RC Planes for (young) beginners!!

[breamster]

Hi,

My 12yr old son would like to try flying RC planes. Does anyone have any words of advice?

We are looking at something like ?

https://www.wonderlandmodels.com/products/hobbyzon...

Any good? I liked the look of the 'SAFE' features and it looks fairly robust.

I also like the transmitter can be plugged into a PC to get used to the controls before venturing out with the real plane. I don't like the cost of the sim software "RealFlight" it needs though. Is there a cheaper alternative?

We have local football pitches which are public access and often empty apart from the occasional dog walker. What is the practical windspeed limit for these things?

Any suggestions? He will be paying for it with his cash so the cheaper the better!

[shedweller]

SAFE won't save it from a 12yr old! - I fly often and have a mate teaching his 12yr old to fly using a combination of SIM and buddy training.
The most rewarding way to start is not by crashing on your first flight!

Realflight is mega money but the best way to start is on a sim which helps you train your eyes and fingers into working with the various orientations of the aircraft.

A much cheaper option is to get a decent cheap second hand transmitter like a DX5/6 and use that via phoenix RC sim or realflight from eBay...
When he is fairly competent (ish) he can use the same transmitter on his first aircraft like the one in the link - there will be a phoenix/realflight model download for that somewhere I imagine.

SAFE is great tech for beginners but having your fingers properly connected to your eyes and brain when it all gets upside down coming towards you whilst heading towards the ground at speed (ALL 12yr olds want to do this stuff) is expensive to learn in the air!

The advantage of Sims is that he can mess around with sport models and helis/drones too

[woodysnr]

not sure where you stay in the country .would it not be good idea to contact a local club for some advice and tuition before you go out and spend money ,never flown anything but have done cars and boats and know the carnage you can cause in cars in the wrong inexperienced hands.

[kimducati]

Before you do anything, you must read, understand and comply with the regulations outlined here: https://rcc.bmfa.uk/article-16
I know its a right royal pain in the butt, but I'm afraid it's the law now.
Also agree with talking to a local club - many will let your son have a try on a club trainer for up to 3 visits without having to sign up to or indeed buy anything, there's a waiver built into the regs for newcomers, This is the BMFA club finder page: https://bmfa.azolve.com/clubFinder.html
Just put in your local town and you'll get all of the BMFA clubs contact details.
Unless you're in Scotland - they've got their own association up there!!
Hth
Kim

[GliderRider]

Breamster, an electric glider-type model has several advantages.

• It tends to fly a bit slower so its easier to keep up with in the early stages.

• The folding propeller protects both itself and the motor shaft in the event of an 'arrival'.

• Flights can be extended by hunting for thermals and switching the motor off.

• The lack of an undercarriage on a small model is actually an advantage as and undercarriage just snags on grass, stopping the model quickly and tearing the mounting out. With a 'ski' bottom to the fuselage, the glider slides to a stop dissipating energy slowly.

• The lack of an undercarriage also discourages trying to take off from concrete or tarmac, which is very unforgiving if you get it wrong.

I have an E-Flite UMX Radian, which is really great, but a bit pricey, as you have to buy a separate transmitter. I fly mine both from flat field and slope soaring a sea wall.



My brother has the WL Toys XK A800 (780mm/30.7" wingspan, rudder ,elevator, aileron,throttle + 3 or 6 axis gyro), which can be bought for under £60 including the transmitter. Spare parts are also readily available from Ebay/Aliexpress/Banggood.

WL Toys XK A800 5 channel electric glider



Practical windspeed for learning is under 8mph. A slight head wind when launching and landing helps, but a bginner will tend to find the model disappearing off downwind in any sort of breeze. The best thing is to get up really early when you have the park to yourself and it thereis almost no wind. Disk is often good wind-wise, but reduced light level makes orientation difficult.

One final thing; whilst Lidl have their free flight expanded polypropylene (EPP) gliders in stock at £7.99, get one so you son can perfect his hand launches on it, before launching the dearer and more delicate model full of electronics. There is also a Facebook page dedicated to converting the Lidl gliders to radio control and motor power.

Edited by GliderRider on Tuesday 8th June 09:23

[take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey]

My 12 year old son

Dad... Dad... Dad... When's it my go... Dad... But dad you said it was my turn 20 minutes ago... Dad.

<narrows eyes>. Bloody will get this thing to loop.

Dad... Is it going to take long to fix...

[LotusMartin]

if you have somewhere to fly a WildThing 46” is cheap and a great place to start. pretty indestructible and fun to build and fly.

You’ll need a slope and some wind though!

[Hard-Drive]

You need a simple airframe shape, no fragile biplanes or for that matter propellers to ground when he lands it. This should be fine.

[sclayto2]

Hard-Drive said:

You need a simple airframe shape, no fragile biplanes or for that matter propellers to ground when he lands it. This should be fine.

I like how you think!

[Boatbuoy]

Hard-Drive said:

You need a simple airframe shape, no fragile biplanes or for that matter propellers to ground when he lands it. This should be fine.

Much like the prototype, that model has now - AFAIK - been retired.

As for the OP's question:

1) Definitely contact your local club, while there are all sorts of aids to learning now, there's no substitute for knowledge and advice. Also, there may be local bylaws that actually prevent you from flying at the local sports field.
2) Club members will be able to guide you. A hobby shop will potentially just sell you a model (a new member at my club bought a model before he joined us. The shop owner told him it was a trainer. In fact it's a model of a real trainer plane, not an RC trainer!).
3) Familiarise yourself with the CAA's rules. Yes, it's a pain and additional hassle, blah, blah. But it's here to stay!
4) Get involved yourself, it's a great father and son hobby that you can share.
5) Expect to crash a few times, but don't let it put you off.
6) Don't be surprised if he can do it better than you! Seen it plenty of times.
7) Have fun.

[breamster]

Thanks for the replies and apologies for the late response. Crazy week.

Some good advice and we have had the discussion of both of us trying it. I have now got a copy of RealFlight albeit an old one. I just need to get a cheap used transmitter that is compatible.

I've also found out there is a local flying club nearby ish so I've emailed them for further info. Fingers crossed something will come of it.

I had a cursory look at the rules but will look at them in further detail when I get five minutes.

I'm also tempted by a cheap motor glider just to see what happens!

Thanks all. I'll report back on progress and there is every chance he will be able to fly it significantly better than me!!!