Remote control airplanes

[dude8604]

I've never used a RC airplane before, but I'm interested in getting one. I don't know much about them, but I'd like to get a pre-assembled one since it would be my first one. So basically what I'm wondering is what do I need to know before I buy one and which one should I get.

I don't want to spend too much over $200. Thanks!

Oh and I don't want one of those electric ones that only flies for 5 minutes.

 

[dude8604]

ttt #1

 

[benliong]

Besides RC plane, where'd I be able to get a relatively cheap and decent RC helicopter?

 

[Jerboy]

Originally posted by: benliong
Besides RC plane, where'd I be able to get a relatively cheap and decent RC helicopter?

Buy a PC based simulator first.

RC aircrafts are nothing like cars and they're really hard to fly. Landing is probably the most difficult. One little mistake and you can a totalled chasis, busted propeller, and sometimes engine damage. If you get hit or hit someone, expect a considerable injury.

 

[Jerboy]

Originally posted by: benliong
Besides RC plane, where'd I be able to get a relatively cheap and decent RC helicopter?

Try LMH mini heli

It has a 0.067 or something and makes about 1/10 of a horsepower. This one costs $500 or so even though it's made for beginners. It takes lots of patience to make it and it's not easy to fly. One little accident means you'll need new tail boom and rotors($25). Somewhat bigger wreck means you need to replace fuselage, blades, tail boom and rebuild the whole thing. You're looking at $75 or so and hours of repair. I had a functional one two or three years back. I flew it into a concrete pavement so the drive train and fuselage is completely destroyed. Engine and radio are still good though. I still have all this carcass somewhere. It wasn't too fun either. I kinda went into a RC flying club, but didn't have any friends MY AGE who were into this, so I quit. Alot of them are mid age to grandpa age men. erk!

 

[dude8604]

ttt #2

 

[Saltin]

RC helicopters arent cheap and they are tough to fly. You need a simulator or lessons.

Back when I was in residence at University, there was this rich kid who bought an RC helicopter. It was awsome...
So he's shooting his mouth off about it in the dining hall one night, and all they guys say " let's see you fly it"

Of course, he had no experience with it and said he wouldnt fly it for us.

After about a week of constant pressure from the guys at dinner, the guy finally crumbles and takes it out to the quad for it's inaugural flight. A big crowd of guys gathers.

He gets it up into a hover, and there are lots of ooo's and ahh's. Then he tries to make it move laterally, and the thing turns upside down and falls about 15 feet to the ground. Lot's of damage.

Hehe, you should of seen the guy freaking out

 

[Koing]

Originally posted by: Saltin
RC helicopters arent cheap and they are tough to fly. You need a simulator or lessons.

Back when I was in residence at University, there was this rich kid who bought an RC helicopter. It was awsome...
So he's shooting his mouth off about it in the dining hall one night, and all they guys say " let's see you fly it"

Of course, he had no experience with it and said he wouldnt fly it for us.

After about a week of constant pressure from the guys at dinner, the guy finally crumbles and takes it out to the quad for it's inaugural flight. A big crowd of guys gathers.

He gets it up into a hover, and there are lots of ooo's and ahh's. Then he tries to make it move laterally, and the thing turns upside down and falls about 15 feet to the ground. Lot's of damage.

Hehe, you should of seen the guy freaking out

..lol...

 

[FlashG]

RC is a great hobby. I flew a Cox .049 36" wingspan plane for years.

Most people like the bigger planes because they are easier to fly. But they also cost much more and require a greater commitment (time and financial).

Read the RC Modeler magazine for ideas. Join a local club or go a hobby shop and find out where they fly. Go out and ask a bunch of questions and watch.

Remember "what goes up MUST come down". I think most flying fields require AMA (American Modelers Association) insurance for everyones protection.

 

[Jerboy]

Originally posted by: FlashG
RC is a great hobby. I flew a Cox .049 36" wingspan plane for years.

Most people like the bigger planes because they are easier to fly. But they also cost much more and require a greater commitment (time and financial).

Read the RC Modeler magazine for ideas. Join a local club or go a hobby shop and find out where they fly. Go out and ask a bunch of questions and watch.

Remember "what goes up MUST come down". I think most flying fields require AMA (American Modelers Association) insurance for everyones protection.

Clubs are definitely overpoluated with OLD people. I've only seen a few people my age. Have yet to see any hot guys in this hobby.

I don't think RC aircraft flying is oriented for teens or young adults. It is expensive and time consuming, therefore gains popularity among old people with money and lots of extra time.

By the way, AMA doesn't stand for American Modelers Association. It stands for Academy of Model Aeronautics.

 

[benliong]

Thanks all for the information.

I was sort of under the impression that helicopter's going to be at least easier to fly than planes because they can stay at one spot. Guess I'm wrong. $500 is rather steep though......

 

[notfred]

Good luck getting anything for $200. My girlfriend jsut bought me a plane for my birthday (a kit). The kit was about $75, the motor's going to be almost $100, the radio is $150 or more, there's going to be at least $50 in other expenses to put it together, and it takes a bit (not a whole lot, but a bit) of skill to put it together. That's almost $400, plus the time to build it, and this is a relatively cheap airplane.

 

[4WHLDFT]

the formula Ive found over the years is,

400 to get into the hobby starting with nothing. NOTHING.

300 per plane/car (I have not tried boats)

You can make things cheaper but imo your cutting corners which will only make you unhappy with your plane.


If i could suggest a trainer?

Duraplane - If your going to learn to fly by yourself

Duraplane OR Tower Hobbies/Great Planes trainer - if you have someone to help you build and fly the plane


Why the Duraplane? It dosen't break. I don't know why it just won't break, very good plane to learn on.

Tower Hobbies/ GP trainer - Docile flight, smooth and predictable flight. Its hard to put it into a spin unless you absolutely try but even then it tries to level itself out. Good build quality and its a good kit to start builing if you've never built before.


www.towerhobbies.com they have some very competitive prices. Alot of their radios and planes are just rebadged brand name parts.

 

[fatbaby]

try ehobbies.com for starters

 

[IIIBradIII]

I agree with an earlier recommendation - fly a simulator first! I'm a commercial pilot but I enjoy RC flying too. Right now I have a Cadet Mark II & a Super Cub. The latter is a tailwheel and all I can say is to make sure whatever you get is tricycle gear! Especially for your first one - you can gradually move into harder things but start with a good trainer first.

Some of the trainers (like my Mark II) don't even have ailerons (you turn with rudder only) and if you've never flown a plane before or aren't an experienced simmer, this isn't a bad idea. It can keep you out of alot of trouble - like trying to recover from a spin w/ ailerons! Most good kits allow both configurations and once you're used to the plane, you can always add another servo for your ailerons.

Have fun and let us know how it goes!

 

[Stiler]

i always wanted to get a rc helicopter. One of the things i'm gonna do before i die, is buy one and learn how to fly, then while my friend is driving down the road i'll be in the passnger side flying, then i'm gonna crash it into a oncoming car

 

[halik]

For all you wanting a heli,

heres a chance to get one from halik >>>>> EP Concept

These things arent that hard to fly, one thing you have to remeber is that they have neutral stability. That means that if you make it go straight it will keep going straight till you pull back on the stick (as if you want to make go backwards)

 

[crab]

I have this.

Great package.

 

[bozack]

I did alot with RC cars...raced on weekends when I was younger and that was alot of fun....

eventually moved into planes with my father (flew some line control models for a while, but that got old fast).

Planes are tough and I eventually gave up on it (all the guys were alot older, same with the cars but that wasnt as bad, and I got my first real car so I had less free time).

Follow the advice of others here with regards to a Trainer plane and get a good instructor or flight sim....

forget heli's until you have mastered planes and are used to the money you will spend on this hobby, as heli's are next to impossible for the beginner to fly and very expensive to maintain.

good luck

 

[Bleep]

I am going to give you one little secret to landing one of those things. Remember that when the plane is comeing at you left and right are reversed on the control stick relative to the plane. Here is the secret. when it is coming toward you and you want to level it out just push the stick toward the wing that is LOW and that will level it out.

Bleep

 

[compuwiz1]

I've only seen a few people my age. Have yet to see any hot guys in this hobby.

So, WTF has that got to with aquiring, and learning to fly RC airplanes, ass hat?

I've been very interested in building a RC hydro plane. I've got an old, but good weedeater motor, and I'd like to power it by this.

 

[Squisher]

There was a r/c airplane club not too far from my house where I grew up. I stopped there one day and saw this old guy fly a small bi-plane at two feet off the ground doing barrel rolls at full speed all the way accross the field. This guy was amazing.

Wonder what he could of done in CS?