RC Airplanes for youths

[LePaul]

100 yards from my home is a great RC field.  Today it was very busy so me and the 9 year old headed out to watch the mini-airshow.

Well, now he's got the bug.  He'd like to learn how.  The guys there told us about many trainer packages out there online. 

What's a good starter, ready to fly, gas plane to start with?  I've seen bundles with a radio included but wondered if that would be a limiting factor if he opted to upgrade later?

[zoozoo]

I also fly at a local field with ALOT of guys.
What you wanted is a 3 channel RTF,or ARF plane. I HIGHLY recommend  getting a cub plane, gas engine or electric.
Make sure that if you are going to get electric get a brushless motor!.  And concerning wings, you want wings that arent in the middle of plane, you want them on top. Having a large wingspan comes in handy too 

[eskimo2]

There are a lot of very inexpensive electric “Almost Ready to Fly” RC planes available at Toys R Us, Target, etc.  I’d start with one of these just because they are cheap and tough.  It takes awhile to think 3D from the perspective of a little plane that you are looking at from various angles, and to look ahead, react to gusts, etc.  Especially when you’re a little kid without much experience to draw from.  Let him get used to a couple of these little $30 planes and then get him a real RC trainer.

[FBplmmr]

You might want to ask Bosco as well.

He flies some nice RC planes.

[Golfer]

For your wallets sake...

Get a copy of Realfight (G3?) for your computer.  It comes with a USB controller that's basically a 6+ channel radio.  Get them used to flying the airplanes and let them get their early crashes out of their system (there will be a LOT) costing nothing more than bits of memory.

It's not cheap, but it's a hell of a lot cheaper than buying new planes.  There's never a day too windy or too rainy to fly as well.

[C(Sea)Bass]

I can imagine the first flight now..... http://youtube.com/watch?v=OeTDaWf6fps

 

actually I had a small electric one one I was very young. Apparently electric motors don't work well after water landings.

[Tango]

http://www.hobby-lobby.com/beginners-rc.htm

[LePaul]

The gents there today really advised staying away from the electrics because they have such low flight times.

But for the price, I'd rather see that get augered in a few times versus something more expensive.

He's going to be 10 in a few weeks and he's really showing a great interest in it.  At that age, we really want to encourage him to try it.

[zoozoo]

http://www.hobby-lobby.com/telemaster.htm

These are the exact planes you would get for your son, i have the senior telemaster. 

[VWE]

Is this how u land one? http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=86e_1209059157

[LePaul]

My my....so while I get him one of those trainers...(Im leaning towards the Electro Trainer....  http://www.hobby-lobby.com/electrotrainer.htm )....I'm looking at that Ready To Fly F-18   

[CAP1]

100 yards from my home is a great RC field.  Today it was very busy so me and the 9 year old headed out to watch the mini-airshow.

Well, now he's got the bug.  He'd like to learn how.  The guys there told us about many trainer packages out there online. 

What's a good starter, ready to fly, gas plane to start with?  I've seen bundles with a radio included but wondered if that would be a limiting factor if he opted to upgrade later?

check this site out.
http://www.hobbico.com/airplanes/hcaa2020.html

this is a VERY good and versitile trainer plane. just make sure you get him on a buddy box to start though. it was the first plane i flew.....when i got bored with it, i threw a OS .46FX in it......made it a whole different plane.
 now after 6 years, i have 10 planes ranging from a small electric F4u(alpha models) to a 80" 1.5 four stroke powered P51D.... three helicopters, two traxxas t-maxx's and an e-maxx. this isn't a hobby...it's an addiction...but a very good one. he's the perfect age to learn them too......have fun!!!!!!!

<<S>?

[CAP1]

There are a lot of very inexpensive electric “Almost Ready to Fly” RC planes available at Toys R Us, Target, etc.  I’d start with one of these just because they are cheap and tough.  It takes awhile to think 3D from the perspective of a little plane that you are looking at from various angles, and to look ahead, react to gusts, etc.  Especially when you’re a little kid without much experience to draw from.  Let him get used to a couple of these little $30 planes and then get him a real RC trainer.

they're cheap and tough...but don't fly worth a dam.....a buddy tried some of them.......then went and got a gas plane......hobbico makes one basicly ready to fly including radio for less then $250 i think

<<S>>

[CAP1]

For your wallets sake...

Get a copy of Realfight (G3?) for your computer.  It comes with a USB controller that's basically a 6+ channel radio.  Get them used to flying the airplanes and let them get their early crashes out of their system (there will be a LOT) costing nothing more than bits of memory.

It's not cheap, but it's a hell of a lot cheaper than buying new planes.  There's never a day too windy or too rainy to fly as well.

actually with the buddy box system, the early crashes come a lot later than you think. i had mine about 6 months after i first flew solo......i misjudged the tree line.....and hit it......but the plane survived.....hobbico makes some tough trainers

<<S>>

[Golfer]

I didn't have the option to use a buddy box.  What I did have was lots of room to fly and enough money to buy what turned out to be 2 Hobbico trainers.  One when I started and another after the first "high speed taxi" test went wrong resulting in flight on a windy (30mph sustained winds) day.

I invested in the second airframe, after all I had all the electronics, and a copy of Realflight.  Best decision I ever made regarding R/C airplanes.