Anyone into R/C airplanes?

[BLINGMW]

Thinking about getting a beginner setup, I have very little experience or know-how. Just wanted to know if there's anyone on here that's into them.

I picked up a couple of these a year or so ago:


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They're like $20-$30 each, 2 channel, no control surfaces, small enough to fly in a small field, large backyard (or warehouse!) and take a lot of abuse. And if you lose one, eh, no big deal. And I have fun flying them! Highly recommended if you've never tried it, pick up one of these. Harbor Freight caries some similar ones.

Any recommendations on a very small gas model I could try? I kind of like the idea of getting something like this, with only a 3 ft wingspan, and putting a tiny gas engine in it:

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Did you know they make supercharged engines? Rotaries? Out of control. 8)

[Goodspeed]

http://www.jkaerotech.com/

Gas/electric powered airplanes made out of foam. Extremely simple, cheap, easy to build. Check out the T-52 trainer. Their P51 combat planes are pretty wild as well. I meant to pick one up some years ago but got into cars instead. One of these days I'll build one though

[BLINGMW]

haha, that's more like it-- they have a 1/20th scale (only a 2 ft wingspan!) P51 with a .061 motor. Tempting!

[mrbaggio]

I know very little about RC planes, but I am interested in learning more. I read this <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.instructables.com/id/EI21NJQF1L8VZQO/">http://www.instructables.com/id/EI21NJQF1L8VZQO/</a><!-- m --> it looks like a cheap/cool project. The guy does say that it is a hard plane to control and might not make a good first plane.

[white_2kgt]

There is no such thing as cheap R/C. I use to be into stadium/monster trucks, those damn things broke more than the mustang and cost just about as much to fix!

[CaptainHenreh]

This is something I've always wanted to get into, but never had the balls.

Maybe next paycheck I'll make my way to the hobby store.

[ScottyB]

i got my cousin an Air Hog Aero Ace for his birthday and play with it more than he does :lol: i'm totally getting one for myself. kinda like what you have Chan -- no control surfaces, two engines for yaw control, really cheap but entertaining.

that plane looks awesome but radio stuff is gonna cost a good bit with 4 channels. i'd suggest an RC glider, might be alot of fun if you can find a good venue to send it up. they are pretty forgiving as far as i understand since you bleed speed off pretty easily.

like some other people here, i've been into RC for a while (bout 15 years i guess) so if you have any questions lemme know. i've been out of it for about 3 years now because of the cost. damn nitro powered truck was bleeding me dry.

[Mike]

a) don't get gas
b) don't bother with 2ch
c) get something made of foam... a glider would be best to learn on. i'll ask my bud what he has... he's got a handful of 'em.

[ScottyB]

a) don't get gas

it's not that bad....i went from about 12 years of running electric cars to my first gas car and it was no problem at all. just don't lean it out.

[.RJ]

just don't lean it out.

You'll blow the welds on your intake!

[HAULN-SS]

My uncle used to be very much into building gas powered RC planes. He had a few pretty awesome models, but basically once you wreck them and realize you're out 50 hours of labor for repairs, it starts to get kind of old I think maybe?

[BLINGMW]

but basically once you wreck them and realize you're out 50 hours of labor for repairs, it starts to get kind of old I think maybe?

I would think so too, that's why I want a cheapo small one that wouldn't make me too upset if/when I hit something. I went and saw the local fliers club saturday, there's a really nice field they fly in. I guess like any hobby, there are some that take it WAY too seriously, with huge, handbuilt planes (and motors!), modified motorcycle trailers to carry them around and all. Needless to say, as it got a bit gusty in the afternoon, they all just sat around staring at eachother.

I thought gas would be cool since you don't have to worry about expensive batteries... and having multiple batteries so you don't have to sit there waiting to charge. But the gas ones have to have a battery of course too, so maybe I'm rethinking that. I just thought the speed and sound was too cool. They clocked this acrobatic wing thing this guy had at 140MPH+.

The contact combat aircraft thing seems pretty wild! :lol:

[Goodspeed]

The contact combat aircraft thing seems pretty wild! :lol:

You think airplane combat is cool, check out RC model warship combat. I really wanted to build one but they can get expensive. They are battleships with balsa hulls, that actually have functioning C02 powered BB "cannons"...they shoot each other and they actually sink. The electronics are kept in water tight cases, so you wade out, retrieve your ship, re skin the hull and go back into battle. I really want to do this someday

[HAULN-SS]

haha..what an awesome picture. are those ships gas powered as well>?

[ScottyB]

Needless to say, as it got a bit gusty in the afternoon, they all just sat around staring at eachother.

LOL....is that the field in salem, near fast freddy's?

if you run gas, just use some good quality rechargable batteries for your reciever and keep tabs on their charge. i ran plain old alkaline's in my RC gas truck and they lasted until i sold the thing a few months after i got it. servos just sip on charge, they are pretty efficient.

any gas motor you use, make sure you rig up a return spring on the throttle. this will automatically pull the throttle plate closed in the event that your batteries either die or get very low. you might not have total control but at least you can either glide the plane in or take solice in the fact that it isn't heading towards the ground at top speed :wink:

[Goodspeed]

haha..what an awesome picture. are those ships gas powered as well>?

No, they typically use 12V electric motors. There used to be a maker of kits called Swampworks but I don't think they are around anymore...I'm not sure who makes them but you can buy plans to build your own, from small destroyers to the Bismarck

[BLINGMW]

that actually have functioning C02 powered BB "cannons"...

ok, where can I order one for a plane? :twisted:

Scott, I don't know where FF is in Salem, but this place was behind Timber Truss just a bit past the Salem Civic Center and such. It's an actual runway, just big enough for a Cessna or ultralight, it gets little use other than the RC club.

[KPWSerpiente]

I started flying sailplanes (gliders) years ago because my dad would build them.

He is a hardcore r/c modeler who is too old to race hydra-planes* like he used to so he now builds sailboats and gliders.

I enjoy smaller sailplanes that can be hand launched because you don't need as large of an area (in NoVa the closest place to do real sailplaning was Bull Run and now I don't think you can go there anymore) as the winch launched variants to fly in. Some of our larger sailplanes have 10 foot wingspans and the logistics involved in getting something that big high enough into the air can be a pain.

The electric park flyer segment of the market is huge now. You can buy a nice small almost ready to fly (little assembly work involved) foam park flier and hit your neighborhood park immediately. Gas ran r/c aircraft are much more hardcore and will require finding an experienced flier to teach you how to fly. If you want to go that route you're best bet is to find a club with a flying field and a buddy program to get you into it.

-T

*a kind of high speed boat in case you were not aware