RC Airplanes

[sb_beetle]

Anybody involved in RC airplanes? I started, stopped due to some spectacular mid-air collisions, (distances are deceiving)and was looking for some NB's who share the interest.

[wawalker]

I know that member sukhoidave is into R/C bigtime. I was until I got an ultralight--once I could get up there myself I haven't touched R/C--wanna buy my R/C stuff?

[Ghia_Roadster]

im about to buy an HC Hobby F-18E 5 channel for my first full blown R/C plane...should be pretty sweet with the ducted fans screaming along...

[wawalker]

Originally Posted by Ghia_Roadster

im about to buy an HC Hobby F-18E 5 channel for my first full blown R/C plane...should be pretty sweet with the ducted fans screaming along...

I don't think a ducted fan is a good choice for your first one--you need something very durable and repairable--you will crash it.

[noR]

Ghia, get the awesome plane if you must. And then get a smaller, simplier, learner plane PLEASE.

I've heard that advice MANY times at the hobby store. My hobby shop owner wouldn't sell you that plane if he knew you'd never flown before.

Awesome yes, but it's a sure fire way to get bummed and leave the hobby before you get started.

[noR]

I try to keep my R/C's on the ground for the most part. Althought I'm starting to get into the off-road stuff, and man there's some wild jumps to be had.

[Ghia_Roadster]

ive already been flying for over a month...and no i havent crashed...nothing a little epoxy wont fix

[squeebug]

I used to do RC planes but it got to where I couldn't justify spending the money on it anymore. It's awesome when they're flying but your wallet hurts when they go hurling into the ground.

[noR]

Right on man, well good luck Ghia. Get some pics or videos if you can, I'm interested to see it.

[squeebug]

Originally Posted by Ghia_Roadster

ive already been flying for over a month...and no i havent crashed...nothing a little epoxy wont fix

don't forget duck tape

[Ghia_Roadster]

Originally Posted by squeebug

don't forget duck tape

actually duct tape weighs too much to be applied to EDFs or even prop driven planes. although it will work with nitro powered planes like the one my cousin has...on the scale of plane im toying with, regular packaging or scotch tape even, works very well..we are talking grams instead of ounces. plus epoxy works well to fix your little boo-boos up...

[vwtazzman]

I like the wings. These things are simple,fun and almost indestructible.
I've been flying 23 years and I've settled on electrics. It's getting harder to find a place to fly the glow powered planes and with electric there is almost no cleanup.RC has come a long way during my time flying.

[IceDog]

I had a friend that was into it. He had about 25-30 planes, some of which were very detailed.

I was over at his house one afternoon and he set me up flying on his PC. HE left and made us a few sandwiches and when he came back I was flying knife edges and barrel rolls with ease. Needless to say, he wanted to take me out to the airfield and fly right then and there. It was quite windy so he took off and I flew a few circles while he kept a close eye on the buddy box. The wind picked up so we stopped.

A few days go by and he grabs me at work and says... meet me at the field, its a perfect day for flying! No problem, I'll be there in 45 minutes, bring a nice trainer for me.

When I get there, he brings out one of his nicest planes. New brused aluminum prop, new engine... the detail on the plane looks as if piper made it.

He takes off and I fly some loops around the field, he lands refuels and back up we go. I'm flying this plane for about 45 minutes. But then I let the plane get behind us a bit. He's telling me not to allow it to happen, that's a big no-no. No problem.

Next circle around I again have it coming a bit behind us, so I pull it over and the planes doing a knife edge to get it back in front of us. He's pretty impressed and lets me keep going. I bring it back to level and around I go again...(do you see whats gonna happen)

Last trip around, I again begin to get it behind us, so I pull a knife edge again. It's doing alright but this time he thinks he should flip the switch and take control so we don't freak out the other flyers at the field. Well... the servo's reset and down comes the plane.

I've never seen such carnage. We might as well have called the NTSB right then. There was wreckage over about a 30 sq ft area.

New prop - bent & destroyed.
New engine - piston through the block & destroyed
servo's - will need new arms

The only major pieces salvagable was the wheels but it took us about 10 minutes to find where they bounced.

I offered up my check right then and there but he wouldn't take it. I did help him move about 30 years worth of household items a few months later when he bought a new home though.

Did I enjoy flying? Sure. Could I afford it? No. I could keep playing on the PC though. lol

[Ghia_Roadster]

ok so i havnt exactly bought the f-18. instead i got a hobbyzone mini super cub. only flown it once (today) and already doing loops with it. has a 2 cell lipo battery and a geared brushed motor. 'when' it gets really bad bent, im upgrading to brushless everything. really fun plane. oh and its a 3 channel. just wish it had ailerons at the price i paid for it though... pics up soon.

[from Margaritaville...]

In July, I cruised into the local r/c - hobby shop (a rather large one, at that). I picked up an r/c simulator that I've been enjoying quite often. It's called "RealFlight".

RealFlight R/C Flight Simulator - The most realistic recreation of R/C flight ever!™

It's a blast, runs appx. $120 - $200 depending on if you select the 3.5 version or the newer 4.5 version. There's a "demo" on their site that you can check out. Lots of planes, seaplanes, gliders, helicopters and airfields. Yes, you can mix in directional wind and sun azimuth.


I run it through my pc into my big screen and amp. WOW!

[Sukhoidave]

Like Bill said I am very into RC planes. I have been flying about 15 years and I'm an instructor for our club. A nice easy flying high wing plane is a great way to start. The bounceable foam wings are good too. It is a great hobby but does require both disposable income and disposable time.

Here are a couple of mine.

[Ghia_Roadster]

ok took some pics of it, but not outside where id rather be. plus its warm inside today too. everything in the 3rd pic came with the plane, as usual. ive already done loops and even a sprial and have only had it two full days! its a really nice plane for a somewhat newcomer!

[DannyRandomState]

I've been thinking about something along these lines.

New 2.4GHz F-4E Jolly Roger Phantom EDF Brushless RC Jet 100% Ready-to-Fly

These seem pretty decent for the price. And seeing how I have never flown before I'm sure crashing would play a major role in learning.

[Ghia_Roadster]

that edf is gonna be way to fast for you to learn on. id get something like i got. my only gripe i have with it is the esc has a plastic 'stick' that is pushed into the foam. the factory should have secured it a little better. also i dont like the servos that are in it. i personally dont like the pushrod type of servos.after several hard crashes the esc came undone from being firmly attached to the foam. so i took packaging tape and secured it better. havnt tried it yet but it should hold up. my dad has flown the real thing but he cant seem to handle the controls of an r/c plane. i buzzde him yesterday afternoon. it was really funny!! i was high enough that i wouldnt of propped him.

[sb_beetle]

Originally Posted by Ghia_Roadster

ive already been flying for over a month...and no i havent crashed...nothing a little epoxy wont fix

Have you crashed yet? Plastics are sooooo forgiving. Epoxy will only get you so far with balsa :-(