Does anyone fly R/C planes?

[SteveSS]

What's a good starter plane? I was thinking of getting one for my son. He's a recent ME grad and had to take all the flight dynamics classes. I thought he would like and understand them. I checked Aliexpress last night and you can get one for like $20 but that may be just too damn cheap. Before you jump on me for ordering from China make sure you check the origin tag on your stuff. I just figure I'm cutting out the middleman.

 

[#41]

I did for awhile. It's pretty difficult to learn. It's much easier now to learn if you buy a model with with stabilizing electronics. Best to get a easy-to-fly plane that is not too expensive, crash it a lot, and then move up.

 

[GTXDAN]

Here's a hobby shop that has everything for flying and other RC stuff. You can spend as little or as much as you want. From beginner to expert.

RC Cars, RC Trucks, RC Airplanes, Model Trains, and Slot Cars at Tower Hobbies

 

[GTXDAN]

Oh I forgot about this place too. Check out their kit called STIK 40. Easy to build and fly. It's a great trainer.

Shop - Balsa USA

 

[Xp29h]

I was talking to a friend just the other day. We were talking about RC planes. He’s been flying them for years. He told me start out with high wing vs low wing. The are more forgiving and easier to learn on.
Good luck and have fun!

 

[BB BELLA]

I wish I read the instruction where it said flying over water may interfere with auto pilot! made a wonderful splash though!

 

[Curiousyellow71]

In the 80s one of my friends Father named Wayne took time to build a remote control plane from a kit. Took a lot of time to put it together and it was pretty complicated, it cost hundreds of dollars and was a pretty big plane.
On his maiden voyage out at the airport Wayne was afraid to fly it...but someone he new that was a self proclaimed expert at everything told him...
No problem I will show you . Wayne gave him the remote and they watched it take off...go a couple hundred feet up and dive straight into the ground...parts flew everywhere. The guy handed the remote back to Wayne...didn't say a word and walked away. LOL

 

[Richard Cranium]

Does anyone fly R/C planes??????

I don’t have any planes.

 

[BB BELLA]

I flew some of the new electrics with my some before he got the mopar disease! I have a corsair that the fuselage and wings are built needs to be finished but it will never happen because I figured it's a lot of work to make kindling!
when I was a kid I flew the string planes quite a bit but that gets boring fast unless you have 2 good operators with equal planes to duke it out!

 

[Skytrooper]

Myself and a couple of my army buddies got into RC helicopters (electric) about 15 years ago. We would use the drill hall to practice takeoff, landing, and hovering. A very safe controlled environment. We even did some basic flights in there. Once we figured we were "good to go", we started outdoor flying. That was hairy. Inperceivable breezes had a severe effect on the helicopters. The results were many crashes. The parts stores got to know us on a first name basis as we helped get their kids through college. After a couple of months, the ranks started to dwindle. Winter came and those of us left flew in the drill hall. We lost a few more, and by the end of winter...there were only two of us left. The deployment warning order finished off the ambitions for flying as things ramped up work wise. The desire to spend more time with our families, prior to deployment, was more important than the RC helicopters. It also saved money, or in my case made money. I sold all my stuff and never looked back.

 

[MoparClyde]

I flew RC years ago. Many good trainers out there. Do you want to just stick some foam together and go fly, or looking to build one? Great putting a simple one together from a kit, helps when you need to fix it! Find a local RC flying club, someone there can help you learn to fly one. Many clubs have introduction trainers available and have a “buddy box” controller where you can take control while the instructor simply holds a button. If you are getting in trouble, they just let go of the button and they have control. Tower Hobbies has been around a long time and they have good help and articles.

 

[Cranky]

Had a helicopter for a while and liked that thing. And yes flying outside was taking a big chance especially around here where it's never calm. One day a good breeze came and took it over the house and well I just set it down on the roof before it went completely over and possibly out into the street. Got pretty good with it inside the shop though....

 

[Pops1967GTX]

Does anyone fly R/C planes??????

I don’t have any planes.

3D Printed Dodge Challenger R/C Car

 

[Fran Blacker]

Find a R/C club, some will have a club trainer. You can buy a plane that will self correct if you screw up, just let go of controls. You need someone who can fly to get it in the air.