beginner plane??

[hoghead5150]

hello all. i've finally decided to take the plunge into the rc airplane world. i have always wanted to fly and have decided to just go for it.

a little background, i'm 40 years old, have been into the rc rockcrawling scene for a while so i understand radio's, electronics and such. i was an aircraft electrician for the air force for almost 10 years and understand the basics of flight. on to my questions, please feel free to give honest answers, i can take the punches!!

my brother has also been bitten by the flying bug and has bought a hobbyzone super cub. we have both been flying it, and it was truely amazing. around here we have NO instructors, or clubs that we can find, so the learning will be solely on us. i probably have 10-15 flights on his plane, and can take off (both hand launch, and ground launch) and can land (altho sometimes not exactly where i want!). so far i'm not having any troubles keeping the plane airborne, or getting it to go where i want/need it to go.

i'm looking for a plane for myself, and really didn't want to buy the same plane my brother already has. my thoughts is if we have two different planes, we can switch around and get the best of both worlds. my thoughts so far is i really like the scale style planes. the j-3 cubs, the cessna style planes. since i'm so new to this side of the hobby, i'm not sure what are good brands of planes to buy. it seems that several different companies make the same models. so what are good brands?

what i'm looking at is a j-3 or cessna style plane, that would be fairly easy to fly (remember i'm still new), would like a pretty good size plane (48" span or there abouts), looked at the flyzone select scale cub and cessna, and really like those, but know NOTHING about them other than pics and the youtube videos that mostly show manufacturer hype.

any help would be welcome!!

[hayofstacks]

Look at the e-flight alpha 450 sport. Its a realatively tough plane for a trainer. I've put mine in fully throttle a couple of times, threw a prop back on it and took right back off. With aleroins and a 48" wingspan, its fairly easy to fly, but still a trainer. You can do some basic manuvers, like inverted, rolls (although sloppy), loops and even a suedo knife edge when you get used to the controls. It would be a good second airplane, maybe even first for you it sounds like. The pnp runs about $225 if I remember. Add receiver, and 2100 battery and your golden. It would probably also work fine with a 1300-1500 3 cell if you have some laying around. I run mine on 1800's.

I'm running some $4 servo's, a $20 motor and $20 speed control and $10 ghetto spectrum receiver from www.headsuprc.com. this will get you in the air on a arf for about $200 with 2 or three 1800 batteries. Just add a radio.

[hayofstacks]

Btw, welcome.

[pizzano]

Hog.....

I started planks with an electric 42" J3 Cub......4ch. I only had heli flying experince previously, CCP (don't let that fool ya) heli guys have to learn to re-adapt there thumb-stick management since we tend to over react and over compensate on everything due to heli speed and oriantation......lol

My only negitive experince with the Cub's has been getting them off the ground safely......even though they are a high-wing bird, you need to give more throttle than you think to get them up and they don't like any aileron during take offs.....but that's just been my experince......I own three Pipers and all over the 40" wing span variety.....I love them for pure, relaxing flying fun!

As far as brands, it's been my exprience that you can't go wrong with Parkzone or Hanger 9 planes.....for the cheap, Art Tech or Dynam have a few decent Cubs and Cessna high wing trainers.

Hope this helps a little.....!

[dahawk]

I too started with the HZ SC and later modded her out to the hilt with ailerons, bigger wheels, 2.4, blah, blah. Still have her in the hangar and take her to float flys.

My rec for a second plane that will provide a little more performance/excitement/challenge yet still be an easy flier is the T-28. I have the Parkzone version but there are others like the FMS/Airfield and HK Durafly . I think Dynam also has one.

This plane is a low wing with ailerons. Again, very easy to fly and you won't get bored with it. Can fly it slow or fast, learn some aerobatic moves,etc. Not intimidating.

The other thing you might consider is building your own plane from depron or Dollar Tree foam. Out of the 14 planes I have, my profile F-22 pusher parkjet is over and above my best flier in the squadron. Was not a major undertaking and you really become a better pilot in a hurry. Maybe plane #3

Have fun !

Hawk

[WayfaringDreamer]

Originally Posted by hoghead5150

i'm looking for a plane for myself, and really didn't want to buy the same plane my brother already has. my thoughts is if we have two different planes, we can switch around and get the best of both worlds.

If you're going to switch with him you might consider getting a low wing trainer like the T28.

[hoghead5150]

yesterday brought another day of flying. we went out and flew 6 packs threw my brothers super cub. NO CRASHES!! this is really addictive. i can already tell i'm liking the slower speed, more scale flying. another friend of ours came out with us a week or so ago and flew this cub. he hasn't flown in 8 years and he really enjoyed it. well yesterday he showed up and brought both of his planes!! he is back excited about them again, knocked the dust off of them, and he was flying around like he never quit. they are nitro planes, and way to fast for me!!

i've been watching videos, reading everything i can find, and just generally trying to learn. i did find out there is a club around 30 miles away from us that has their own airfield. i'm going to make some calls and see if i can't get hold of the club president and maybe get out to their field to watch the next time they have a gathering. watching, asking questions, and learn before i make my decision on a plane.

i'm really leaning toward the flyzone cessna 182 select scale. either that or maybe the flyzone sensei.

[Turner]

Check out the Multiplex Fun Cub. It's a foam kit that is pretty easy to build but has flaps and ailerons. A lot of people are having a lot of fun with it.

[matiac]

MAN UP AND GET A WARBIRD!!!! Just kidding, I should have began with some type of a highwing plane, but my ego got the best of me, and I got a rather bumpy start learning on a low-wing warbird, which, miraculously enough, still survives to this day, and still flies! Quite well I might add, 2 motors, and a quart of Gorilla Glue later...
Thank You for your Service!

[hoghead5150]

not really into thw warbirds right now. maybe when i get my skills i'll look into one of those. always loved the old spitfires!!

i'm leaning more toward the scale side right now. i have flown in cessna's alot and love them, also have always been fascinated with the piper cubs. watching those alaskan bush pilots fly them into some of those places is truely amazing.

[rcers]

Originally Posted by hoghead5150

i'm really leaning toward the flyzone cessna 182 select scale. either that or maybe the flyzone sensei.

I would not really recommend the Cessna. They are not really great trainers even though most make the mistake of high wing = trainer.

I think the Sensei or eFlite Apprentice would be excellent for you. Both a bit faster than the Cub. I am partial to the Apprentice.

Then next - without a question is the Parkzone T-28 Trojan. One of my all time favorite RC airplanes ever produced (I have been flying 34 years!).

Here is a great review on the Apprentice:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=915223

Mike

[hoghead5150]

funny you mention that, i looked at the sensei for about 2 hours last night on the net. looks like a great plane. my only concern is the shear SIZE of those planes. while we have a pretty good sized field to fly (3 full soccer fields, 3 more being constructed, and a huge parking lot for a runway of sorts) i'm thinking that finding another fly site might be a challenge. i could use the field across from my house ( 35 acres) as long as Monty doesn't have his cows in the field!

[rcers]

No question they need some space to fly in. Without light poles 3 full soccer fields is more than enough for either of them with safe overfly area that is.

[hoghead5150]

the place we have been going to is our local sports complex. they have 4 softball fields, 3 soccer fields (building 3 more soccer fields), an arena for rodeo's, and some batting cages. there are lights at the ball fields, and the arena, but none at the soccer fields. we have been flying the super cub over the soccer fields, while we stand about 20 feet from the fence of the last softball field. that way we don't have to fly behind ourselves, we are always out in front. it is a really nice place, it also has parking at the arena, a HUGE parking lot for the softball fields, and a pretty nice parking lot for the soccer side. i talked with the guy that runs the complex and he said we could fly anything we wanted as long as there were no games going on. if they are playing, we can still fly as long as there are NO soccer games (no kidding!) and no games on the last softball field (keep people safe.

he also offered to cut us a grass runway on the far end of the soccer fields if we needed.

[mclarkson]

Hobbyzone Super Cub, or Mini Super Cub. My 2 cents.

[dahawk]

I would not recommend the Airfield Cessna 182(G-KEMY) as your next plane. I have one which I originally thought was going to be my first plane. Not. It flies okay but not great. On grass, the stock wheels and sexy wheel pants are too small. Need to mod with bigger Dubros. Partial towards the T-28. Flew it yesterday in a pretty stiff breeze. Had not flown it in about a year. Did okay but she was a handlful with a 15 mph wind. I think the AMA benchmark for a parkflyer is 2 lbs. Above that, it's not a parkflyer anymore. Your idea on the Sensei is good too.

-Hawk

-Hawk

[hoghead5150]

my brother already has the HZ super cub that we have both been flying. i really like the plane, but would rather get something different that way we will have 2 planes to choose from. i'm going to stick with flying the super cub until i feel comfortable in stepping up to another plane, and he is going to do the same thing. we have no problems with take offs, normal flying, but our landings need some work!! i really think the super cub is a great trainer and is very confidence inspiring.

i had back surgery and the docs won't let me go back to work yet, so i usually keep the plane during the week and fly when the weather is good, then on the weekends we both get together and fly. we have about 20 3s batteries so flight times are not a problem!! we are both rc rockcrawler drivers (hence the stash of batteries), we were both in the air force, my father is retired navy, all of us were aircraft mechanics. its a love we have all shared our whole lives.

[rcers]

Originally Posted by hoghead5150

he also offered to cut us a grass runway on the far end of the soccer fields if we needed.

Excellent that is a guy to keep happy!

[MX5Seeker]

Well, I'll throw in another vote for the Apprentice. It was my first plane. With some larger wheels, it flys great off grass.

But if you feel confortable with your skills, the t-28 is a sweet looking plane.

[matiac]

Originally Posted by hoghead5150

the place we have been going to is our local sports complex. they have 4 softball fields, 3 soccer fields (building 3 more soccer fields), an arena for rodeo's, and some batting cages. there are lights at the ball fields, and the arena, but none at the soccer fields. we have been flying the super cub over the soccer fields, while we stand about 20 feet from the fence of the last softball field. that way we don't have to fly behind ourselves, we are always out in front. it is a really nice place, it also has parking at the arena, a HUGE parking lot for the softball fields, and a pretty nice parking lot for the soccer side. i talked with the guy that runs the complex and he said we could fly anything we wanted as long as there were no games going on. if they are playing, we can still fly as long as there are NO soccer games (no kidding!) and no games on the last softball field (keep people safe.

he also offered to cut us a grass runway on the far end of the soccer fields if we needed.

Same thing here, a pretty large soccer/LaCrosse complex, and a skatebored park right next to it, I'm gonna use the flat paved part of the sk8 park as a runway for my big plane, but it's pretty much wide open...PERFECT to fly at. Think I might get a highwing to go along with the biplane (3 channel Albatros) for training purposes for #1 Son, cuz now HE'S an addict watching me fly all the time...he's pretty good with the micro Spitfire I have that I let him fly, does short little hops with it

[walter3]

just my 2 cents. i am totally new to this rc thing as well. i am 42 years old so about the same there. i used a flight sim alot and then started with the parkzone t-28. it was the ultra micro but the bigger one would fly the same i would guess if you want a bigger bird. very stable and mellow. and as a bonus... WAY COOLER LOOKING THAN A CESSNA TOP WING TRAINER. jmho. good luck. walt no crashes to date. knocks on wood! lol.

[Fishbonez]

Here is an option that is also great on the pocket book it is the Ares Gamma 370. It come as a 3 channel or you can purchase an aileron wing. Very durable and easy to learn on not to small and not to big. It can handle wind, night flying (after light installation) Fly gentle or as crazy as you wish. As a 3 channel I have seen it roll like it has ailerons. I also watched a new pilot fly at WOT right into a fence figured it was toast but nope new prop and up at it again. I have seen a lot of folks learn on this little guy with a lot of success. You can also purchase it at a Hoobytownusa if you have one near buy. Just an option that is a bit different than you average Super Cub, Apprentice and many of the most common great beginner planes. http://www.bigsquidrc.com/ares-gamma-370-plane/

I too own 2 SCs and love them can not say enough about them but thought I would just toss out another option too look into. Good luck and let us know what you all get. Love a good maiden of a new plane

[RWK]

For a high-wing trainer, I'd go for either the Apprentice or the Multi-Plex Fun Cub. The Apprentice will be a lot easier to build, but the Fun Cub is an amazing floater that will also do mild aerobatics. After that, definitely the T-28.

[hayofstacks]

Save $100 on the apprentice and get the alpha 450 sport. A bit smaller, cheaper parts/batteries, and flies well. Don't let the wood scare you. Its a tough plane and the wing is built. I have done full throttle knife edge and hit the wingtip. It uplled the rear wingblock out, no damage to wing or fuse. Plugged my servo wires back in, little ca(feild repair) and I was back in the air in about 10 minutes. I have also had some rado lock up and dumb thumbs put me into a straight full throttle dive. Picked the plane up, put a new prop on and it was good as new.

It also has a two peice wing if you want to break it down for transport/storage, and a 48" wingspan makes it a nice floater and touch and go monster. As a trainer it is only really capable of "mild" areobatics. Rolls are sloppy,(I didn't set any differential into aleroins like the manual recomends), but it will knife edge with some thumb work, loops easy, and will fly inverted as long as you have enough power. It has some dihedrial, but not too much to overcome.

[Motorcycle Jack]

I too would vote for a low wing trainer since your brother has a high wing. Another high wing is just going to look and mostly react like the other. A low wing gets you to experience having the wings below the thrust envelope of the prop. The plane will handle differently than the high wing plane. At least that's my experience. Enjoy the hobby of flying and welcome to "Watts" up.