new guy,whats best mini plane for a beginner?

[BigTruckDriver]

Hi fellas I am just getting into flying ,I've been into rc hobbies for years,cars,and boats.Well,now with winter coming I would like something to intertaine myself and the kids indoors,any recomendations? I am new to flying ,but even newer to micro planes.Thanks for any help!

[Dave Robelen]

Hi,
You will probably find the kind of model you want at www.slowfly.com/ They carry a full line of equipment, as well as some nice, tough ARF Mini planes. Another neat site to shop is www.bsdmicrorc.com/ Between the two, there's a bunch of good choices.
Regards, Dave

[Mike Taylor]

Love to help, but we need a little more info since there are so many indoor models to choose from. A couple of years ago, it wasn't a problem, but today...

Do you have an aircraft transmitter? They use different frequencies. If not, and you like helicopters, there is a new 'toy' R/C chopper on the market that is getting rave reviews. It is based on Peter's 2.7 gram Proxflyer and costs ~$70 (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=279841). It is called the 'Blade Runner' manufactured by ITC. Here are a thread dealing with it: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=279923 You can also search on 'ProxFlyer' while you're there for some more discussion of it.

If you are more into traditional aircraft, there are a number of 'stick' type planes built with CF fuselages and foam surfaces. These take a lot of abuse and flying into walls. Which radio gear you select will determine if you can pick up a RTF model or whether you will need to get the gear seperately. Bob Selman sells Gordon Johnson's 'Quick Junior' (http://www.bsdmicrorc.com). it is designed for a pager motor / gearbox combo (also on his site) and micro radio gear and LiPoly power (also, coincidentally, on his site). This airplane finsihes to about 1/2 to 3/4 ounce AUW. These are good flying little models with good thrust to weight ratios and decent flight times. These can be run with actuator or micro servo radio systems.

Dynamic Web Enterprise / Dynamics Unlimited (http://www.slowfly.com/) sells a couple of RTF and ARF models to fit their actuator radios.

Once you have the gear and a couple of flights under you belt, you will discover that any FF model, rubber band or electric, will convert nicely to R/C. The radios, small LiPoly battery and motors weigh about 9 to 11 grams and these open up a lot of posibilities. You can scratch a model for about $1 or $2 worth of materials, built stick and tissue FF models, etc., and have a real nice flying experience. Both of these 'cottage industry' sources have great phone support and are quite willing to help and answer you questions.

Good luck, and welcome to the world of micro.

p.s., I see Dave was posting while I was typing. I guess we're in agreement on what is a good source! On other note: Dave has published plans for some dynomite little indoor birds in the magazines...

[Savagerocks90]

any chance of anyone creating a micro plane with a wing span of say 3-4 inches?

[Dave Robelen]

Hi,
We are not quite at that point in miniturazation. Henry Pasquet has come very close with a 4-5" model, but it uses some equipment that is not generally available.
Regards, Dave

[Mike Taylor]

Ralph Bradley's Micro Mite (downsized from his Guided Mite) is 7" WS. Models of this have been built with the RFFS and actuators as well as the JMP with actuators or Falcon servos. They use a direct drive M-20 motor turning cut down props and small LiPoly batteries. These are the smallest I have seen that use commercially available gear. Thread here: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=242994 and plans here: http://www.parmodels.com/

Matt Keenon, master of all things small, has several 4" plus models including a 7" 3.4 gram Ryan STA (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=225017) and a 4" 2.4 gram SE-5 (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=249775). These however use his own radios and muscle wire actuation, small pager motors and purpose built gearing and CADCAM props.

The guys at Aeronutz like I/R systems (can bu built for less than a gram) and have a huge selection of the smallest models around. Check out the stuff they are flying at: http://www.aeronutz.flyer.co.uk/