RC planes

[LCCajun]

Hey guys I am looking at getting into flying model planes. I looked at this one to get me started (http://www.raidentech.com/arfsutr6070n.html). I was just wondering if anybody could tell me their opinion on it, also what kind of fuel does it take. I looked and looked and i can't find it anywheres thanks guys <S>.

[Sol75]

Looks pretty good, but there are other options out there.
This one is good if you want to pick your own radio gear, and your own engine... Which could be a good thing for future plane choices, since most of the more advanced planes require a separate radio and engine purchase...

The other option is to get a RTF model.  One of the best is the Hangar 9 Alpha .40 trainer.  As an instructor @ my club, I can highly reccommend this plane as a great trainer.  it comes ready to fly, with engine, and radio already installed.  Sure, the radio and engine can be used in future airplanes, but generally speaking you will want a better radio for more advanced airplanes in the future, and possibly a different engine for more power, or larger, or smaller, airplanes. 

There are advantages to both, the biggest is, with the RTF, it gets you up and flying the quickest, cheapest, and easiest.  The drawbacks to the RTF are, you dont get to assemble everything, so your next plane will be the one you learn to do this on, and it is more expensive to buy each component seperately.  The advantage seen without the RTF is, you get to learn how to assemble, and the gear is more easily moved to your next aircraft.

As for fuel, most RC planes (other than the giant scale stuff, which run on plain ol gasoline) run on a mixture of alcohol, nitromethane, and oil.  This fuel is best purchased @ a local hobby shop, rather than online, because shipping can be quite pricey on it due to it's hazmat classification.

Sol

[LCCajun]

Thanks Sol after looking a lil bit more I decided to go with this (http://www.raidentech.com/ccj3grscrc3p.html). From what I have read it looks like it will be good for me to learn on. When I lived in Pine Bluff, Ark there was a field where alot of ppl would gather at on the weekends and fly their planes. I always wanted to learn to fly one and to get into the hobby. If there is any websites or anything with information that you like to look at please post them. Thanks and please let me know if you have had any experience and your opinion on the one I have chosen.

[CAP1]

Thanks Sol after looking a lil bit more I decided to go with this (http://www.raidentech.com/ccj3grscrc3p.html). From what I have read it looks like it will be good for me to learn on. When I lived in Pine Bluff, Ark there was a field where alot of ppl would gather at on the weekends and fly their planes. I always wanted to learn to fly one and to get into the hobby. If there is any websites or anything with information that you like to look at please post them. Thanks and please let me know if you have had any experience and your opinion on the one I have chosen.

a friend of mine had that one. it was hard for him to fly it.

check this page out.

http://www.hobby-lobby.com/alfa_model_4156_mnf.htm

if you want electric, the alpha models are some of the best flying there are. my corsair flys almost like a trainer.......but is fast as hell, and will do anythig i want it to do.

[hlbly]

Cajun I recommend finding a trainer to help you . Look this place over .http://www.rcgroups.com/beginner-training-area-aircraft-electric-8/

[RATTFINK]

Join AMA!!  It's a must.

http://www.modelaircraft.org/

[Sol75]

My #1 reccomendation is, Join the AMA, Join a Club, and find an instructor @ the club.  Without doing this, you are guranteed to crash at LEAST once during training.

Sol

[Shuffler]

All trainer planes have a lot of dihedral in the wings. This makes the plane extremely stable and easy to fly. Take your time.... go to a large field with no powerlines, poles or signs. Check your controls on the ground before starting and rolling out. Take off get some alt and trim the plane. Then fly around smoothly using small control inputs to get a feel. Land before your out of fuel so you can get a feel for that too. Decide if you like landing it towards you or away from you. Some have no problem letting the plane land as it passes them. Cut throttle after setting up on approach... keep in mind that AC planes get the same ground effect as real aircraft do and they tend to float just above touchdown. Leave plenty of room.

Good Luck! It is a lot of fun.pp

[Roundeye]

I learned with a Carl Goldberg Eagle 2.  Hands down the best trainer IMO.  Tower Hobbies sells the 40 size ARF http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/WTI0095P?FVSEARCH=Eagle+2+ARF for a pretty reasonable price.  Get an inexpensive Tower 40 engine and a basic no-frills 4 channel radio.

Keep it inexpensive but not "cheap".  Getting a POS will only lead to frustration. 

I taught myself to fly with only a few broken props and a skinned-up wingtip or two.  The Eagle 2 is a superb flying machine that will put up with alot of punishment.  The right amount of dihedral and alot of camber makes it very stable at low speeds.  You can throttle back and just ease around.  I started with taxiing then getting faster and faster until it lifted then cut power and let it settle, getting longer and longer each time as I felt comfortable.  Then just lifted it off and putted around getting a feel for it.

I am a Private Pilot so it helped knowing the dynamics of flight and aircraft control but its alot different looking at it rather than being in it.  If you have spent alot of time on AH, I feel that would give you a huge leg-up on learning.

I passed the Eagle 2 on to another guy learning to fly when I mastered it.  As far as I know it's still in one piece.

Good luck and have fun!

[Bosco123]

My #1 reccomendation is, Join the AMA, Join a Club, and find an instructor @ the club.  Without doing this, you are guranteed to crash at LEAST once during training.

Sol

What he said. I know much about airplanes, and if you want to know more about it, PM me. I just got back from a long weekend flying up in Georgia.

[RATTFINK]

echo, echo  

[Angus]

If Gripen is still around the forum, he is quite some RC guy!

[Belial]

My dad flys them he has 3 that are over 6,000$ each dont get as wrapped up as him lol

[Bosco123]

I have 5 planes (all RC scale) that would cost about 10000 all together.

[Sol75]

I have over 20 airplanes, and 5 helicopters.. most of them are giant scale, including 2 turbine's... god only knows what they are worth.....