What RTF, Receiver Ready, ARF or kit electric do you recommend to beginners?
01-18-2020, 08:17 PM
#1
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NY, USA
Posts: 5,871
What RTF, Receiver Ready, ARF or kit electric do you recommend to beginners?
It has been a long time since I was a beginner and my interest has turned largely to electric gliders where I am also an instructor. But with the FAA imposing tighter and tighter altitude restrictions I may be working with more beginner electric airplane pilots. So, what are the top-rated/recommended trainer or beginner models? Why?
01-22-2020, 11:59 AM
#2
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Middle Tennessee
Posts: 15,725
Here's an interesting trainer that is reasonable in price and has a lot of nice features. It's the Horizon Aeroscout.
https://www.horizonhobby.com/aerosco...1m-rtf-hbz3800
https://www.horizonhobby.com/aerosco...1m-rtf-hbz3800
11-02-2020, 07:38 PM
#4
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Location: Sevierville, Tennessee
Posts: 20,761
I have taught two guys in the last year with the E-flite Timber. One of them is flying warbirds now without any aids. Quick study sure, but the confidence he gained flying the Timber was very helpful.
11-02-2020, 09:20 PM
#5
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Ex UK Brit now in Latvia west coast - Ventspils
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Lot to be said for the Bixler and its hangar mates ....
Basically if it can glide well ... be reasonably stable and ~self righting when sticks released ... then its halfway there.
What I have found is that beginner models have evolved from the old days ... we still have the same Human limitations but the Radio Gear ... Models and power systems have revolutionised the whole game. There's still a large learning curve - but with Sims and foamies ... the start up is a little easier.
Basically if it can glide well ... be reasonably stable and ~self righting when sticks released ... then its halfway there.
What I have found is that beginner models have evolved from the old days ... we still have the same Human limitations but the Radio Gear ... Models and power systems have revolutionised the whole game. There's still a large learning curve - but with Sims and foamies ... the start up is a little easier.
11-02-2020, 09:51 PM
#6
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: South East Queensland, Australia
Posts: 1,639
Not sure it is a good idea to get one with a stabilizer pre-fitted like a lot of them have now. It gives a totally false sense when flying. Better to learn on a 'normal' trainer. Also a decent sized trainer is needed. Not these little flitty stabilized things that seem to be getting pushed by sellers.
A Phoenix Boomerang or Scanner are excellent trainers and can be nitro or electric. Trike undercart. Easy take-off / landing. Tough, easy storage. Fly on a 3S or 4S well.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/183967978440
https://www.ebay.com.au/c/1256769009#oid324314347200
A Phoenix Boomerang or Scanner are excellent trainers and can be nitro or electric. Trike undercart. Easy take-off / landing. Tough, easy storage. Fly on a 3S or 4S well.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/183967978440
https://www.ebay.com.au/c/1256769009#oid324314347200
Last edited by Panther; 11-02-2020 at 10:09 PM.
11-03-2020, 09:04 AM
#7
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Ex UK Brit now in Latvia west coast - Ventspils
Posts: 12,908
The matter of Gyro Stabiliser or not is a thorny one and I believe has a basis on historical bias.
For a long time - Gyros were quite crude and literally without any switch. You fitted and and adjusted it to suit model and that was it. Later along came the solid state versions with in floight rate variable ... mode settings and of course - option to switch it off. This has led to models with 'trainer' modes to allow newcomers to have a greater possibility of success.
I am a model flyer of over 55 years and went through early days of Herlicopters where heavy Gyros were needed to tame tails. I never imagined fitting one to a plane. Later of course with the solid state tiny switchable mode such as Hobby Eagle etc. - that changed and now you could fit to literally any model.
The models that have such as 'SAFE' - have in my mind set them up in a sensible way ... such that in full Trainer mode - flight is restricted and the Pilot WANTS to progress on to enjoy increased manoeuvrability.
We have a couple of guys in my Club that like to advertise to all that I use in some of my models a Gyro Stab. I find it petty and annoying to be honest. They shout out ... Its got a gyro ... thinking that this is a sin and the Gyro is flying the model.
Its funny because one of the guys - I handed the Tx to him one day and never told him he had gyro assist on ... (I only use a small amount of assist to steady out odd strong gusts ... nothing more) .... he flew it .. remarked how he had enjoyed it and found the model responsive ... THEN I told him ....... He was not amused !!
As far as I am concerned ....... todays Gyros are a long way from the old and if a person uses one - that's their choice and if it helps them enjoy the hobby - its not for me to say its wrong.
TBH - I wish I had back in my days of Club 20 Pylon Racing a Hobby Eagle gyro !!
For a long time - Gyros were quite crude and literally without any switch. You fitted and and adjusted it to suit model and that was it. Later along came the solid state versions with in floight rate variable ... mode settings and of course - option to switch it off. This has led to models with 'trainer' modes to allow newcomers to have a greater possibility of success.
I am a model flyer of over 55 years and went through early days of Herlicopters where heavy Gyros were needed to tame tails. I never imagined fitting one to a plane. Later of course with the solid state tiny switchable mode such as Hobby Eagle etc. - that changed and now you could fit to literally any model.
The models that have such as 'SAFE' - have in my mind set them up in a sensible way ... such that in full Trainer mode - flight is restricted and the Pilot WANTS to progress on to enjoy increased manoeuvrability.
We have a couple of guys in my Club that like to advertise to all that I use in some of my models a Gyro Stab. I find it petty and annoying to be honest. They shout out ... Its got a gyro ... thinking that this is a sin and the Gyro is flying the model.
Its funny because one of the guys - I handed the Tx to him one day and never told him he had gyro assist on ... (I only use a small amount of assist to steady out odd strong gusts ... nothing more) .... he flew it .. remarked how he had enjoyed it and found the model responsive ... THEN I told him ....... He was not amused !!
As far as I am concerned ....... todays Gyros are a long way from the old and if a person uses one - that's their choice and if it helps them enjoy the hobby - its not for me to say its wrong.
TBH - I wish I had back in my days of Club 20 Pylon Racing a Hobby Eagle gyro !!
