i have a question about a plane

[b3guyRC10]

Ok i would like to begin this as saying i am a RC car guy that wants to get into flying. I was thinking of the hobbico sturdy birdy II, does anyone have any comments. I am an experianced RC driver so i can control cars really well, but how would the planes be compared to cars, price wise, and having to buy parts?? I already have peak chargers, bump starters, glow starters, and things like that. Also i dont know where i would fly it, i mean how big of an area do u need. I live in newport rhode island and there isnt much area. please answer, i am really wondering if i should get a plane?

[b3guyRC10]

come on anyone..........

[Dave Robelen]

Hi B3Guy,
The Sturdy Birdy is probably a fine choice. Since you are new to planes, you will need some help at least in the beginning. Try looking for the club nearest you on the AMA website www.modelaircraft.org They have a listing of the clubs by locality. Once you hook up with a club, the loval people can give you the best advice regarding what works well in your area.
Good luck, Dave

[cudaboy_1971]

i went the other way. ive been flying since i was 13 (im 33 now) and recently got into cars for something to do when you drive all the way out to the flying field and its too windy to fly :)

first off: yes there is skill to driving. so, when i say it doesnt mean jack when it comes to flying, dont take offense. it is just different.

just as different as me trying to get into heli--wouldnt dream of it without getting some qualified training and a lot of help...im a pretty good plane pilot....heli's just a different animal.

there is more to learning to fly than making sure you change your orientation when the thing is coming at you as opposed to when it is going away from you. you can practice in your mind all day and it wont do a bit of good. its one of those things you just have to learn by doing...it needs to become something that is natural...as natural as riding a bike. and the only way to make it become natural is to do it and do it a LOT. and, you need to practice on something that flies slow and is forgiving.

trust me when i say you'll be glad you got the dorky slow 40 trainer instead of something a little hotter thinking you'll 'grow into it'. you wont. it'll grow into the ground is what it'll do.

now, for your question: the sturdy birdy is a fine plane. handles minor to pretty bad crashes well. but, personally i perfer the bigger 40 trainers to learn on. the SIG kadet is a fine trainer. its more expensive than other trainers--even the ARF is significantly more expensive than other ARFs ($170 retail vs. $100 for most ARFs). but, imho you get what you pay for. im not a SIG rep and i dont own a hobby shop. i'm just saying--the massive wing has a lot lighter wingloading allowing the thing to almost float in zero wind. and, the size allows it to stay the mandatory learner's 'three mistakes high' without becoming a speck up there.

if youre serious about getting into flying buy for the long term. yes, you must accept the fact that you *WILL* crash. and, probably crash badly at times. but, a quality aircraft can be repaired most often with minimal affect to its flight characteristics. and, when you are ready to graduate to a more aerobatic plane, the trainer will probably be of use to someone else....

one more bit of unsolicited advice: we all need to watch money and cut costs wherever possible. but DO NOT go with a cheap motor. buy a sport grade OS, supertigre or other reputable name (not some cheapo econo-engine), DO NOT buy the cheapest plane you can find. research and find what others are recommending--and if it costs more, there is probably a reason. DO not buy used radio equipment. if youre not sure if you wanna get into R/C flight seriously, you dont need to go out and buy a $600 radio. but used radio equipment can make short work of your investment...especially if the receiver has been crashed, the batteries havent been cycled/maintained regularly or something is broken that you dont know about. if doing all of this exceeds your budget, then wait and save some more money. if you cut corners and get a cheap rig up, odds are you will not have the positive flying experience you should. you may learn to fly. but, it will be a lot harder than it should...what with engine difficulties, radio hassles and a plane that doesnt handle well.

and, dont be afraid to ask for help. if all your buddies are car guys now, you may be surrounded by strangers for a while. let them know you are just starting out. just as in driving, there are so many tips, tricks and 'things you just gotta know' about flying, you'll be missing a lot if you try to go it alone.

but, most of all have fun. its an awesome hobby that will reward patience and practice with years of challenge, friendships and fun.

[b3guyRC10]

ok thanks for all the help, and since i posted that post, i have looked at the Air Core Trainer, and the Great Planes PT40. I have heard that the balsa trainers fly better but if you crash your screwed. Then i thought of the Air Core Trainer which looks cool and is extremely strong, but then i heard that its a hard plane to fly, especially for a begininer. any more ideas?

[Dave Robelen]

Hi B3guy,
That bit about balsa planes is an unfortunate myth. Sure, if you hit hard enough, it will break, but balsa glues right back together, and then you slap some more covering on and go some more. I have a couple of older planes that are nearly all patches under the plastic film, but they look reasonable after the covering is on.
I said all that to get to the point that the wood stuff fixes easy, That is definitely not the case with some of the structures that are made of materials that are tough to repair. One way or another, they all seem to get damaged when you fly enough. I am fond of the ability to get my plane back together fairly cheap, and keep it looking decent.
The point behind keeping one plane going a good while is that you will learn a lot faster if you are not switching from plane-plane and adjusting to the different feel.
Cheers, Dave

[ltw826]

Glad to hear you are making the move to airplanes. I believe you will enjoy it. You did not mention if you wanted to build first or fly right away. If you are looking at ARF's, The Sig LT 40 will get you flying right away but you might grow tired quickly of the planes control responses. The Sig LT 40 will get you soloed quickly but lacks a lot of control movment to make it aerobatic. The PT 40 is another good plane. My first plane was a PT40MKII kit. Toughest plane on the planet. I built it myself and put extra epoxy in the critical places. Survived two straight in crashes, two torque roll stalls from 20 feet, and one wing dowel snaping off during takeoff. Very good plane, even sold it for $35 after I got finished with it. I bought my son a PT40 ARF. Put together well but I would recommend applying extra epoxy to all of the formers and the firewall. I do this for all ARF's

As for engines, Your trainer will not need a very large engine. My PT 40 had three different engines on it. I started with an old Webra 40, the swapped the engine for a Thunder Tiger PRO46 (+ cash), and then bought a Super Tiger Ringed 40. The best for flying was the Webra 40. The TTPro40 had to much power as does the Super Tigre 40. I have also had good success with the Magnum 52 four stroke on my second PT 40. I have a friend with a Magnum 40 on a PT40 ARF and it flies well. If you purchase an engine with enormous power and torque, learning take offs will be tough because the extra power on the ground will cause the plane to torque over and cause you to over control. Makes for interesting take off's.

Last but not least. I am a firm believer in the buddy box. If the club you go to does not use or have a buddy box, purchase one yourself. It will save you and your airplane in the long run.

Take care and good flying.

[b3guyRC10]

i have been talking to dave r. alot and i think i am going to get a PT40 with a OS .40 LA, and i REALLY want to build it. In a way i think that is the most fun part. As i already told dave, i do NOT have anyone to teach me, but there is a guy that i will be able to fly with, but he is a NEW flyer, and can barely fly his thunder tiger trainer.... thanks for all the help.