TRYING TO PICK YOUR FIRST PLANE? Ask your qustions here!

[LowThudd]

Originally Posted by AEAJR

Gliders are what I fly most of the time so if you want to take another shot at gliders I would be happy to help you.

I would like to get into sailplanes once I get some trainer experience. How much more difficult is it to pilot a sailplane?

[AEAJR]

Originally Posted by LowThudd

I would like to get into sailplanes once I get some trainer experience. How much more difficult is it to pilot a sailplane?

Much easier than flying electric airplanes.

[pizzano]

Seems BlakeL has gotten some great starter advise.........I hope he considers launch/landing gear options and surfaces before he makes his purchase......most of those pusher prop gliders suggested are belly landers/hand launchers......over time that takes it's toll on the structual integrity of those foamies. I kind thought he was looking for ground launch craft. Here's a link to a pusher that might satisfy his requirements:

http://www.nitroplanes.com/60a-dy892...y-rtf-24g.html

I know quite a few guys, who are not all beginners, who love this plane. It's a great trainer, durable, easy to repair and modify....comes with a brushless set-up and pretty decent (cheapie) TX....I've used that same TX/RX set-up on my Slow Sticks after I swapped out the same system from a Dynam Super Piper Cub I sent to the grave.

Just a thought!

[road king 97]

I picked up a big motor powered glider at a auction about 7 years ago but have never tried it. Its probly 100 inch wing span and fiberglass fuse, balsa sheeted foam wing . For a glider its size it only has a nitro 25 motor in it . But the thing i liked about it the most it has landing gear and a steerable tail wheel. I bought it because who had ever owned it had taken good care of it ,even sewing wing bags so they did not get scratched up when the wings were off. joe

[AEAJR]

Originally Posted by road king 97

I picked up a big motor powered glider at a auction about 7 years ago but have never tried it. Its probly 100 inch wing span and fiberglass fuse, balsa sheeted foam wing . For a glider its size it only has a nitro 25 motor in it . But the thing i liked about it the most it has landing gear and a steerable tail wheel. I bought it because who had ever owned it had taken good care of it ,even sewing wing bags so they did not get scratched up when the wings were off. joe

Convert it to electric!

[BlakeL]

If anyone is interested, my father in law bought the Ares Gamma and we're planning on getting the Turnigy 9xr when it's back in stock.

[AEAJR]

Originally Posted by BlakeL

If anyone is interested, my father in law bought the Ares Gamma and we're planning on getting the Turnigy 9xr when it's back in stock.

Best of luck with both.

I presume you have seen the big discussion threads on the 9XR. The ER9X videos will help you learn how to use the firmware on the radio. From what I see it is a bit of a challenge to learn how to use it but once you do it is quite powerful.

[BlakeL]

Originally Posted by AEAJR

Best of luck with both.

I presume you have seen the big discussion threads on the 9XR. The ER9X videos will help you learn how to use the firmware on the radio. From what I see it is a bit of a challenge to learn how to use it but once you do it is quite powerful.

We're getting the RTF version of the Ares Gamma because the RFR version requires a battery and charger which makes it pretty close to the same price. Since we'll have that radio, we'll be able to use it until we figure out the 9XR or get another plane that can utilize it to it's fullest.

[AEAJR]

Originally Posted by BlakeL

We're getting the RTF version of the Ares Gamma because the RFR version requires a battery and charger which makes it pretty close to the same price. Since we'll have that radio, we'll be able to use it until we figure out the 9XR or get another plane that can utilize it to it's fullest.

Outstanding! That is exactly what I would have advised.

[BlakeL]

Originally Posted by AEAJR

Outstanding! That is exactly what I would have advised.

Thanks, I was hoping we made the right decision. I'm hoping the decide to sell the 9xr in the USA Warehouse so I don't have to pay $25 in shipping just for the TX.

[AEAJR]

Personally I would let them run a few more production cycles so they can get the early bugs fixed. First adopters have the joy of having the first ones and all the bugs and issues that come with a Rev 1.0 product. If you can hold off, hold off for a few months. Or wait till they have it in the USA warehouse.

Right now they are selling faster than they can make them and that is not good for Quality assurance.

In the meantime you can download the simulator for your PC and start to play with the ER9X software. You can find it here. It is called eePe.
http://9xforums.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

[road king 97]

Originally Posted by AEAJR

Personally I would let them run a few more production cycles so they can get the early bugs fixed. First adopters have the joy of having the first ones and all the bugs and issues that come with a Rev 1.0 product. If you can hold off, hold off for a few months. Or wait till they have it in the USA warehouse.

Right now they are selling faster than they can make them and that is not good for Quality assurance.

In the meantime you can download the simulator for your PC and start to play with the ER9X software. You can find it here. It is called eePe.
http://9xforums.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

I agree i even waited 6 months before i comitted to change my fleet over to 2.4 when they first came out. It sucks being a guiny pig. joe

[AEAJR]

Originally Posted by road king 97

I agree i even waited 6 months before i comitted to change my fleet over to 2.4 when they first came out. It sucks being a guiny pig. joe

I think I waited 3 years after Spektrum introduced the first 2.4 GHz air systems to play with 2.4. In fact, today, I still have planes on 72 MHz, although all of my frequently flown planes are on Spektrum DSM2 or Futaba FASST 2.4 GHz.

[road king 97]

Originally Posted by AEAJR

I think I waited 3 years after Spektrum introduced the first 2.4 GHz air systems to play with 2.4. In fact, today, I still have planes on 72 MHz, although all of my frequently flown planes are on Spektrum DSM2 or Futaba FASST 2.4 GHz.

I still have one old jr on 72 but have sold all my futabas 72 Mhz transmitter the last one sold a month ago. At one time i had 8 futaba transmitters now i have just two spectrums flyng most of my planes. joe

[BlakeL]

We flew the Ares Gamma 370 today and it went alright but I broke the propeller on a bad landing. Since its my father in laws plane, I don't want to be responsible for breaking it anymore so I'm looking for a plane for myself. I was originally looking at the Bixler from Hobby King but their shipping is expensive. I found a similar type plane with the prop in the back that's kind of a sail plane called the Sky Surfer from Banana Hobby. Any opinions on this or another company that might sell a similar plane. I'm looking to spend around $100-$150 for a RTF.

[LowThudd]

Nitro has some nice RTF trainers/gliders http://www.nitroplanes.com/rtf.html

[AEAJR]

Sorry, I don't know the Banana Hobby Sky Surfer. Have heard mixed review about Banana Hobby planes, but have no personal experience with them.

Firebird Stratos - Terrific reports as a first plane
http://www.horizonhobby.com/products...os-rtf-HBZ7700

HobbyZone Super Cub - Wildly popular
http://www.horizonhobby.com/products...sm-rtf-HBZ7400

Sky Scout - Replacement for the extremely popular Easy Star.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXBVCU&P=7

Radian RTF - 2 Meter Glider
http://www.horizonhobby.com/products/radian-rtf-PKZ4700

[haris pilton]

hey guys! I'm new to this forum and to the hobby.
I'm looking for a nice simple sturdy scratchbuilt e-foamie. I'll mainly be flying in not too windy conditions and will be landing on grass. I'd like a model with elevons.
It's not that I'm too lazy to look for models myself and I thought the dassault rafale plan from parkjets would be a nice first plane.
Mainly because the prop is protected by the body (at least I think..)
I'd like to get an opinion on this plane before I start the build (all parts are on their way.. DX6i already purchased.. flying with phoenix rc4 to try and get some airtime..) What's your opinion on this one??
thanks in advance!

[haris pilton]

my postcount is now above 1 so here's the link:http://www.parkjets.com/dassault-rafale/

[AEAJR]

Jet designs are typically poor choices for learning to fly. They are unstable by design and typically have to be flown fairly fast so I would not recommend it as a trainer.

SPACE


How much space do you have for flying? If you have totally
clear space of at least 600'X600', about 9 square acres, approx
4-6 squarefootball/soccer fields, then I can recommend one
class of plane.


If your space is more like 200X200 (one square acre or one
soccer field ) then a different plane is in order. If it is
less than that, different again.

These are my own designations and are based on my subjective
ranking of the space a new flyer should have when learning on
his own. An experienced flyer can fly faster planes in smaller spaces,
but a new flyer wants to have more space so you are not in a constant
state of panic trying to turn.

Remember you can get above the edges of the field and expand your space,
but if you lose control, you drop in woods, on top of kids or smash
someone's windshield. If that windshield is in a car is traveling
down a road when you hit the windshield, you could cause an
accident or worse so be very careful about how you plan your flying area.

So much for space. You get the idea.

I don't recommend most pretty planes as first planes. They
are too easy to break, too hard to fix and look bad in short
order. There is only one semi-scale plane that has a reputation of being
super tough that I do recommend, the HobbyZone Super Cub.

I feel a high wing three channel R/E/T plane is your best choice for a
first plane. These can be flown in
more wind once you have mastered them in calm conditions.

If you are totally new to RC Flying, this article may be
helpful.


Six Keys to Success for new e-flyers
http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18

[haris pilton]

Phew... I was scared that SPACE referred to my wall of text haha..

I'll be flying it on a field roughly the size of a soccer field..
Is that f-117 model foamie a good choice perhaps?? I know sim flying and real life flying are two different beasts but I can keep that one up in the air no prob when I'm geeking it out on phoenix rc.

Ofcourse I'd rather have an ugly ,easy to repair model instead of a nice one that breaks everytime I sneeze.

[AEAJR]

Sorry, but no I don't think that jet is a good choice. Nor do I encourage people to build their first planes. Too much to know, too many variables and too many ways to fail. Build the second one.

When I recommend starter planes for pilots who are self training, I have one and only one criteria, and that is to provide the greatest opportunity to succeed. When full scale pilots learn to fly they don't start in jets. They go into sims and then they go into Piper Cubs, Sessna's or the like.

Now, I am sure that you will find someone who said his first plane was a ducted fan jet and he learned how to fly it in 5 minutes and was doing full pattern flying by the end of the day and is entering the national championships after 2 months. If you are him, go for it.

But I was a bumbling fool who made every mistake possible, which is the source of much of the writing I have done for new pilots. All I care about is that you will have the absolute best chance of getting that first plane into the air, keeping it there without losing it, and getting it down safely without wrecking it beyond repair. I don't care about aerobatics or cool looks or any of that stuff. I care about basic flying success and that is it.

So the planes I recommend are those that have given new pilots the greatest opportunity to succeed despite their over control, bumbling, ignoring advice, violating the Six Keys to Success and all. They can still fail with the planes I recommend but they are going to have to work at it. There are surely others, but these are the ones that have my 100% endorsement.

So, based on that understanding I recommend RTFs of known character that are well built and well matched to the goal at hand, getting that newbie to a level of success as fast as possible. And they have to have spare parts available and they have to be SOOOO easy to repair. These qualify.

Firebird Stratos RTF
http://www.horizonhobby.com/products...os-rtf-HBZ7700

HobbyZone Super Cub RTF
http://www.horizonhobby.com/products...sm-rtf-HBZ7400

Hitec Sky Scout RTF
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXBVCU&P=7

If you want to get into gliders and soaring then I recommend the Radian
http://www.horizonhobby.com/products/radian-rtf-PKZ4700

With these RTFs, all variables are removed. Nothing to know about servos, CG, receivers, radios, etc. Read the instructions, follow the Six keys to Success and some advice from me.

> Six Keys to Success
http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18

That is the basis of my recommendations. Naturally, your smileage will vary.

[haris pilton]

thanks for the quick response...
you know the 'problem' is... I already have servo's etc. ordered and they
're coming my way. I'm basically stuck with and on the whole scratch built foam idea ,mentally and financially
In my defence.. my buddy's really into scratch built models and has built 4 or 5 built already.
He's gonna be my trainer... if it wasn't for him I'd never have picked up on the whole foamie thing and I think I can learn of his mistakes.
It isn't gonna be brushless but a prop model.
But I just want a model that's sturdy ,relatively easy to repair and not too fast.. I am quite aware of my limitations being a newb.
What's a good model stabilitywise?

[LowThudd]

Might want to check out this thread for some scratch built ideas: http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69412

[AEAJR]

Originally Posted by haris pilton

thanks for the quick response...
you know the 'problem' is... I already have servo's etc. ordered and they
're coming my way. I'm basically stuck with and on the whole scratch built foam idea ,mentally and financially
In my defence.. my buddy's really into scratch built models and has built 4 or 5 built already.
He's gonna be my trainer... if it wasn't for him I'd never have picked up on the whole foamie thing and I think I can learn of his mistakes.
It isn't gonna be a duct but a prop model.
But I just want a model that's sturdy ,relatively easy to repair and not too fast.. I am quite aware of my limitations being a newb.
What's a good model stabilitywise?

If you have a trainer then it is his advice you should follow. I have already listed my recommendations. But they now are replaced with, follow the advice of your trainer. He is the right person to guide you down the path to success.

BTW, the Hitec Sky Scout is also available as a kit.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXCRMN&P=7

INCLUDES: Sky Scout Airplane Kit with Decals, Spinner, Folding Prop,
Instructions, 3mm & 3.2mm Prop Adapters


REQUIRES: Battery: 11.1V 3-cell LiPo 1300-2200mAh, with at least a 15C
discharge rating
Battery Charger: Compatible with selected battery
Radio: At least 4-channel with two sub micro servos
Motor: Minimum 200W 1100Kv outrunner, 28mm diameter, no more than
28mm length with 3mm or 3.2mm diameter output shaft
Electronic Speed Control: 18A
Maintenance and field equipment