Thread: Anyone fly model aircraft?

Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

So, do you fly at PRAMS? That's my club.

Nope, have flown there a few times. We live just up the road from there actually but are members at TMAC and also Coolum.

Too many trees at PRAMS for this black duck!

Originally Posted by Peter_OZ

Nope, have flown there a few times. We live just up the road from there actually but are members at TMAC and also Coolum.

Too many trees at PRAMS for this black duck!

Fair enough! That field can understandably give that impression I have strained numerous models through trees over the years.

As my Dad and I were involved from the beginning with the field (I placed the strips) I'm quite used to it though and got better with it. Having said that landing a f3a model in there on a calm day was a bit of a challenge often requiring a bit of sideslipping to wash off speed.

Originally Posted by RobHay

Great...another North Brissy member...of course you will have to get a Military Series.......so we can form a convoy and rule the Highway

hmm maybe a WWII fighter will have to do! Had enough of driving military landies in my ronny raaf days!

Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

Fair enough! That field can understandably give that impression I have strained numerous models through trees over the years.

As my Dad and I were involved from the beginning with the field (I placed the strips) I'm quite used to it though and got better with it. Having said that landing a f3a model in there on a calm day was a bit of a challenge often requiring a bit of sideslipping to wash off speed.

yes the east / west runway is ok but the north south is nightmare, especially if on fianls from the north

put my astrohog into the top of a tree on south approach a few years back, had to shake the tree with the fourbie to get it out, fell out tail first and of course broke it off. All fixed and still flying it.

mmm 20 - 30 lbs of WWII fighter do not take too kindly to sideslipping!:

Originally Posted by Peter_OZ

mmm 20 - 30 lbs of WWII fighter do not take too kindly to sideslipping!:

Yep... those type of aeroplanes can be a bit of a handfull. Once the rudder is on just a fraction too much elevator and by the time you could think "snap-roll" you'd have completed a 1.5 snap into the runway. Not a good look.

Even doing this manoeuvre with a patternship you really had to know when to get of the rudder and elevator. However it must be intrinsically safe as I learnt it in full size gliding (where it's part of the training program) and only adapted it to F3A models after that.

Anyway... I'm right there with you. If I had any big scale stuff I'd go to coolum too.

Could anyone suggest a good starting package for a learner, I use to fly control line planes as a kid, and raced RC boats for a while. I was thinking something like these electric park fliers might be a easy starting point. I know alot of the RTF packages have real cheap radio gear in them however.

Your thoughts?

Originally Posted by RR5L

Could anyone suggest a good starting package for a learner, I use to fly control line planes as a kid, and raced RC boats for a while. I was thinking something like these electric park fliers might be a easy starting point. I know alot of the RTF packages have real cheap radio gear in them however.

Your thoughts?

To be honest, I don't think they are good value. If you just want to go down to the park and do some crashing occasionally that's all good. However if you really want to learn to fly you should go to a proper club and buy a proper glow trainer.

I've seen a lot of people buy these park flyers. They are typically difficult to repair and rely on you buying parts. Each time they come with a complete setup so as they get beaten up you either spend lots on parts or buy more of them. My experience has shown that when everything is added up it's usually cheaper or at least no more expensive to go the conventional route.

An example is a mate of mine and his nephews. They would buy park flyers and bits... go down the park and keep working on it. Every month or two there would be a new one. $50 in parts... another $200 for a new plane. They ended up spending lots of money in little bits here and there and only sort of learned to fly.

So, I decided it was time to intervene! I helped them get slope soarers. They bought cheap radio, but at least good planes. With a bit of training they were away. All of a sudden they were getting 3 hours flying a week... and it wasn't costing them anything. This contrasted to 10 minutes at the controls and then a trip to the hobby shop. More importantly they were having way more fun.

Since then I've actually taught them to fly power and they are now onto their second planes and having fun. They are still flying gliders a lot and enjoying that too.

As to the park flyers themselves, some of them do fly ok, but if you want them to last they need a experienced pilot. Also, they need to fly in near calm conditions and most learners can't help themselves and go flying in too much wind.

Originally Posted by RR5L

Could anyone suggest a good starting package for a learner, I use to fly control line planes as a kid, and raced RC boats for a while. I was thinking something like these electric park fliers might be a easy starting point. I know alot of the RTF packages have real cheap radio gear in them however.

Your thoughts?

it will depend on what you see yourself flying in say 5 years. Park flyers are ok for a lark but not for serious flying, you will not learn the intricies of flying, especially take off and landing with one of those. The wing loading is so low that virtually anyone can get them down in 1 piece.

Now is my opinion so bear with me.

Go for a 40 - 45 size high wing trainer, something like the Thunder tiger Pegasus ~$190 is agreat choice, they are durable, have landing gear that can be removed with snap locks for ease of putting in the car and the airfoil section while making a docile plane makes it also fully aerobatic, even inverted flight is possible.
My wife flies one and has been flying it for about 5 years now. Covering is a bit brittle but nothing clear packing tape can't fix.

Motor, Lots of cheap options there. Super Tigre GS-40 is agood choice, very reliable and cheap to purchase - about ~$110.

Servos. DO NOT SCRIMP ON SERVOS. IF you can afford say JR then pay the extra. Something like analog 591 or similar. ~$120 for four.

Battery pack, 6V, 1100mAh ~$40

Good quality heavy duty JR switch ~ $40

ok that is a start. Then you need your ground equipment. 12v battery, electric starter, fuel can, fuel pump, glow clip, spare glow plugs, rubber bands to hold wing on, tools etc etc.

JR radio set vary from the budget model at about $250 through to top of the range at about $2500. Buy what you can afford but remember if you stay in the hobby you will need an advanced radio down the track sooner then later. JR 9X VII is agreat radio, couple it with a JR R770 Synthesised PCM RX and you are in bsuiness. Or go up to a 10 channel RX such as the DS10.

Budget say $1500 which is plane, motor, radio and a modest assortment of ground equipment. Talk to guys in the clubs and get advice, join a club and be taught to minimun of Bronze wing standard.

all the best.

Cheers
Peter

ps PM me if you need further advice