Hello everyone,

I bought a Cox Corsair Mini-Warbird last week, but the charger is not functioning on it. I will be finding another charger or calling Cox to get a replacement. I have stumbled across talk in this forum about the Supercub and I think I might get this plane before ever even attempting to fly the warbird since I have never flown anything before. Anyone here own the supercub? Is the ACT a good thing?

Greg

The Super Cub is one of the best planes for a beginner to learn to fly RC. It is very stable and slow enough for you to get your flying skills withou fear of flying it. I learned on the SC and recently modified it to have ailerons. You can fly it with the 8 cell battery (Park Zone 1023) that gives it more speed. This winter I will modify it further with a more powerful electric engine and Li - Po batteries. There is an entire set of forum threads on RC Universe devoted to the SC. You will find RC Universe to be a wonderful place to get info and help. You can't go wrong with the SC. Good luck with your flying, Gene

Gene,

Excellent, Super Cub it is. I think I will go pick up this little plane tomorrow. I can't wait to go after it. I like the idea of being able to put the GWS floaters on it someday and taking off from the lake here.

Greg

I think you will find that the Super Cub is one of the most friendly RC planes made. It is gentle and yet rugged. It is also very forgiving and lends itself to more mods than you can imagine. I still have mine (and it was almost a prototype as some of the features that the new ones have, mine was mfg'd without). I don't fly it as much as I used to, but I keep it just for those times when I just want to fly around. I learned to fly on it and have modded it one step at a time. It's been crashed and repaired numerous times, but is still flying with the original airframe (fuselage, wing, rudder, and rear stab.)......forget the ACT....It will cause you more trouble than it will cure. The "eyes" are set to reference the ground (dark) vs the sky( light). While in theory, this seems like a realy good idea, I found that it can be affected by many unwanted, outside, sources. For instance, flying over a puddle of water or reflections from shiney cars, etc. The sunlight reflected up from the shiney surface will confuse the ACT and cause the plane to do weird things. Other than that, HobbyZone "hit a home run" with this offering.....JMHO...Pat

Thanks for the replies,

I have a question. One you learn to fly RC's, will you still crash occasionally, or once you know what you are doing will it just be when something goes wrong with the plane. I would hate to think I would build a beautiful plane someday only to crash it. I am going to pick up the Cub today. I can't wait to mount some floaters (for the lake) or a Hobby Lobby camera on it. Anyone out there get a camera on these things?

Greg M.

Definitely get the SuperCub. Its the best beginner plane on the market. And as others said, do not use ACT. Its a terrible feature that causes more crashes than it saves.

Save the Cox Micro Warbird for when you are confident in your flying skills. Warbirds are very difficult planes to fly in general. The Cox planes are some of the most forgiving, but are still not suitable for a beginner.

Many have mounted camera's on the Super Cubs. Take a look at the Officail HobbyZone Super Cub thread, down at the Parkflyers section....The large 48 inch wing can generate a lot of lift, which makes it well suited for modifications that increase the overall weight, as long as the CG is ok.....I suggest that you don't purchase any extra 7 cell batteries, but move directly into the 8 cell. The 7 cell will fly, but the 8 cell is a lot more fun. After flying it on 8 cell, you'll never use the 7 cell again...LOL....

I suggest that you get many hours of stick time on your Super Cub. When you can take off, fly it around and land it, close to you, without incident, and do this on a regular basis, you may consider moving up. Low wing planes can be quite a handful for inexperienced pilots. Go slowly and carefully into that type of plane.

As far as crashing....If you don't "push the envelope" you'll never learn. Yes we still crash, just not as often. After enough crashes you will learn to repair, to the point where the repaired planes are as good or better than new. Why do we crash??.....Sometimes it's just "dumb thumbs" and sometimes it's because we are trying a new manuever. Sometimes it's the wind, the sun, mechanical failure, or a host of other reasons. I would seriously question anyone who says that they've learned to fly and now NEVER crash....Do I like it?.....No!....sometimes it is really painful.....but you pick up the pieces and keep going. This is what makes good pilots out of average pilots. It's part of the hobby. Don't get discouraged....Make every flight a learning experience. Take what you've learned and apply it to the next flight, and the next, and the next......Good Luck.....Pat

Pat,

Awesome! Thanks for the info. I am really looking forward to the Cub. I hope to fly it when I get home later, but I might wait until tomorrow. I will be pushed for time later. It will fly tomorrow weather permitting.

Greg M.

Hello Everyone,

I went to pick up my Super Cub today. I love it! What a stable looking plane! Everything went together really well. Looks like it will be a solid performer. Tomorrow will be the big day. The battery is charged and ready to go. My 3 year old is ready I think, but he will be sitting in the car where it is warm and watching from there where it is safe. I can't get over how big this thing is, but I suspect that is what will make it easier to use. Don't use the ACT? I sure wish it would help? I plan to fly this in a big flat grassy soccer field. The place is huge. I have a choice of ground launch or hand launch. I think to me at at least it would be easier to take off from the ground. I can't wait to get this bird flying. I plan to give this rig a olive drab paint job and turn her into a military cub at some point....just like the old ones. Give this plane some character, or at least make it different. I guess everyone knows I will be hooking up a flycamone2 as soon as I master this beauty. Well, anyone that has any advice for me let me know. I am heading out there tomorrow!! Thanks to all that recommended this plane.

Greg M.

Oh yeah,

I meant to ask.....do I need to have full throttle on take off? I assume so, and then once off the ground what? I guess it is just like real flight.......landing and taking off the most dangerous times.

Greg M.

Read the information here: http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18
and here: http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1777

To take off, bring the plane to full throttle and as it accelerates, it should leave the ground on its own. If not, pull back on the stick VERY SLIGHTLY. Once theplane lifts off, level it so that it flies almost parallel to the ground for another 20-30 ft., giving it a chance to pick up speed. Then pull back SLIGHTLY to let it climb very gently. Don't make any turns until it is at least 50ft in the air. Make turns in small increments, always returning it to straight flight. The stick should not be moved more than 1/4 of its throw. Any more than that and you are overcorrecting. Remember, gentle movements. If you get into trouble, turn off the throttle and let go of the stick. Unless you are too close to the ground, the plane will automatically straighten out and go into a gentle glide. Altitude is your friend. Most new flyers fear getting too high, thinking that a crash from low altitude will do less damage than a crash from high altitude, or that their plane will get carried away by wind if they fly too high. basically, you should be flying about 150-200ft. above ground, or at least twice the height of the tallest nearby obstacle, like trees.

Leo,

Thanks so much for the instructions. I found out that my batteries to my old Wattage Corsair fit the cub. I even have an 8 cell to use! I actually got the old Corsair working last night and so now I have three planes; a Wattage Corsair, a Cox mini-warbird Corsair, and the big Super Cub (which I think will be my favorite plane). I hope to get it off the ground later today, but it is a little windy.....no flying in the wind for me being new. Yes.....altitude is good. We actually have a real plane in the family, a Piper Turbo Arrow. I know I feel safer the higher I am in it. When we are taking off and landing is when I get scared of it. Planes and aviation are a way of life around here, but I like the model ones better. If I crash, I walk away. I hope to get a video camera for this Super Cub, but not sure what kind to look in on. I will cross that bridge after I learn to fly.

Greg M.

I sent up the old Wattage Corsair. I have never been real pleased with this plane. It flew 45 seconds and then crashed. It always flew crazy and never seemed to have any control. I will sure be glad to send this cub up, but I am nervous.

Greg

Greg,

Relax! You will find the Supercub to be a real treat compared to the Wattage Corsair.

Leo,

I think you are right. I played around with the plane this evening. The controls react so much better, very smooth, exact. The big plane has to hang in the sky better. It is the biggest plane I have had so far. I will not fly my Cox Mini Warbird Corsair until I master the Super Cub. Looking forward to getting this bird going. I might try tomorrow morning. I am not sure what the weather will be like. I want to find the biggest field I can to fly this bird. I might travel to a neighboring county where I know a very large field exists.

Greg M.

Greg,
The stock Super Cub will not take off from grass with a 7 or 8 cell battery, unless the grass is really short....It will land ok as long as you remember that full up elevator will drive the tail down.....I say this as the first thing all complain about is that the plane wants to nose over on grass landings. The truth is that if you apply enough power to fly it, and fly it to the ground, the minute it touches down the grass will want to stop it. At this point it will not have enough airspeed to take off, but if you give it full up elevator, it plants the tail and avoids nose over.
Taking off, with the 7 or 8 cell NIMH batteries will almost require a hard runway. Later on you will find mods that will enable grass takeoffs. Pat

I plan to go fly the Super Cub today.

This is what I plan to do:

1. Apply full throttle and hand launch or take off from paved surface while gradually increasing throttle.
2. Pull back gently to give UP elevator once plane leaves the ground and continue flying in a straight line until I reach twice the height of my trees here.
3. Trim the plane as needed.
4. Make very gentle first turn.
5. Hopefully fly.
6. Gently reduce throttle and gradually land, as plane touches down give slight UP elevator to flare for landing.

If anyone has anything to add, please do.

Also, I want to paint this Cub yellow, any ideas?

Greg M.

Especially landing tips folks......how do I set up for a landing?

Greg M.

did you fly her?

Yes I did.....sorry it took so long ot get back. This plane is great!! I am learning to fly with it. I made my first perfect landing yesterday afternoon. I even pulled back and had the flare to keep the nose up. She set right down. My first couple of flights were kind of crazy, but now I am doing it. I have learned that wind is a no-no. If there is wind I need to wait. Just not experienced enough to handle the wind. The only damage I suffered was a broken cowling. I ordered a new one, but taped the existing one up for now. My wall charger quit working, and I am not sure what happened to it. The car one or 12v works fine though. I am taking off from the ground, flying the full time, and then landing. I get better every day. I realized I am hooked now though. I have that Corsair that I plan on flying eventually. I think I will wait until I master the cub before I go to it. When everyone recommended the cub to me it was perfect advice. It is a wonderful plane. Oh yeah, the cowling is damaged because of guess what? You got it.....ACT......DO NOT USE IT. It caused mine to crash first thing. The plane was totally out of control. I turned it off and no problems.

Greg

Greg,
When I was learning to fly, the ACT gave me fits. Eventually, I learned to turn it off. However, even at that, there were times that the switch would get flipped and I didn't notice it, until it was too late. Finally, in frustration I took the transmiter apart and disabled the switch. Then I took the plane apart and unplugged the eyes. At the same time, I checked the jumpers and found that one was loose and about to come out. I also fixed that at the same time. Much later on, I gutted all the electronics and replaced them with Futaba and Hitec. By this time I'd already purchased my new TX, and the difference between My Futaba and the stock HobbyZone TX was like night and day......But that's for another day.......For now, enjoy your Super Cub.......Pat

on edit...... Be very patient with the Corsair.....There are two warbirds that are difficult to fly. I think it is because of their wing shape and wing loading. They are the Mustang and the Corsair. After you master the Super Cub, there may be another plane between the Super Cub and the Corsair......

Yes the ACT causes problems. I am not sure why the supply such a horrible AC charger but mine quit working also after a couple of chargers but the DC works fine. Landing the Cub is easy but I find taking off to be the riskiest part of flight. Had some pretty bad nose dives on take off. Also the antenna broke my first day flying so you may want to upgrade that real fast.

The ACT is awful turn it off if you buy it. The Antenna on the transmitter will like bend and snap really fast. Still looks cool and is fun to fly even after you outgrow it.