So, I'm new to R/C Planes, but spent my pre-driver's license days racing off-road buggies - everything from the lowly Grasshopper to a JRX2 to a Kyosho Burns. The latter is a 4wd nitro powered buggy that went like 50MPH. So, I at least have the inherent left and right are relative to the direction the vehicle is pointed thing down. Anyway, I always wanted to get into R/C Flying, but in 1990, it was EXPENSIVE. I looked at it last-year but got distracted until I found flite-test. You guys rule. I've always been into open-source and DIY type stuff and believe most Americans BUY way too much crap. I've also been in DIY punk/garage/surf bands for almost 20 years now and toured extensively under our own budget and FT reminds me of both the open source and DIY music movement. You guys have taken something in which there's always been a daunting learning curve at the beginning and made it much more simple and accessible. You also made it affordable and your videos make me believe I can build something that flies and fix it when I break it - I broke enough O/R cars to know this - I think I made Kyosho's quarterly numbers the year I started taking my Burns to the BMX track just in replacement front A-Arms alone.
Anyhow, my dad and I have both been interested in R/C for awhile and I think we're ready to make our first stab at a flyable airplane. I also spent a lot of time building hot rods and did a LOT of bodywork on cars they don't make panels for any more ('58 Olds), so this posterboard seems like it should be similar, just easier to cut and join. I think we're either going to scratch-build or order a speed-build kit and copy all the part onto Dollar Tree (we have those in Cincy, too) foam-board - I went and bought ten sheets today - for WHEN we break it. At a buck a sheet, how could I go wrong? So, we're looking at first planes. I like the spitfire, but from the videos, I'm hearing low-wing is bad for a starter as are warbirds. Am I correct in the dihedral and undercambered wings on this making it not quite a warbird in the 'warbirds are bad first planes' sense because it's not an exact copy of the wing geometry? Also, it's called a beginner plane in the description. I wanted a transmitter that would grow with me and had a few Amazon award points that I get from work instead of being paid OT - not 1:1 - more like work 100 hours/week for three weeks to avoid a penalty in our contract with this client and save the company a $2m penalty on their hosting costs and get $100 in Amazon points - and bought a nice new Spektrum DX5e w/receiver. This seemed nice and the right amount of channels for what I'm interested in, which is mostly flying around with my dad, but not banking and yanking forever. If not the spitfire, what then? The Old Fogey? I do like that it has landing gear, as I intend to practice taxiing and short take-offs/landings for a bit ala the Beginner Series video before going for my first try at taking off. Ultimately, I'd like something like the Mustang. I like WWII-era planes and WWI-era biplanes more than the new stuff. Although, the A-10 warthog's still pretty awesome and still in service. Anyhow, where do I go from here? Is the spitfire going to ruin my intro to this hobby or if I'm willing to put it back together a few times, will I be able to learn to fly with it? I'd like to build my own, as I'll know how to fix it. The idea of making my own wing that actually provides enough lift to get the plane off the ground is cool to me. So, what do you guys think?
Anyhow, my dad and I have both been interested in R/C for awhile and I think we're ready to make our first stab at a flyable airplane. I also spent a lot of time building hot rods and did a LOT of bodywork on cars they don't make panels for any more ('58 Olds), so this posterboard seems like it should be similar, just easier to cut and join. I think we're either going to scratch-build or order a speed-build kit and copy all the part onto Dollar Tree (we have those in Cincy, too) foam-board - I went and bought ten sheets today - for WHEN we break it. At a buck a sheet, how could I go wrong? So, we're looking at first planes. I like the spitfire, but from the videos, I'm hearing low-wing is bad for a starter as are warbirds. Am I correct in the dihedral and undercambered wings on this making it not quite a warbird in the 'warbirds are bad first planes' sense because it's not an exact copy of the wing geometry? Also, it's called a beginner plane in the description. I wanted a transmitter that would grow with me and had a few Amazon award points that I get from work instead of being paid OT - not 1:1 - more like work 100 hours/week for three weeks to avoid a penalty in our contract with this client and save the company a $2m penalty on their hosting costs and get $100 in Amazon points - and bought a nice new Spektrum DX5e w/receiver. This seemed nice and the right amount of channels for what I'm interested in, which is mostly flying around with my dad, but not banking and yanking forever. If not the spitfire, what then? The Old Fogey? I do like that it has landing gear, as I intend to practice taxiing and short take-offs/landings for a bit ala the Beginner Series video before going for my first try at taking off. Ultimately, I'd like something like the Mustang. I like WWII-era planes and WWI-era biplanes more than the new stuff. Although, the A-10 warthog's still pretty awesome and still in service. Anyhow, where do I go from here? Is the spitfire going to ruin my intro to this hobby or if I'm willing to put it back together a few times, will I be able to learn to fly with it? I'd like to build my own, as I'll know how to fix it. The idea of making my own wing that actually provides enough lift to get the plane off the ground is cool to me. So, what do you guys think?
