Hi there,

I am about to embark on my first RC-aircraft, I did some control line flying when I was a kid and also have flown real gliders and been a flight sim addict from the first days of PC flight simulators.

I decided to start on an electric RC plane over gas so that I can take it off on holiday with me to Brazil in a couple of months and where I am going I don't think it would be that easy to get nitro fuel. After reading several posts here and researching through the magazines and the internet I was attracted to getting a GWS Beaver (and still am). I have a Futaba 4 channel transmitter on its way to me (an ebay deal in a package with RC sim software). My only hesitation in going out right now and buying the Beaver is that really I would prefer a 4 channel trainer (ie I want the ailerons as well as rudder, elevator and motor control).

Does anyone have any suggestions for an easy to fly/easy to build trainer that has aileron control? I am happy to build the plane but would prefer a ARF over full build or RTF. Also, I guess I want something that is easier to field fix. On that subject are the foam planes superior to traditional covered balsa?

Thanks for the help,

Adam

A properly designed rudder-only plane will roll and turn just as well as an aileron plane. You won't even be able to tell the difference.

As far as using the Beaver as a first plane, it'll work, but the Slow Stick is far superior for the first-time flier with no expert help. The Beaver has the same wing as the Pico Cub, but weighs twice as much. This translates into a faster airplane that is less forgiving and more prone to damage in crashes. On the other hand, the Slow Stick has a huge kite of a wing, and takes the abuse better.

On the subject of foam being superior to balsa, it isn't. Foam is simply different; it has its pluses and its minuses. The main reason today's "foamie" airplanes seem more resilient is because you're comparing apples to oranges. On one hand, you remember way back when, seeing large, fast, and heavy balsa airplanes turn into matchsticks when they crash. Here, you have the latest, lightest technology in tiny airplanes that fly at a walking pace. Make a foamie plane that's large, fast, and heavy, and it will look like Christmas in July when it crashes...

Don't overlook the GWS e-starter, if you have already been looking at the GWS planes - it has ailerons, costs only $35, and in my opinion, handles quite nicely. It is my first plane, and I am pretty happy with it.

While I can't comment on a balsa crash, I can say that foam is very easy to repair, even if the damage looks dramatic. Chunks of foam can be replaced with some careful cutting and carving, and even a split wing can be fixed with 5 minute epoxy - you can be flying again 20 minutes after making your repairs

Not to take anything away from mkirsch's suggestions, but for me (my opinion only), the average foamie parkflyer is easier to field fix than the average balsa plane. However, he is correct-it's not the material so much as the lower mass involved in collisions. That being said, foam can usually be fixed w/ packing tape and 5-min. epoxy. By the way, I haven't experienced it myself, but I have heard favorable impressions of the GWS E-starter from fellow flyers. If you decide to forego ailerons, I can say from experience that the GWS tiger moth and cub are easy flyers, just practice on the sim first. If you have FMS, try the handlaunch option--it helped me control myclimbout from handlaunches a little better. Just some food for thought.

whoops, bratcher beat me to it. Dang phone calls in the middle of posting.

I trundled down to the local hobby store this lunch time and the consensus there was the E-Starter also. They had quite a few choices so it wasn't just a lucky coincidence. I am looking forward to getting started on it. I am glad someone out there mentions getting used to this through the sim, hopefully real-life is similar as with the sim (FMS) I have been able to fly and land sucessfully quite a few of the planes, though still with the keyboard for control, my transmitter should be here in a couple of days and I'll be using it to train with from then on.
Does anyone know if there is a realistic FMS model of the E-Starter downloadable anywhere, or something similar?

Cheers,

Adam

Agreed.

My E-Starter is VERY easy to fly, and land, AND repair.

I've named it "Epoxy Baby".

hehe

Thanks for the replies. I went with the E-Starter and soloed on my second flight. The club I joined were very complimentary of the plane after seeing fly. The instructor was tickled pink with it.

The wheels came off on its first grass landing and after that I just belly landed it without them on the grass and hand launch. Suits me fine. I also modified the battery hook up so that wing removal is not necessary to change batteries.

All in all an impressive trainer.

Hey where did you get one for $35?? I am thinking about buying a couple for lunchtime fly-ins. I haven't been able to get the nitro birds unpacked from my basement remodeling (nightmare) and am itching to get something in the air!

Heh - funny you should mention that. Cedar Park Hobbies (www.cedarparkhobbies.com) used to have one sitting on their shelf for $35 - they have since jacked the price up to $40, which seems to be what everyone is charging for the E-starter now. I still think it's a good buy at $40 though...

I bought 2 of them yesterday. With wing-sets at $24 I decided to just buy a whole spare bird. Paid $39 at Hobby Town. You feel good supporting the LHS when you can. If I can stuff my HS-81's in for servos I should have some video in a week or two. The motor looks a little small even for that size plane. I am thinking of ordering a 300 direct drive.
-THX

Well I've just managed to get an e-starter to the UK and fly it. I found a few problems with the design that I changed but other than that things look good...

As for repairing crash damage I can say that it's pretty good. I managed to hit a house at about 30mph.... yes I know not to fly near houses and built up areas, but the wind changed all of a sudden and before I could bring her down she got swept away and after missing a couple of trees and a telegraph pole she hit a roof.

The body of the plane stopped on the roof but the wings snapped and flow off into some ones garden and the prop/gearbox took a nasty knock too.

Anyway with a new gearbox, prop and an amount of 4min epoxy.. she's airborne again on the same wings...

I've been flying the GWS tiger moth for a while and find it hard to retrain my brain to use ailerons... hence the crash!

So my advice is to start with four channels!