Help with ideas for student flight program

I am proposing a school enrichment program to train children who are interested in learning to fly r/c airplanes; the age group will be 12 to 16 years old. I need help determining the type of plane (r/c) gear and power system, the total system will be provided as a package for each student. Classes are two hours long and there will be twelve days of training. The first week (4 days) training will be on aerodynamics and aircraft flight controls and a little electric theory, flight simulators and building the plane. The next two weeks will be spent on the football field flight training. Classes will start at 9 am the last class will end after 3pm expected winds in the afternoon could be 15 mph.

Requirements for aircraft:

1. Easy to build, should build in less than 4 hours. (Instructor supervised)
2. Must be crash resistant (indestructible would be grate)
3. Must handle wind to 15 mph yet stable enough to train on
4. Ducted fan to keep fingers out of props?
5. Radio system must be full range (not the 300’ range jobs)
6. Battery should be NiMH not lipo, charger should be included
7. Total system should cost around $100 per student (not including simulator)

Any help, advice, you can give will be greatly appreciated.

1. Easy to build, should build in less than 4 hours. (Instructor supervised)
2. Must be crash resistant (indestructible would be grate)
3. Must handle wind to 15 mph yet stable enough to train on
4. Ducted fan to keep fingers out of props?
5. Radio system must be full range (not the 300’ range jobs)
6. Battery should be NiMH not lipo, charger should be included
7. Total system should cost around $100 per student (not including simulator)

Looks good on paper..............My favorite is the "crash resistant" part.......... and everything from 1-7.......Not to be negative but you have youre work cut out for you........$100.00 ? Buy everyone a "Slo-V" and have fun...........Good luck!

The Slo-V idea is one of the cheaper ways to do it, but aren't you limited to 5 frequencies with the Park Zone stuff? Not good if more than that want to fly at once.

I think keeping it under $100 for everyone will be difficult. If they could share Tx's and chargers, that would help.

My input. Never flown the Frog, but it's an idea....
Plans for the plane:
http://www.foamfly.com/customer/prod...14b453f9e9bf52
Radio gear.
http://www.gwsexpert.com/product_inf...roducts_id=507
Motor needed (I think....)
http://www.gwsexpert.com/product_inf...roducts_id=322

You need to buy foam, but that's relatively cheap and you'd likely need $15 of other stuff like wire, wheels, other hardware....

You could charge the NiMH batteries with the TX charger if you know what you are doing.

Good luck!

If you offer to buy a bunch of them, you can probably buy a bunch of Slo-Vs for $100.

Slow-V from Parkzone - $140 - Space CL2/3
Best flown in still to under 5 mph breeze. This is the best choice for people
who only have a small space to fly or who have an indoor place to fly, such as
a gym or
similar space.
http://h1071118.hobbyshopnow.com/pro...p?prod=PKZ1300
Discussion Thread
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_20...tm.htm#2089493
Review
http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...article_id=426
Video
http://users.cwnet.com/dhsc19/Slo_V_Aerobatics.wmv


The fact that you can only fly six frequencies is excellent. Teach frequency control, transmitter impound and cooperation.

Slow flyer can be flown on a football field. Slow speed and light weight will reduce chance of serious injury.

Forget 15 mph. This is a 5 mph or less plane!


The plane that most closely matches your requirements is the Multiplex Easy Star RTF. $179. Maybe you can get Multiplex to cut you a deal and get them for about $125.

Easy to assemble, includes everything and nearly indestructable and very easy to fly.

Easy Star - RTF - $180 - Space CL1
Believe this goes easily back in the box to keep in the car
Super tough foam. Comes with 72 MHz radio in the US.
Good parkflyer and a good glider
Radio in RTF package can be used to fly other planes
http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/240025.asp
Easy Star - ARF - Add you own radio gear
http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/240009.asp
Discussion Thread on Easy Star
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=258656
Video - touch and gos
http://plawner.org/video/easygo.wmv
Video - Testing the plane's behavior
http://plawner.org/video/easystar.wmv

New flyers should still learn in 5 mph or less, but this plane can handle 10 mph+ in the hands of an experienced pilot. AND, they are wonderful gliders too!!!!!!

This would be my target plane for you.

This AMA site is specifically intended to help teachers do EXACTLY that. There
are plans, instructional materials and more.

http://www.buildandfly.com/

This is not specifically for RC, but you can build up to it.

For Example

7th grade FF Gliders
8 th grade FF rubber power
9th grade RC Gliders
10th grade RC Electrics

By time they get to 7th grade they will be accomplished pilots. They will
learn the nature of materials, construction techniques, aerodynamics, balance,
forces and more. Add in art and design, physics, weather, maybe some computer
CAD and you have a heck of a program.

( where do I sign up?)

The links below can all be found on the site above.

Powerpoint presentations ( links on above site)
http://www.mansfieldct.org/schools/.../hand/ALCOA.htm

Check to see if there is a local AMA club that would like to join up with you
to help with the program.

Club locator ( links from above site)
http://www.ama-dist-8.org/Clubs/Loc...BuildandFly.com


When you get to RC, working with a buddy box, you can get almost anyone up on
an RC plane. You have the instructor radio, they have the student radio
connected and fully under your control. Take over at the flip of a switch.
Easy to do and not expensive. One set up could be used by the whole class or
club. Evenually the more advanced students could take on instructor roles.

There may even be an AMA club in your area that would like to help. If you get
enough interest, you could start your own AMA chartered club at the school.
This would include the insurance that your administration is sure to be
concerned about.

Start with this. Third or fourth graders will love it!

Egg Carton Glider
I made this one. Flies great!
http://www.buildandfly.com/priceless.asp

Then this - Styro plate glider
http://www.buildandfly.com/FPG-9%20Index.asp

I am thinking about doing the same thing but for a middle and high school
level. Not as a school teacher but as a member of a club working with a
teacher at the school.

Think about it.

With up to 15mph winds, the slow-v or slowstick would be very bad choices. At those wind speeds, the plane would hover against the wind.

Some of the cheapest planes you will find here at raidentech:
http://www.raidentech.com

The Wind Dragon is only $100 RTF and takes around 15 min to put together using no glue:
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/wingdragon.htm

If the purpose is to provide each student with his own plane to own then you have to go cheap. Otherwise would likely be best to buy say 4 EasyStar ARF's ($240) total. Then buy 2 TX's, and enough RX's, ESC, servos for the 4 planes. Then either buy lots of batteries (15 or so) or buy 3-4 batteries and a peak charger that can charge in around 15 min. I would expect no more than 1-2 will be flying at the same time.

Having recently learned to fly myself. I would say it's best to learn basics of aerodynamics/flying & dangers of flying/plane safety, then do Sim training, then learn how to build/setup plane properly for level/stable flight (correct CG), start with basic turns, etc. Later increase throws for some loops, etc.

I would not recommend the wing dragon in 15 mph winds even after the students get some experience. But then again there isn't much I would recommend in 15 mph winds for any new flyer.

So, how is the student flight program coming along?