squishy
Pirate ParkFlyer
The Cheap-N-Easy is a great beginner airplane, it's flown with only three channels and is known as a RET airplane (Rudder, Elevator, Throttle). This is the 1st airplane I could keep up for and fly when I was a beginner and it helped me gain confidence because it was so easy to build and fly, not to mention it can take many crashes before you need to build a new one. It's built with one or two pieces of foam board from the dollar tree and can be stiffened up using bamboo skewers found at the grocery store. I built mine exclusively with hot glue and I double up the foam near the front to resist crashes, you may wish to do the same. I have attached the plans below, you do not cut this one out, you actually measure on the foam board and draw with a straight edge then cut, it's that's easy. If you have any questions feel free to ask them here or read through the RCgroups thread for more details.
Parts list (Squishy's recommendation)
A couple sheets of 20" x 30" DollarTree foam
1/8" hardwood dowel (LHS or hardware store)
GWS or equivalent stick motor mount, RC country sometimes has these in stock (like: http://www.graysonhobby.com/catalog/brushless-stick-motor-mount-plastic-p-141.html?osCsid=12cb5932af786cc66b15985f8d5262f0)
piano wire or push rods from RC country
good tape for the hinges, the scotch strapping tape from office depot
x2 9g servos (your choice)
x2 servo extension wire (if needed)
9 x 5 propeller (get a few, you will break these)
wobbly prop adapter (to safe your motor in the event of a crash) http://www.graysonhobby.com/catalog/wobbly-adapter-propsaver-p-1001.html?osCsid=12cb5932af786cc66b15985f8d5262f0
I run mine on 1000mah 3 cell, 20c, you may want to buy a few of these because depending on how much you wish to fly before recharging.
This is the ideal power setup, but any motor that turns a 9x5 prop and can mount to a stick will work.
Power combo (Motor and ESC):
http://www.graysonhobby.com/catalog/brushless-outrunner-motor-gh2208-series-p-334.html?osCsid=12cb5932af786cc66b15985f8d5262f0
The center of gravity is right at the prop.
Plans (also attached to the thread)
Videos of me flying the CnE back when I was learning to scratch build, this was my trainer:
Original RCgroups plans and thread by rcrich, he is from Chester NY.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1261273&highlight=cheap+n+easy&page=1
