13 year old beginner
 

my son turns 13 next month so me and him are getting into remote control airplanes i am going to get the tower trainer 40 and i was thinking about getting him a glider or a motorized glider any suggestions on this.... :)

13 year old beginner
 

I would just use the tower trainer to teach your son on. If you have a computer, a flight simulator is a big help. It will teach you how to use the controls and keep you from getting disoriented, especially when the plane is coming towards you. Plus he can crash as much as he wants and it won't cost anything. If you haven't already done so, join the AMA and find a club in your area. If you don't feel comfortable doing the training, most clubs have instructors that can teach you to fly.
I've never owned a glider so I don't know if they are a good teaching tool or not.

13 year old beginner
 

I would have both of you learn on the 40 sized trainer. Once you are proficient with that then you will be in a better position to decide what comes next. I don't think the motorized gliders are the best introduction.

I am 39, new to the hobby, and teaching my 10 and 13 year olds how to fly on my Sig LT-40.

Good luck and have fun together.

13 year old beginner
 

cowboyjw Let me tell you about my experience 1 1/2 years ago my then 12 year old son said dad I want to go to the hobby shop and check out some remote controlled airplanes, I thought he was nuts! But I took him and talked to some guys at the store they had me go by the field to check it out. Well about 2 hours later I was back at the hobby store buying a hobbistar 60 futaba 6 channel radio system an O.S. 61 fx. and all the support gear I needed to start with. after my son and I got the plane put together and checked out by our instructor we started learning how to fly. 2 months later He and I were both singed off (using the same plane) It was the greatest thing ever. The time we spend at the field together or in the shop working on our new project is priceless. My son is a patient at M.D. Anderson cancer hospital in Houston, So for me the time we spend together is truly a blessing. We never know what the future holds for us but I Know that these are memories that He and I will carry with us forever. My advice is both of you learn together on the Tower Trainer. It's an experience you will never forget.

13 year old beginner
 

jw,
I agree with the advice here. You should both learn on the Trainer, and don't be surprised if he solos before you do! ;)

Kids minds are still being programmed, and their hand/eye coordination is usually better than the old guy's. The computer games help too.

Lee,
I certainly hope that your son's cancer goes into remission. The times you've had must be priceless to you, and I hope that you're able to share them for years to come.

My prayers are with you.
Dennis-

13 year old beginner
 

Have you thought about getting him an Electric Plane? Much less intimidating plus alot safer. My son flys and electric GWS E-Starter and loves it. Plus if he wants to go fly when I am not home he can just go down to the local park and fly. There are a ton of diffrent electric planes from basisic begginer stuff to 3-d acrobatic.

You should look at something like the GWS Tigher Moth. A slow flyer that is a fun little plane.

Just a suggestion.

13 year old beginner
 

Hi,

Well my opinion goes to the Tower Trainer too, because my first plane was a Dynaflite Bobcat with a GP 10 in it's nose. Well, that was not the perfect plane for a begginer, too underpowered it climbed very slowly and once in the air, although it flew smooth and slow giving a pretty good reaction time, every wind gust affected it's flight. Once a moderately strong gust made it end up nose-down in the muddy field near the runway I flew. Another factor is the landing. Since the glider is with the engine off (dead-stick) you have to land it at the first attempt.
Due to these factors, in my opinion, the Tower Trainer would be a better choice. Also, a good thing to do is buy a nice computadorized radio with 6 or more channels. This way you don't need to buy a better radio when you move from the trainer to a more advanced plane.

Just my 2c....

13 year old beginner
 

I learned when I was 12. I soloed very fast and could do anything. Now I am 37 and find in the last year that I actually think about a maneuver before I do it. Never used to do that. I really sux. My friend says he is starting to do the same thing. I liked it so much better when I didn't think about it. Most things are still just done, but new things I tend to think through.

Your son will be very good. Hope he keeps with it. Kept me out of trouble all through high school and college.

great advice
 

i want to thank everybody for their opinion it means alot i have purchesed a flight simulator for me and my son to practice on we joined the ama and this weekend we will be joining the flying club near my house to get started...... my situation is alittle diffrent because my son lives with his mother she is against him doing this. for him to take home and fly up there i was now thinking of a small park flyer and still getting the tower trainer 40 that him and i will be learning with hopefully his mom will take him to the park so he can fly at home..

13 year old beginner
 

why is she against your son doing this? i don't quite get it. i have not flown the tower trainer .60, but all trainers are pretty muhc the same. if you are really enthusiastic about the hobby, it will get pretty expensive by the 3rd plane. Futaba's 6x or their new version are both good radios. If you want to do anything, you really need one of those. However, if he really gets into the hobby, and wants to become a pattern pilot or an aerobatic guy, then you are probablyl going to want a futaba 8u. I don't think they make them anymore, but you can get one used off of ebay i am willing to bet. I started out with a 6x and i thought it was from the future, all chromed and "hi tech" but as time went on and i got my first aerobatic plane (a cap 232) i began to clash against the limitations of that radio. It is not as versitile for a couple reasons, but probably the most prominant reason is ths: the display is small, and it is sectioned, not pixalated. it is like trying to program a computer through your microwave display, it just can't be done. also, i was out of programable mixers and still needed more. I was also out of stiwthes. i got the futaba 8u, used, for $200. not including the spring loaded trainer switch (instead of and much easier than a buton) it has 5 switches, 2 three way switches (ideal for flaperons and spoiler mix and good gyros) as well as 3 dials whech are good for adjusting gyro gain, and flap amount. all but one of the dials are being used. It also has a tx module instead of a crystal which allows you to change frequencies without sending it back to the factory. instead of 6 model memory, it has 8. You can expand it with a module known as a campac to 16. if you use a different campac made for a different radio, you can give it 30 more. it uses a pixalated display. if you want to get further into the hobby, i would suggest getting one of these radios. they are probably about $150 now, about the price you could sell your 6x for. Following DBcherry's example, i wish your son well.