Last night I flew a RC plane for the first time. I bought the Nexstar starter package last Christmas. I joined AMA in the spring and read up the local clubs website. Their runway is only about 2 miles from my house and we run by it all the time. I have yet to put the plane together, but with other things settling down I have started to get interested again. I stopped by their "training night" yesterday just to talk with everyone and find out when I could start to learn. A little to my surprise everyone in the club was very nice and they basically begged me to fly their club trainer hooked to an experienced pilot. I begged them not to let me do it as I had never flown a RC plane before and it had been 6 weeks since I even did the Realflight Sim on my computer. They won and after taking it off they gave me control. Luckily the Sim flying helped quite a bit as the plane flew very similar in real life and I remembered my coordination after the 6 weeks. I flew CW patterns, CCW patterns, and figure 8's for 10 minutes without the trainer having to take over once. Much easier in real life to orient with the plane, but still difficult when it is 500 feet out and 300 feet up to get the lines just perfect. I think my pattern was more like a triangle than a rectangle. Towards the end he told me to turn the power up and try some acrobatics. Considering I had spent more time on the Sim doing acrobatics than important stuff like landing, this came pretty natural too. I did a slight dive to gain speed, pulled back to straight up, rolled her 180 degrees, then pulled back thus taking it upside down - straight down - and then back around going the other direction right side up (what is that move called?). Before I could try any other acrobatics they decided time was up and he brought it in for a landing. It was a blast and these strangers were so friendly and helpful. Mostly because of all my Sim time, they said I flew great for the first time and my skill was on par with those on their 6th or more flight. Said I should be able to solo in no time. I need to practice those Sim landings! Now I need to get my plane built, they said right away to remove the "safety" features of the Nexstar, which are the air brakes and anti-crash gyro sensor. I don't know the first thing about these planes yet and how to maintain, but that will be part of the learning. I have everything I need, even the fuel. I'll keep everyone updated and even post some pics and videos.
Once you get them up in the air - it is much easier... Take off and landing is the killer (imo) I have loads of Cars, Boats, 1 trainer Plane and a Helicopter. The Car and Boats are fun and easy. The Plane is wrecked more than I fly them (I bought two trainers so when I am fixing one - the other is available). The Helicopter (even with training, videos, etc.) is impossible - I know believe it won't really fly (even though the instructor did it without problem - he is some kind of Voodoo guy or something. I cannot keep that thing airborn for more than 3 minutes... The good news with it - it does not really crash - just lands hard... Most of them sit on a shelf in my garage - haven't used anything but the boats - which I have a large pond in the back of our yard... That is fun - except when I run it into Cat Tails - and I have to wade out in hip high gump to free it Flying the planes are the best - I just dred the landings and take-offs - just a little wind and a bit of over-reaction... You will crash and burn.
Flying R/C Planes is very relaxing. The best is jet power, talk about fun and you can freak out your neighbors.
Went out for my 2nd session. I'll take pictures, but we have a great little field. Covered area with work benches and electricity. The grass field is watered. Anyway, tonight I put my plane 90% together while watching others. Towards the end I flew one of the trainers. No problems and he then took me through taxiing and I did my first take-off! This all in my 2nd flight. I will have my plane built by Sunday and hope to fly it. Will probably be a few more sessions before I do a landing. However, I am getting good at the Sim landings. Overall, I'm just really impressed with how nice and helpful everyone is.
Welcome to the R/C Hobby crew! I have always wanted to get into flying planes but i cant seem to order any of the good ones over to here. The postage is impossible. But Good luck Rob and post some pics. May i suggest that the plane be painted silver with an italian stripe down the middle and have fchat printed on the side. Nothing better than another tax deduction.
I have a superstar. I used to fly that plane a lot. I bought a combat wing a while back, we get a group of people and have air wars. A lot of fun. Enjoy.
Rob: Once you get used to the trainer, I strongly reccomend getting a Sig 4-Star 60 ARF with either a SuperTigre or an OS .75 engine. SuperTigres have more power but, much like Italian cars, can be very tempermental whereas the O.S. is probably the best manufacturer IMO. The 4-star 60s handle very well at low speeds and with the .75 you will have more than ample power to do all sorts of aerobatics. Of my 15 planes my 4-star 60 is my favorite because it does everything so well and makes me look like a much better pilot than I actually am. As for now I would spend the first two gallons of fuel doing touch and go's because too many people want to get flying without having thought about landing, but it sounds like you have a great club nearby with plenty of support. Drop me a note if you ever have any questions.
I already asked a few what a good 2nd plane should be and they recommended this exact plane. I don't know what kind of engine, but I saw last night and it looks sharp. Red with low wings, even has a pilot in it! I did hear it has a JC receiver, so I would have to make that compatible with my non-JC control. A really good pilot that owns it and supposedly has never been wrecked. Flew really nice and he was doing quite a few acrobatics. Amazing how slow he could get it too. Another member told me a good price would be $250, what do you think? I'm really not into putting planes together, I want them flying and bugs worked out already. Some other 2nd planes suggested were Sportster, Ultra Stick, or Tiger. This hobby might grab ahold of me like my other hobbies. Trainer already showing me the cool computer controllers that can log multiple plane trim settings. I'm also in love with some of the 1/6th acrobatic planes out there, they sound and look so good. Its like I've just bought my first car and getting my learner permit while lusting after a Ferrari already. I'll get some more recent photos, but these pics are earlier in the year after they built the new covering and installed a sprinkler system. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
The club members at RC flying clubs are probably the nicest bunch of people you will ever meet. They will always be there to help out! The more you take advantage of their offers for help, the less replacement planes you will buy! When you think you are really good at flying, get an instructor to spot you to polish your skills. I have been flying for 20 years and never get tired of it. Don't rule out electric planes, as the battery and motor technology is awesome. You can get battery/motor setups that are as powerful as 50 size glow engines! Also, visit my company at www.performancedevices.com and learn about how important a good crystal is for your radio. Send me an email and let me know what radio gear you have and the channel of your radio and I'll send you some of our crystals.
check this baby out: http://homepage.eircom.net/~skycam/C-17A_Globemaster_III/ that thing looks awesome. there was also an r/c B-52 stratofortress that flew for a while (it was HUGE).. but it crashed = ( http://balsabusters2.warp0.com/B52M.html
I was watching a AMA DVD that came with my membership. Really cool some of the planes. I liked the B-25 that would drop bombs! Also creative stuff like crop duster that actually sprays. Watching that B-52 go down was sad.
My prediction: In 6 months, Rob will have an 8' enclosed trailer that says FerrariChat.com with 15 planes and all of his gear that he tows to flying fields!
Rob: Which transmitter/receiver did you buy? Personally I reccomend JR, although all the majors have worked out their individual kinks. The nice thing is that most of the transmitters on the market have multi-model memory so you can digitally reverse servos, set trim settings etc for each model and switch between models. With that in mind, the flight packs by HiTech are fantastic and come with a receiver, 4 servos, battery, switch and an extension; some hobby stores will throw in a receiver crystal to match your transmitter. This way, you can use one Tx for multiple planes. As for engines, I reccomend this: http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFV76&P=0
Regarding crystals: Please read my white paper at: http://www.performancedevices.com/reliability_study.htm
Rob, I have JR equipment, and it is fantastic. If you get a chance, see if there are any glider fields around you. They don't usually share the 'power' fields, as the flying is different (challenging in its own way). Alright, spot the glider guy.... Jon
I used to fly sailplanes at Torrey Pines in San Diego when I was in college. Always loved doing it, except for having to dodge the paragliders who would fly across our window WITHOUT BLOWING THEIR GODDDAMMED WHISTLES.
Rob, You needed another hobby didn't you? I stopped by the old Frisco R/C airport on the Tollroad and Warren Parkway. All the guys willing to talk about the planes, and saw some amazing large wingspan planes doing some great acrobatics. Since the slot car track closed I'm needing a new fix. Was told that for $750-1,000 you can get a nice starter plane and controller. Is that in the ballpark? Is the SIM game computer only vs PS2 and do you need a joystick? Also 10 minutes from your work is another strip at Northwest Highway just west of Garland Road.
Good ARF high-wing trainer W/.40 engine: $250 Radio, 4Ch $125 Starter, battery, glow starter: $100 Misc: $100 Total: $ 575.00
Tack on for fuel, fuel pump, flight box and electrical panel, extra glow plugs and assorted hobby tools (and I'd go for a .46 engine), another $250
I got 100% in for much less than that. I bought the Nexstar kit which includes everything for the plane, controller, and Realflight simulator. Only other stuff I got were the starter kit and a gallon of fuel. I think my total was around $500. I recommend go ahead and get the kit. Fly the simulator for a few months. I did the sim for 6 months and hopefully got most of my crashes out of the way. The real flying is VERY similar to the sim. I did 10 minutes for my first flight with acrobatics and 5 minutes second flight with a takeoff. Instructor hasn't had to take control even once. We'll see how tomorrow goes!
