SO YOU WANT TO JOIN THE HOBBY OF RC FLIGHT : How much money does it cost to get started? A valid and important question. We have two quick answers for that. 1) Total Cost: $0 The most cost effective way to see if you will enjoy flying radio control (rc) aircraft is to go to a local rc flying field and see if you can meet a fellow hobbyist on the field, talk with them, and perhaps fly tandem with someone. Though sometimes this approach is not always feasible, don’t be afraid to try it. Most pilots who have been involved in the hobby for a while will be more then willing to introduce you to this hobby. See if there are any flying fields in your area by going to the Academy of Model Aeronautics web site. We’ve found this location to be a great start when searching for local rc clubs. When you have found a local field, if they have a website with contact information, hit them up! Shoot off an email or make a phone call and arrange a meeting. Foam Flyin Fools recommends the phone call since sometimes the board members of local clubs are a bit slow with technology. 2) Total Cost: approx. $300 Expect to spend around $300 to successfully enter into the world of radio control for the first time. We’re sure there are people who will argue that it can be done cheaper, however, note the word ’successfully’ in our statement. Our point is that the total cost of a Ready-To-Fly kit (RTF) or an Almost-Ready-To-Fly kit (ARF) will likely place you in the area of $150 – $200 for expense. Then add on top of that additional items you’ll need (ex. glue, tape, extra propellers, etc.), and you end up with a bill around $300. If it seems a bit steep, we won’t disagree. But facts are facts, and until it gets cheaper expect to stash some money aside for your first leap into rc airplanes. What kind of airplane should I get? A majority of aspiring pilots have had little or no skill in building any aircraft, so we’re going on the premise that you want to skip weeks of building and get right to flying. Thus we introduce you to the Read-To-Fly kit (RTF) and the Almost-Ready-To-Fly kit (ARF). The biggest difference between the two kit types is that an RTF comes with everything you will need in order to fly. An ARF requires you to do some additional purchasing of equipment (i.e radio, servos, engine, etc.). Currently there are a lot of affordable RTF and ARF kits out for the new hobbyist. We recommend an electric foam flier (a.k.a. foamie) for a first time pilot. Why an electric foamie? Foam fliers are super durable Electric foam fliers are quiet and clean. (No glow engine means less noise and no oil) Foam fliers are harder to destroy and quick to repair. We’re not trying to be mean, but let’s face it, if you are a solo-learner you’re going to slam your first airplane into the ground. And unless you have someone to tandem with we say keep to foam fliers. We do recommend glow power (seriously there much better looking) but unless you have an experienced pilot helping you learn how to fly, you’ll end up with an awesome looking, very expensive, lawn dart. Let’s avoid the sadness, shall we? Stick to foamies for your first solo learning experience. I don’t have any skills. Now What!? Again, valid point. However, Foam Flyin Fools will argue that even if you’ve never flown an r/c airplane there are varying skills from person to person. Example: “Allison, a real world pilot, was interested in flying radio control. So we let her take the controls of our Piper Cub one day. Standing by her side and only verbally assisting her she was able to control the airplane in the sky within two hours! How is this possible? Allison, being a real pilot, has an understanding of how an aircraft responds. Her trouble was just understanding how the radio control worked.” Even though she never got close to landing our Piper Cub, she displayed more skill then most when controlling it in the air. Adversely, someone who has never touched an airplane, flown in one, or has never played a flight video game (which does help hand-eye coordination) will have a difficult time flying for the first time without assistance. Regardless, an airplane that is more forgiving, like a high wing Piper Cub type airplane, would be the aircraft of choice for solo-learning. What you need to understand is that you should match your skills set to the aircraft and then underestimate your skills. Don’t get the awesome electric jet thinking, “…because it’s foam it’ll survive.” Be smart, take it slow, and get an aircraft that successfully matches your beginners skills set. This will give you hours more enjoyment and way less frustration. Besides, an experienced pilot will say that you can always improve your flying skills faster with a training aircraft then with a sweet looking aerobatic airplane. Where can I fly? With today’s park fliers (usually the foam aircraft) your works parking lot or the local high school football field will work great, but we do recommend the largest space possible. Keep in mind that more space = more room for error and time to think. However, if you’re stuck indoors – no worries! You can fly in a big or small spaces with today’s micro aircraft. Even a space the size of your living room will work. Granted, you may not be able to hone your aerobatic skills in the living room, but flying indoors is frequently done all over the world. But if you know you’re ready to enter the world of rc airplanes and are looking to get some serious air time, join a local club. You will need an AMA Membership to join a legitimate flying club that is sanctioned by the Academy of Model Aeronautics. You can pick up your Membership online at the the AMA web site. Keep in mind it usually take 3-4 weeks to get your card. Why should I join the AMA? We won’t even begin to enumerate the reasons why. Under the AMA umbrella you have access to resources, competitions, any rc flying field that is sanctioned by the AMA, the list goes on. But the biggest reason is security. By flying at sanctioned fields with an AMA license you have the comfort of knowing that this is your air space and if something goes wrong (which does at times), or an accident happens at an event, the AMA is there to assist you. It’s a small price to pay (around $50 a year with $50,000 in Liability coverage) to ensure your future as well as the hobby’s future. So what are you saying? Weigh the amount of money you are willing to spend against your skill set, then take into consideration exactly where you’ll be doing a majority of your flying (i.e. Backyard, open field, parking lot, etc.). The outcome will be cost effective, equate to more hours of flying fun, and be way less hassle. Selecting your first rc airplane: Searching for and purchasing your first radio control airplane is exciting, however, at times it can be a bit overwhelming, frustrating, and leave you with questions like: Where do I begin? What should I be looking for? Is this the right rc airplane? Often times beginners overlook important aspects of the hobby when they’re entrenched in the process of purchasing their first rc airplane. We tend to loose focus on key subjects like ease of transportation, storage, and if there is a future investment value in our airplane. Unfortunately many of these things can get shoved to the back of your mind when the focus is on finding and flying the airplane. The following information should be considered guidelines in helping you make the best decisions possible during the process of your first airplane purchase. Which rc trainer is best? This is the most frequently asked question of someone getting into rc airplanes. The shortest answer is this: Any high-wing trainer works well. Regardless of the claims, from either pilot or manufacturer, all high-wing trainers have relatively the same flying characteristics and will behave the same in flight. What makes a great airplane fly is the pilot and their skill. And although there are many claims of ‘teach-yourself-to-fly’ kits, the bottom line is that no rc airplane kit flies itself or can prevent a crash. Only dedicated training with a skilled rc instructor or rc veteran pilot can prevent a possible crash. That being said, the market is saturated with great rc trainers to choose from, so pick one that fits your own personality and your own style. Pick one you like. Glow power or electric? When it comes to choosing the power-plant of your aircraft, and with the latest advancements in rc electric technology, neither glow or electric is better then the other. Instead, what you should look at are the personal pros and cons of using either one and how you, not anyone else, see your future in the world of rc. The number of reasons why one pilot uses glow power over electric or electric over glow power are staggering but most of all it’s a personal preference. Some enjoy the sound of an engine while others enjoy no sound at all. And some like the fact that electric motors are hassle-free, requiring little mechanical knowledge, while others find enjoyment in the challenge of running and maintaining a glow engine and its various parts. Beginners might consider electric flight a bit more because it allows you to get in the air quickly, eliminates the learning curve involved in how to run an engine, and virtually eliminates the possibility of an in-flight engine failure which, for a beginner, can end in disaster. Yet regardless of what you want, one thing will play a serious part in your final decision: price. Be sure to weigh carefully the costs and also be sure to look at the future value of your investment. Ask yourself questions like: Will this power-plant grow with my skills? Can I put it into another aircraft? If it gets damaged, can I fix it and at a cost I can afford? Is the ongoing expense of fuel worth it or do I want to invest in electric power (batteries)? Build a wood kit or assemble from parts? Simplify this decision by asking yourself if you have the space to build an airplane. Building from a wood kit requires time, a sizable work area, and the ability to leave that area ‘under construction’ during the entire building process. Yet for as daunting as that sounds, many people find building their first rc airplane to be a very rewarding and educational experience. If you are looking to get flying faster, you’ll want to consider Almost-Ready-To-Fly (ARFs) or Ready-To-Fly (RTFs) pre-assembled kits. The difference between an ARF and an RTF is that an ARF kit typically does not include the power plant or electronics required (radio/receiver) to fly the aircraft while RTF kits include everything but a flying field. And with most ARF and RTF kits you also have the availability of replacement parts if something were to be damaged beyond repair. Whereas with a wood kit, you’ll need do all repairs on your own and possibly build new parts in the case of a severe accident. Transportation and storage The extent that your rc airplane can be taken apart for ease of transportation and storage may not be in the forefront of your mind initially, but eventually when you find yourself in situations where flying becomes a more frequent event, it will. Look at the kits ability to be broken down into various parts and the ease of assembling these parts time and time again. Does the size of the plane (broken down) fit comfortably into your vehicle for transportation? If you were to purchase another airplane, could they both be transported comfortably? Rc airplanes are bulky and sometimes fragile objects for both storage and transportation, so it’s important to keep size considerations in the front of your mind. Future investment value In the excitement of a first purchase, a beginner to rc airplanes will often overlook the future value in their investment and instead concentrate on what they believe they need right now. And while this is not wrong, you’re possibly selling yourself and your skills short by not considering products that grow as your skills grow. If you can afford to, consider buying electronics and a power plant (i.e. glow engine, electric motor) that you can place into another model, or a larger model at that. Just because you purchase higher quality electronics or a larger sized engine then what your airplane calls for, doesn’t mean that you have to use them to full capacity. Purchasing products with a longer shelf life will save you money in the long run. Other valuable investments are time, patience, and an instructor. Learning to fly rc airplanes does not happen in one day or even one week. It takes a lot of time and most of all, a lot of patience but the rewards for such an approach are ten fold. And by learning from an experienced rc pilot you will easily extend the life of your investment and have a more enjoyable experience entering the world of radio control airplanes.
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 21:01:42 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015