Which RC trainer plane?

[UKbob]

Im thinking about buying a plane, it would be my first, and I really cant decide which one to get... other than buying a model which looks "cool"

Ive done a bit of reading and reckon Id need:

A durable plane, so perhaps foam and not balsa
RTF - Id rather there was no assembly required for my first plane
Looks like a real plane, with a real fuselage not a thin pole arse end
No auto pilot thingy which corrects the plane when in a stall

Bonuses would be good flight times

And stability with as little vibration as possible - Id like to do some aerial photography at some point. IF my trainer plane was suitable, great. If not, then Id happily buy another plane further down the road.

Suggestions?

[GreenV8S]

You want a high wing, asymmetric section, relatively high dihedral with around 50"-60" span. I'd suggest a trike under carriage but you may have other preferences. Either way, go for an engine towards the top end of the range suggested for the model. The less power you have the less scope you have to make mistakes. I'd suggest going for one which describes itself as a trainer, it will probably meet all the above criteria.

[UKbob]

GreenV8S said:

You want a high wing, asymmetric section, relatively high dihedral with around 50"-60" span. I'd suggest a trike under carriage but you may have other preferences. Either way, go for an engine towards the top end of the range suggested for the model. The less power you have the less scope you have to make mistakes. I'd suggest going for one which describes itself as a trainer, it will probably meet all the above criteria.

Been doing a bit of reading about the things youve just mentioned. I definitely want an electric model to start with, something not too expensive. Can anyone recommend a busy UK model aviation forum?

[Moose.]

If you go with foam, do make sure it's not just normal polystyrene as it'll break the minute you land a bit heavy. EPP foam is good stuff and almost indestructable

Personally I'm not a fan of foam planes, as I enjoy the build process. Also, if you build a balsa airplane, at least you know how to fix it when you crash it

[CIS121]

Hi Bob,

'm just moving on from my first plane - An Elctra Fly, 70 from Sussex models. It was a great plane and 3 channels, the only downside was that the motor was either on or off (not proportional control). I would still recommend it though. Very resilient to being crashed, came with spare wing which was never needed and by gaining height and gliding around, I could fly for 15 -20 mins on one battery pack. Spare packs can be had for £8.

I'm now moving onto a serious model, but was very glad I got this. Iwasn't disappointed!

One word of advice though - when you get a model, only go out in dead calm conditions. Even a mild breeze can make a plane far harder for a learner to control.

[DIW35]

I taught myself to fly with an Acrowot, but I didn't know any better at the time, and I wouldn't recommend it!

Electric power is a good starting point, as the aircraft tend to be lighter which means any 'heavy' landings should do less damage. Unfortunately this probably means that it won't be suitable for hoisting a camera aloft for any aerial photography.

A lot of people when starting out often say things like they want to fly a Spitfire or some such i.e. something that looks real. The problem with this is that most 'scale' model aircraft are far more difficult to fly than something that looks a bit strange but is designed to fly well from a model perspective.

[outlaw...]

bob get a train m8 or it will cost you.
you can get something biger and prityer after you can fly.

[Davi]

UKbob said:

GreenV8S said:

You want a high wing, asymmetric section, relatively high dihedral with around 50"-60" span. I'd suggest a trike under carriage but you may have other preferences. Either way, go for an engine towards the top end of the range suggested for the model. The less power you have the less scope you have to make mistakes. I'd suggest going for one which describes itself as a trainer, it will probably meet all the above criteria.

Been doing a bit of reading about the things youve just mentioned. I definitely want an electric model to start with, something not too expensive. Can anyone recommend a busy UK model aviation forum?

Have a look at rcgroups.com - very busy (maybe a bit too busy at times!) and full of helpful folks.

There are several out there that follow GV8S's advice that are electrically powered - have a look at sussex model centre and give them a call - usually a very helpful bunch.

Don't forget to get your insurance either - easiest to get it from BMFA by joining up.

[UKbob]

Thanks for the posts everyone

[outlaw...]

UKbob said:

Thanks for the posts everyone

did you ever get in to helis I seem to remember you wanted too. how did you get on with them.

I fly helis and planks I was never a fan of small electric but that personal taste. i all ways go for fuel stuff. if you not shaw what you relly want to do just get a cheap park flyer that it dont mater if you bend it.

even then you will break it if you dont have some help there not as easy to fly as they look

I prefer biger stuff like my 28% edge540 here 2m wing span and 50cc petrol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbQS4crjcUk

Edited by outlaw... on Thursday 16th August 01:20

[UKbob]

outlaw... said:

UKbob said:

Thanks for the posts everyone

did you ever get in to helis I seem to remember you wanted too. how did you get on with them.

I fly helis and planks I was never a fan of small electric but that personal taste. i all ways go for fuel stuff. if you not shaw what you relly want to do just get a cheap park flyer that it dont mater if you bend it.

even then you will break it if you dont have some help there not as easy to fly as they look

I prefer biger stuff like my 28% edge540 here 2m wing span and 50cc petrol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbQS4crjcUk

I nearly bought a (£40 back then) tiny mini micro chopper, one of the indoor flyers, but comments on the net put me off, as they seemed a bit like gimmicks with no real control which one would probably get bored of in 15 minutes. I was also put off by the fact that there were so many different ones for sales on sites like firebox.com etc, wasnt sure which was best, and someone here recommended a £100 chopper as a far more sensible option which I agreed with.

I quite like to do reading/research when buying anything and decided Id look into it again one day, but that day wont come until Ive fully explored the flying/video side of things.

Ive still got the hornet to finish off, but cant seem to find the 5 hours I need to start/finish the decals

[Davi]

UKbob said:

I nearly bought a (£40 back then) tiny mini micro chopper, one of the indoor flyers, but comments on the net put me off, as they seemed a bit like gimmicks with no real control which one would probably get bored of in 15 minutes. I was also put off by the fact that there were so many different ones for sales on sites like firebox.com etc, wasnt sure which was best, and someone here recommended a £100 chopper as a far more sensible option which I agreed with.

I quite like to do reading/research when buying anything and decided Id look into it again one day, but that day wont come until Ive fully explored the flying/video side of things.

Ive still got the hornet to finish off, but cant seem to find the 5 hours I need to start/finish the decals

couple of hints - 1: If they sell it on firebox or similar, it'll be a toy rather than a "proper" model - always buy from a model shop, be it net based or on the high street.

2: Don't bother with the decals on your first heli - the canopy isn't going to last long enough for you to appreciate them anyway just stick something one colour on one side, something a different colour on the other, so you can orientate easier in the beginning.

Edited by Davi on Thursday 16th August 09:40

[UKbob]

Davi said:

UKbob said:

I nearly bought a (£40 back then) tiny mini micro chopper, one of the indoor flyers, but comments on the net put me off, as they seemed a bit like gimmicks with no real control which one would probably get bored of in 15 minutes. I was also put off by the fact that there were so many different ones for sales on sites like firebox.com etc, wasnt sure which was best, and someone here recommended a £100 chopper as a far more sensible option which I agreed with.

I quite like to do reading/research when buying anything and decided Id look into it again one day, but that day wont come until Ive fully explored the flying/video side of things.

Ive still got the hornet to finish off, but cant seem to find the 5 hours I need to start/finish the decals

couple of hints - 1: If they sell it on firebox or similar, it'll be a toy rather than a "proper" model - always buy from a model shop, be it net based or on the high street.

2: Don't bother with the decals on your first heli - the canopy isn't going to last long enough for you to appreciate them anyway just stick something one colour on one side, something a different colour on the other, so you can orientate easier in the beginning.

Quite. I didnt see the point in buying an uncontrolable toy. As for the decals, the hornet is the 4 wheeled variety of chopper

[Davi]

UKbob said:

the hornet is the 4 wheeled variety of chopper

ahhh! not the micro heli also known as the hornet then! That's good, as my first thought was "oh dear" - hornets aren't really a beginners heli

[Red Firecracker]

UKbob said:

Quite. I didnt see the point in buying an uncontrolable toy. As for the decals, the hornet is the 4 wheeled variety of chopper

It's quite fun when you've got the boss pinned into his seat with a Picoo Z Micro inches from his face....

[UKbob]

Davi said:

UKbob said:

the hornet is the 4 wheeled variety of chopper

ahhh! not the micro heli also known as the hornet then! That's good, as my first thought was "oh dear" - hornets aren't really a beginners heli

Hence the dont bother with decals comment!

Red Firecracker said:

UKbob said:

Quite. I didnt see the point in buying an uncontrolable toy. As for the decals, the hornet is the 4 wheeled variety of chopper

It's quite fun when you've got the boss pinned into his seat with a Picoo Z Micro inches from his face....

So which one of these picoo miny copters is actually any good, I read some were ok, some were crap, cant remember which are which though.

[Red Firecracker]

UKbob said:

So which one of these picoo miny copters is actually any good, I read some were ok, some were crap, cant remember which are which though.

I've got this one;



which is the 25 quid Play/Firefox genuine Picoo version. Sits on top of the iMac at work and flys into the ceiling/wall/floor eventually when I'm bored. Once you get the balance sorted with the nose weights they're quite controllable.

[GreenV8S]

Red Firecracker said:

I've got this one;



which is the 25 quid Play/Firefox genuine Picoo version. Sits on top of the iMac at work and flys into the ceiling/wall/floor eventually when I'm bored. Once you get the balance sorted with the nose weights they're quite controllable.

How tough are they? Likely to survive the odd bash into the furniture?

[Red Firecracker]

GreenV8S said:

How tough are they? Likely to survive the odd bash into the furniture?

Well, it's all relative, but yeah, they are very touch. I've broken the tail on mine at the right angle just below the tail rotor. Bit of superglue/tape and it's sorted. I've got some spare tail rotors but haven't needed to replace anything.

As it happens, I feel a little sortie coming on now!

[UKbob]

Red Firecracker said:

GreenV8S said:

How tough are they? Likely to survive the odd bash into the furniture?

Well, it's all relative, but yeah, they are very touch. I've broken the tail on mine at the right angle just below the tail rotor. Bit of superglue/tape and it's sorted. I've got some spare tail rotors but haven't needed to replace anything.

As it happens, I feel a little sortie coming on now!

OK, id like to get one, to tide me over until I get a real copperchopter one day.

What directional controls does it have, and is it the most recommended "cheap small toy" model?