, but I've taught several friends to fly since then and always recommended a Super Cub. They're durable as heck (EPP foam), fly great, are EXTREMELY upgradeable down the road (Mine's brushless, 3s lipo, unlimited vertical!, has floats and is also my night flier with lights. Best of all I built it for $75 from parts at the LHS, minus RX!!! I run it on my DX6i. One amazing plane and for the price it cannot be beat.

Hope this helps! :)


Edit: I wouldn't recommend the Slow Stick you mentioned above. I've flown one and they're extremely fragile because they're built so light. Definately not a trainer plane to take some abuse. They're okay for a 2nd plane when you truely do want a slow flying sunday flier. Cheap I'll give that to you, but you'll spend so much in replacement parts it wont be funny. Just buy the Super Cub! Better yet, go build a Super Cub from parts and buy a cheap used 3+ channel radio for it! You'll be in the air for $100 easily and have the stuff that's usable and upgradeable down the road, especially if the radio is 4 channels or more! :)

RE: First plane considerations
 

Ken First off, thanks for the work putting the list together.  I expect as I learn more, it'll be useful.  At the moment, though, you're only listing glow planes, which I think means IC engines, rather than electric.  At the moment, I'm just interested in electric, and while I'm sure it's possible to get a glow ARF and put an electric engine in it, I'm not sure I want to go that route initially... I think I'd rather buy something cheap and pre-built, if possible.</p>

I'll go through the list, though... it looks like there are some interesting options in there, and it may turn out to be a practical list.</p>

RE: First plane considerations
 

Oh... thanks for the thoughts on the slow stick, Eganwp. Nice to have a reason other than "I don't like the looks" to avoid it. 8-)

RE: First plane considerations
 

[/quote]


Edit: I wouldn't recommend the Slow Stick you mentioned above. I've flown one and they're extremely fragile because they're built so light. Definately not a trainer plane to take some abuse. They're okay for a 2nd plane when you truely do want a slow flying sunday flier. Cheap I'll give that to you, but you'll spend so much in replacement parts it wont be funny. Just buy the Super Cub! Better yet, go build a Super Cub from parts and buy a cheap used 3+ channel radio for it! You'll be in the air for $100 easily and have the stuff that's usable and upgradeable down the road, especially if the radio is 4 channels or more! :)
[/quote]

are you crazy?????
the slowstick is a great great beginner plane. it looks bad but its one tough bird i have smashed mine into trees, fences, light poles, the ground (in all sorts of angles, vertically ect)
and it rarly requires repairs, when it does white elmers glue and a new prop will solve the problem. i was mad at my self one day (really really mad) and punched my slowstick ,after i crashed it, putting a huge hole and crack across the entire wing, guess what fixed it.....white elemers glue and a new prop.

the great thing about the ss is that you can fly it so slow which will give you more time to react and little repair work when you do crash.
the only problem is wind, until you get used to it, the plane can be thrown all over the place (as with any small electric)

RE: First plane considerations
 

RC is like photography. It's all about the glass! ;)

RE: First plane considerations
 

Edit: I wouldn't recommend the Slow Stick you mentioned above. I've flown one and they're extremely fragile because they're built so light. Definately not a trainer plane to take some abuse. They're okay for a 2nd plane when you truely do want a slow flying sunday flier. Cheap I'll give that to you, but you'll spend so much in replacement parts it wont be funny. Just buy the Super Cub! Better yet, go build a Super Cub from parts and buy a cheap used 3+ channel radio for it! You'll be in the air for $100 easily and have the stuff that's usable and upgradeable down the road, especially if the radio is 4 channels or more! :)
[/quote]

are you crazy?????
the slowstick is a great great beginner plane. it looks bad but its one tough bird i have smashed mine into trees, fences, light poles, the ground (in all sorts of angles, vertically ect)
and it rarly requires repairs, when it does white elmers glue and a new prop will solve the problem. i was mad at my self one day (really really mad) and punched my slowstick ,after i crashed it, putting a huge hole and crack across the entire wing, guess what fixed it.....white elemers glue and a new prop.

the great thing about the ss is that you can fly it so slow which will give you more time to react and little repair work when you do crash.
the only problem is wind, until you get used to it, the plane can be thrown all over the place (as with any small electric)



[/quote]


Really? Wow, okay my bad on this comment about not recommending it then. The one I flew the guy had an ok landing but wasnt exactly perfect. I wouldn't even consider it a bad landing at all. But the gear and wheels are so crappy that the wheels both busted, the gear flexed, the motor smashed the pavement (pancaked), scraped the motor and bent the bell, broke the prop. While I admit it wasn't perfect, it was a much better landing than what a beginner would do! I just thought the durability was crap, but that's just from what I saw. I flew it before this happened and it was fine, though it definately didn't like a lot of throttle. For slow flight it was fine. I'd still highly recommend the Super Cub. You can cartwheel them 5 times down the runway, pick it up and keep flying. Not to mention they fly amazing with wimpy brushed power or overpowered brushless lipo power. Just my opinion and experience tho. To each his own. :)

RE: First plane considerations
 

Thanks everyone. At this point I'm pretty much leaning towards the slow stick. It seems like it'll give me the best odds, once I've learned to fly in an open area, of being able to fly in my back yard. It's a big yard, but there are some trees scattered around, so something slow enough to let me maneuver around them would be nice. The WildHawk suggested by opjose is probably second on my list, with the super cub coming in third indestructible and cheap wins out over high quality just at the moment.

So there's an SS/motor kit on Amazon for about $35. That leaves me needing servos, ESC, transmitter, receiver, and battery. The battery is fairly easy to figure out: make sure the ratings are right, and it should be fine. Ditto for the ESC, though if anyone has specific suggestions, I'd be pleased to have them. Servos... again, there are some recommended by GWS, so going with those seems reasonable.

That leaves transmitter and receiver, and that's where I get really lost. 2.4GHZ, 72MHz, crystals, matching receivers and transmitters, and no one seems to just sell a matched set, other than the one I mentioned in my first post. And THAT one doesn't seem to have any available receivers that work with it that aren't part of the bundle, which means a limited opportunity to reuse it without moving the receiver around. Can anyone point me to something that will straighten it out? From what I've read, I'd sort of prefer to go 2.4GHz from the beginning, especially if the kit I mentioned is reasonable, but... yeah. Too much information, too little organization. And I don't know of a local hobby shop to visit in hopes of finding someone to explain it.

RE: First plane considerations
 

As the review mentions, the plane is excellent ( and low priced ) for a beginner.

The left slider is the throttle control, and yes you can substitute a transmitter/receiver or in some cases just a transmitter.

The 20 minutes of flight time on those inexpensive packs is also a big plus. Definitely one of the most inexpensive ways to start out.

And if you tire of the plane in the future, even with all of the upgrades ( did you watch the videos about the gyro & aileron upgrades? ), you can use it as a nice stable video camera platform.

BTW: You can also download the G4/G5 model from the Knifeedge swap pages.

RE: First plane considerations
 

Thanks again - that'll definitely be in my list somewhere. Looks like a fun plane! The aileron upgrade is crazy... I like it! (The "O Plane" video at the bottom is also crazy where do I get one of those?)

RE: First plane considerations
 

Re: "O"

They made that plane themselves.

Once you have a little experience, you can configure your own systems and make your own designs out of foam, like they did.

Check out the PDF plans on that site for do it yourself, foamies.

RE: First plane considerations
 

If you are going to fly at a club with others I would recommend buying a 2.4 radio.  I used to have an AM and interferance was a problem.  My FM works fine but I must always insure no one at the field is on the same channel as me.  With the 2.4 radio none of those problems exist.  No interferance from other radios or outside sources.  Remember that if you buy a radio with multiple model memory all you buy next are recievers and servos for you next 9 models.

RE: First plane considerations
 

Well, the decision sort of made itself today.  I was at Harbor Freight, looking for a couple of cheap, low quality tools, and what did I find?  A cheap plane the Wild Hawk.  Since the price including tax was about what I would have paid after shipping from anywhere I'd found it online, I decided to go with instant gratification.  It went together quite easily, and the battery is charging now.</p>

If I like it, I'll definitely be replacing the Tx with a 2.4GHz model;  they're cheap enough that I just can't see sticking with 72MHz radio that I can't easily re-use.  Also, again if I like it, I'll probably try to acquire both a slow stick and a super cub they both seem like fun things to fly.</p>

Thanks to all of you for your advice, even though I ignored some of it, and I've no doubt I'll be back!</p>

RE: First plane considerations
 

range check (keep the antenna down and walk away from the model) if you cant get past 50-100 feet without looseing control then your radio is most likely junk.
from my expierences, cheap electric rtf planes have junk radio's, or can never get off the ground.

hopefully this isnt your case.

RE: First plane considerations
 

Well, the electronics are certainly "lowest bidder" type I spent the last 15 minutes diagnosing and fixing the on-off switch.  Simple diagnosis, though "Nothing works.  Is everything plugged in?  Yes.  Ok, well... huh.  The back of that switch looks pretty dodgy.  Is there continuity through it?  No.  Guess that's the problem."  The rest of the time I spent looking for a screwdriver small enough to open it.  Everything else seems to be more or less OK, though the physical build quality of the transmitter makes me a little nervous.  Simple electrical repairs are well within my ability level, though, and the servos and motor seem to respond well.  It's a bit too dark to take it out and try it now, but I'm reasonably confident it will work tomorrow.   I'll have to wait on the range check to know for certain, of course, but I'm hopeful. </p>

Whether it ever flies or not, of course, may have more to do with me than the electronics... the prop will push it across the floor at a pretty good clip at less than half throttle, anyway.</p>

RE: First plane considerations
 

Whew! First few flights:

1) Way too much up elevator, and it basically went straight up about 20 feet before I could level it out. One good circle, then I got a bit too low. I managed to pull the nose up before it hit ground, and it skidded nicely along the grass for a few feet before stopping.

2) Good launch, one circle, then the wind started picking up and it crashed not too much harder than the first landing, but I got some nice dirt stains on the nose.

3) The wind was definitely starting to be a factor here: I got some good height, but the wind started carrying it away sideways. I expect someone better at flying than me could have brought it down better, or even just kept it in the air, but I brought it down. Still, it landed belly-down, with most of the impact on the tail, so I'll call it a passable landing.

4) Ouch. The wind died down almost entirely, so I launched, and it flew beautifully for about five minutes. A couple of big circles around the field, and I started getting some decent altitude. Then the wind decided I'd gotten a bit too cocky, and one enormous gust pulled the hatch over the battery and electronics completely off, flipped the plane, and slammed it straight down, upside down and nose first, about forty feet down straight into the ground. Oops. The battery, unfortunately, appears to have come loose before it hit the ground, and yanked a bunch of the electronics apart: the on/off switch was completely destroyed, and the motor came completely unplugged from the ESC. Also, the nose broke off the plane, and the rudder broke off near the base, where the push-rod connects.

Given that the on/off was fairly defective to begin with, I've pulled it out of the circuit entirely. Right now if the battery is plugged in, the plane is live, though the reset button still keeps the motor out of the circuit until it's pressed. I'll probably put in a replacement switch eventually, but for now it's fine. I was able to hot-glue and pin it all back together (toothpicks worked wonders...), and it should be ready to fly again as soon as the wind dies down.

Not bad for a first few flights, really!