Bumpy start but have finally found a good starter plane!

JosephHacker

New member
I've always loved RC airplanes. They are more interesting than drones in my opinion because most drones just hover in one spot and take cinematic video.
(racing drones excluded).
I finally saved up my money and got a FT Mighty Mini Mustang. I saw people saying it was not a good choice for beginners but as the FT Mini Mustang is the cheapest plane on the FT store I got it. I bought the plane speed build kit, then Power Pack A. This was the first foam plane I had ever built, actually it was the first plane I ever had. After building it I tried to fly it but was having very bad luck. It being the first foamboard plane I ever made, things were a bit wonky. It would always turn over and crash into the ground after hand launching it. When I did get it into the air it was extremely hard to keep stable and loved to tip to the right and nose dive on its own. Also it was nearly impossible to tell what direction it was going at some angles of viewing. I have an image of the plane in the air and you genuinely cannot tell the direction. Anyway after many crashes I put an FPV camera on it. That made waaaaaay easier to fly and keep level. I still crashed it though, and one particularly bad cartwheel totaled the plane. I got a second speedbuild kit of the same plane. I wanted to take it off using a landing gear since you would have a more slow and controlled ascent into the air. I tried to take off from my street at home and when it did finally get into the air I promty crashed it onto a neighbors roof right as it started to rain. I was frustrated with the plane because I could never fly it properly. So I ripped the servos out and saved them for a new plane.

I got the FT Tiny Trainer. It being a trainer, I though it would be good for me as I am terrible at flying planes. Built it, and took it outside for the maiden....

IT WORKED SO WELL!! The plane has a finger hole for launching and its easy to chuck it into the air like a unpowerd glider! I built the glider wings with the polyhedral angles. It naturally flies level! It can be flown at low speeds, and when using only 3 channels it's so much easier to control! As for durability, its wonderful! Two layers of foam at the nose and a nice long body. Also the wing is fastened with rubber bands so it just moves in a crash instead of crunch and smush. I finally have a working, awesome Radio Control Plane. I am very happy know and can't wait to fly it more! The only crashes I've had with it have been my fault for using too much rudder or elevator.

I hope to get good at flying this plane in all it's forms, then I will continue to other, more complicated planes. I look forward to many awesome times flying RC Planes!
 

The Hangar

Fly harder!
Mentor
Yay! I know that feeling because I felt it with my old speedster after failing with the simple cub (which now I can fly!) Have fun - it sure is an awesome hobby! Good luck!
 

FDS

Elite member
Well done! Glad you got airborne. There’s lots of TT mods too, so it can evolve a bit with your flying.
 

basslord1124

Master member
Awesome...and an excellent choice with the Tiny Trainer. It is a very versatile plane from beginner to more advanced flying. Welcome to the hobby! If you continue keeping at it with the Tiny Trainer eventually you can give the Mustang a try again.
 

JosephHacker

New member
I will be trying the mustangs again one day, but once I can build it evenly. It’s really a beautiful plane I’m just a bad pilot.
 

Headbang

Master member
I will be trying the mustangs again one day, but once I can build it evenly. It’s really a beautiful plane I’m just a bad pilot.
Progression can happen quick. Once you feel good with the tiny trainer, build the sport wing and get comfy with that. Once you can do sustained flight, get used to flying toward yourself and then work towards doing figure eights while keeping the plane at the same altitude. Once you have that you very well may be good to go for the mustang again!
 

JosephHacker

New member
Thanks for the tips! I’ve only crashed the tiny trainer once when flying because I lost my orientation when it got too far. It landed in a mud puddle :( it’s fine now though I blew the motor out with compress air.
 

Ketchup

4s mini mustang
Thanks for the tips! I’ve only crashed the tiny trainer once when flying because I lost my orientation when it got too far
You could try painting the trainer. You could put stripes on the wings or make each part a different color for orientation. Use bright colors though!
 

JosephHacker

New member
I did that!
A0B7D8A1-2B56-4B2B-9634-53B6F4F7CA43.jpeg
Simple craft spray paint from hobby lobby. Looks good and helps with discerning the direction sometimes!
 

Headbang

Master member
I did that! View attachment 140811 Simple craft spray paint from hobby lobby. Looks good and helps with discerning the direction sometimes!
I honestly would not be able to see that paint scheme in the air, it would just be all black to me. I tend to do yellow on the top and black and white stripes on the bottom. I use cheap acrylic paint as well, works well.
 

Headbang

Master member
Here is a classic example of my most common paint scheme. The top is always yellow mainly, the trim changes between planes.
20190618_114802.jpg 20190618_114821.jpg
 

Corbarrad

Active member
Another glowing endorsement for the tiny trainer.
Glad you found something that works for you.

Your Mustang was probably tail heavy in addition to its geometry being off as you mentioned. That makes things very unstable.
Taking off from the ground sounds like a good idea on paper but with the small size of the mini mustang ground friction becomes a major factor. Add the instability and lack of control authority due to low air speed, torque effects and once you actually get off the ground being in and ot of ground effect and you got the perfect setup for disaster.
 

charlesrc2

Active member
I've always loved RC airplanes. They are more interesting than drones in my opinion because most drones just hover in one spot and take cinematic video.
(racing drones excluded).
I finally saved up my money and got a FT Mighty Mini Mustang. I saw people saying it was not a good choice for beginners but as the FT Mini Mustang is the cheapest plane on the FT store I got it. I bought the plane speed build kit, then Power Pack A. This was the first foam plane I had ever built, actually it was the first plane I ever had. After building it I tried to fly it but was having very bad luck. It being the first foamboard plane I ever made, things were a bit wonky. It would always turn over and crash into the ground after hand launching it. When I did get it into the air it was extremely hard to keep stable and loved to tip to the right and nose dive on its own. Also it was nearly impossible to tell what direction it was going at some angles of viewing. I have an image of the plane in the air and you genuinely cannot tell the direction. Anyway after many crashes I put an FPV camera on it. That made waaaaaay easier to fly and keep level. I still crashed it though, and one particularly bad cartwheel totaled the plane. I got a second speedbuild kit of the same plane. I wanted to take it off using a landing gear since you would have a more slow and controlled ascent into the air. I tried to take off from my street at home and when it did finally get into the air I promty crashed it onto a neighbors roof right as it started to rain. I was frustrated with the plane because I could never fly it properly. So I ripped the servos out and saved them for a new plane.

I got the FT Tiny Trainer. It being a trainer, I though it would be good for me as I am terrible at flying planes. Built it, and took it outside for the maiden....

IT WORKED SO WELL!! The plane has a finger hole for launching and its easy to chuck it into the air like a unpowerd glider! I built the glider wings with the polyhedral angles. It naturally flies level! It can be flown at low speeds, and when using only 3 channels it's so much easier to control! As for durability, its wonderful! Two layers of foam at the nose and a nice long body. Also the wing is fastened with rubber bands so it just moves in a crash instead of crunch and smush. I finally have a working, awesome Radio Control Plane. I am very happy know and can't wait to fly it more! The only crashes I've had with it have been my fault for using too much rudder or elevator.

I hope to get good at flying this plane in all it's forms, then I will continue to other, more complicated planes. I look forward to many awesome times flying RC Planes!


Well I have a high wing trainer I built that I can make smaller if you would like to try to build it. Here is a picture of it.
 

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