lets talk about RC planes

[Fanatical Meat]

***NOT drones***

I've wanted a radio controlled plane since I was a kid, I'm thinking I'll give it a try this summer. Any suggestions or site where I can read up about it. I don't think I want a completely dummy proof one I'm OK investing some time in the hobby.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/index.php is a good site.

I bought a kit similar to this a few years ago to fly:

http://www.amazon.com/HobbyZone-Supe...ords=super+cub

I haven't flown it in a couple of years but really need to do it this spring/summer. I bought an EDF jet kit as well but it is boxed up and I won't fly it until I can actually land without incident 90% of the time or more.

 

[Raduque]

***NOT drones***

Are single and multirotor helicopters OK to talk about?

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Are single and multirotor helicopters OK to talk about?

More interested in planes, drones are to keep the idiots away

 

[silicon]

***NOT drones***

I've wanted a radio controlled plane since I was a kid, I'm thinking I'll give it a try this summer. Any suggestions or site where I can read up about it. I don't think I want a completely dummy proof one I'm OK investing some time in the hobby.

try and find a local flying club as the members will show and teach you how to fly. Make sure the club likes to have beginners as some clubs are fairly snotty and won't show beginners anything. This is important as it takes time to learn the hobby. Decide on electric or fuel, airplane or helicopter. Also decide if you like to build the plane or buy a prebuilt. a prebuilt saves time and money as they do 90% of putting the plane together. If you decide on fuel type aircraft, then three is a bunch of field accessories required. The new radios transmit in the 2.4ghz frequency and are much better than the older radios. The plane you should buy to learn on is a high winged trainer as these fly the easiest and are more tolerant of mistakes. But the important thing is to find the right club to get maximum enjoyment for your investment.

 

[Genx87]

The Hobbyzone Supercub is a great way to get started. The RTF version is like 200 bucks and has everything you need to get flying. I bought this last year and got hooked. Got a Spektrum DX6 radio over the holidays and going to get into bigger 4-6 channel planes this summer.

 

[balloonshark]

I'm not into planes but I'll second the rcgroups forum suggestion. The people in their battery and charger forum are also pretty knowledgeable.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

I think I'll buy this one, for my first. Almost a no-brainer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJ3W2F9v7Mw

 

[KeithP]

You got to get one of these...
http://youtu.be/984tPA7k3yg

-KeithP

 

[JulesMaximus]

I know that they're easy to crash and that all the really cool kits are pricey. Enjoy your new expensive hobby.

 

[Tweak155]

I know that they're easy to crash and that all the really cool kits are pricey. Enjoy your new expensive hobby.

Says the guy who lives in California. Enjoy your expensive COL.

 

[JulesMaximus]

You got to get one of these...
http://youtu.be/984tPA7k3yg

-KeithP

That is probably the coolest thing I've ever seen. :thumbsup:

 

[JulesMaximus]

Says the guy who lives in California. Enjoy your expensive COL.

I'd bet my mortgage is less than your rent. :sneaky:

 

[dawp]

More interested in planes, drones are to keep the idiots away

true rc choppers are not for dummies. they will decapitate someone if not careful.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/minute-mec...s-remote-control-helicopter/story?id=20182547

 

[Tweak155]

I'd bet my mortgage is less than your rent. :sneaky:

I bet my no rent or mortgage is less than your mortgage . Yes we own the house and yes we paid for it ourselves and yes we earned all the money (my wife and I).

Anything else, West sider?

EDIT:

Edited the "we's" in.

 

[tortoise]

radio controlled plane . . thinking I'll give it a try

Practice with an eBay simulator controller to get accustomed to the "reverse orientation" when the plane is flying toward you (move controller stick under low wing). Select a beginner glider like the Easy Star. Join the Academy Of Model Aeronautics for the insurance benefit.

If you choose to learn independently . . find a remote unobstructed site and fly very early in the morning when the sun and winds are low. Hold up transmitter to block out the sun. Be mentally prepared to accept the mishaps. Some variation of an antenna launcher is one option to retrieve tree landings.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I bet my no rent or mortgage is less than your mortgage . Yes we own the house and yes we paid for it ourselves and yes we earned all the money (my wife and I).

Anything else, West sider?

EDIT:

Edited the "we's" in.

I forgot, houses are practically free in Michigan these days. :awe:

What's the temperature there today?

 

[jaha2000]

I forgot, houses are practically free in Michigan these days. :awe:

What's the temperature there today?

Heat wave, I saw 18F at lunch.

 

[Tweak155]

I forgot, houses are practically free in Michigan these days. :awe:

What's the temperature there today?

Ok now you got me, lol. It's a blazing 18f right now, that is warm weather as of recently.

 

[MasterAndCommander]

rcgroups.com is a great place to start.
Also a micro park flyer like this is great for a beginner

http://www.parkzone.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=PKZ3900

They can fly in a confined space and weigh almost nothing so crashes are quite survivable.
The down side is they are susceptible to wind so mainly just for flying in calm winds

 

[SlushySolid]

My fiancee's father is really into flying planes in his spare time. He's trained a lot of people and he usually suggests the styrofoam planes. They're cheaper, move a lot slower, and are therefore easier to get the ropes on.

 

[Kaido]

***NOT drones***

I've wanted a radio controlled plane since I was a kid, I'm thinking I'll give it a try this summer. Any suggestions or site where I can read up about it. I don't think I want a completely dummy proof one I'm OK investing some time in the hobby.

I would recommend buying a Champ. I have a big write-up here:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2391864

It's $90 for everything: (even batteries!)

http://www.horizonhobby.com/products/champ-rtf-HBZ4900

Durable, cheap to fix, and inexpensive compared to other options. It's still the best starter plane I can recommend. You get motor speed control (fast/slow), rudder (left/right), and elevator (up/down), so it's not crippled like those toy-store models that just have a left & right motor for controlling turning. I have a blast flying mine!

 

[Kaido]

true rc choppers are not for dummies. they will decapitate someone if not careful.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/minute-mec...s-remote-control-helicopter/story?id=20182547

Not only that, but you need the brain & reflexes for it. I've been flying R/C airplanes since I was a kid & I'm still terrible at single-bladed helicopters. Quad-copters & planes are no problem, and I can do the dual-rotor helis because they're stable, but you really have to wrap your brain around how choppers work, so there's some mental & physical gymnastic prerequisites you inherently need to get really good at serious R/C chopper flying.

 

[Blackjack200]

Says the guy who lives in Californiarides a Ducati.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

I know that they're easy to crash and that all the really cool kits are pricey. Enjoy your new expensive hobby.

Outdated info by a decade. Steep discount hong kong electronics and foam planes are now stupid cheap, fairly easy to fly, and very cool.

Hobby king really is the king. Check out the park flyer called the " mini swift". Get the plug n fly (pnf) version, a radio, and a battery for under $200.- shipped to your door. Buy a hot glue gun and some packing tape for repairs. Go to a wide open area and learn. A mentor is helpful but not really necessary. I learned with a Harbor Freight plane in my backyard.

The "champ" Kaido listed above looks really good too