davidkdk
Member
My beginnings with Flite Test were essentially the same as yours. Some flight in my teens but nothing else for 40+ years. I found the Flite Test videos and was hooked. This is something I've wanted to do all my life. I bought RealFlight 8 with the InterLink-X Controller for RealFlight and spent the winter practicing. Over the winter I also planned and picked my first plane... the Simple Cub... in a 3ch setup.Thank you everyone for your responses. It is nice to see the different ideas. It is also nice to see some details on what I was looking at and why or why not it might meet my needs.
My experience? I flew a Cox control line Piper Cub 65 years ago. Flew-I mean when I could get the engine to start. I have also watched a bunch of Flite Test and R/C Airplane Videos on youtube, does that count for anything?
I had considered the tiny trainer but Customer service steered me towards the Champ. They could not answer my question about using the transmitter that came with that plane with a flight simulator. They pointed me here to this forum for answer and i got it. Thumbs up to Customer service for that. Thumbs up to the folks here for the answer.
So my thought is back to the tiny trainer. Flite test offers a bundle for the Tiny Trainer. https://store.flitetest.com/flite-test-tiny-trainer-get-started-package-flt-5006-bdl/p791873 They offer a 6 channel Spektrum Transmitter as an option. Offering a specific transmitter with the package is important as it would indicate that it will be compatible. If i like this hobby, in time with experienced i would better understand what else i need and what else might work.
I have wanted to try this foam board assembly. It looks to be a very interesting concept. So the Tiny Trainer would fit that need.
So moving onto the next step. How quick is Flite Test Store in processing order? I am going to be out of town all next week. I would hate to order today only to provide the Porch Pirates a new kit next week.
I knew this wasn't going to be a fleeting experiment in RC so I went all in. The Crafty Kit, a SkyRC dual battery charger, a good portable battery tester, Wheels for the landing gear, Foamwerks tools to help with bevels, Spektrum DX9 Transmitter... in short... everything I needed to make the build and fly process as good as it could be. I joined a local flying club paying both local and national dues.
The build process was beyond fun... and almost exactly what the video showed. There are a couple of departures but a few questions here on this forum got me going again.
My first flight was last Wed. night... a windy, gusty, cold night. The club's instructors set up the buddy box for my Simple Cub, the instructor handled the take-off and then handed control over to me. He was a little surprised that I flew pretty good... and then asked if I'd be using a simulator. The whole experience was more than I'd hoped for... it was excellent. The Simple Cub flew beautifully, wind blasting away, and I didn't care. I got into trouble at times and Frank took control, saved me, and handed control right back again explaining what I'd done and what happened. I was hooked... again. Not only was the flight great, but the group of guys at the field were helpful and encouraging... they couldn't have been better.
The Simple Cub was not expensive... but all the extras needed are. Transmitter, charger, batteries, etc. All the extras are essentially permanent items and so they are a one time expense.
If you're just testing the waters, and you want to build yourself (almost as much fun as flying) then the Tiny Trainer Starter kit, plus the Crafty Kit, is a really good start. Good luck.