Realflight G3, learn to fly?

[BillLumberg]

Will RF G3 be an adequate tool for learning to fly? I have pretty much zero actual stick time, but I do just fine in FMS with a gamepad. I am an aerospace engineer however, so I definitely know all about flight mechanics, stability, and control. I've even designed a few birds (though only on paper).

I ask because I'm looking to do some research (not on my dime) with AAVs and was thinking of building a Spacewalker RTF, Lancair, Extra, or something else along those lines (80" or so span that can house a few pounds of extra electronics). I've also been designated as the pilot.

So given my current knowledge and experience, can I use G3 to gain sufficient skill to fly an 80 incher (without incident :D )?

[Basketcase]

I would not recommend any sim as your only training tool before flying your "good" plane.

Since you have already been practicing on FMS you probably have the basics down, the thing to do now would be get a fairly large trainer and learn to fly before trying to fly your good plane. Changing to G3 would take you a little farther than FMS but it's still not the same as actually flying.

The Spacewalker might be mellow enough, but the Lancair, and especially the Extra will not be good first planes. :)

Are you planning to go electric or IC?

You're going to need the radio gear anyway so might as well get a cheap trainer to take the first knocks and then transfer the gear to the other plane when you and it are ready. One good large trainer that can be flow either electric or glow is the JK Aerotech Big T (http://www.jkaerotech.com/BigT.htm) but there are plenty of others.

Best of luck,

Wayne

[rutat]

The Multiplex Magister (65" span) also does gas or e-power and is made of Elapor so it will handle the newbie things. http://www2.gpmd.com/image/m/mpua2193.jpg Runs about $150 w/o radio gear. Also available as an RTF for around $300.

[BillLumberg]

Thanks Wayne. So you're saying spend the $200 on hardware, rather than software? Personally, it's not my money so I really don't mind, but there is a budget to keep in mind. I don't need a radio controller, so that should take some of the cost out. Also my advisor/professor (who I'm going to do the research for) already has an assembled 79" Spacewalker. Problem is that it's in Illinois and we're in LA. He's trying to get it shipped out here, but apparently it's taking forever. So I think another Spacewalker is the way to go, since I already have (or will have) access to a spare.

I don't know whether his is IC or electric, but I'm guessing it's IC. I do like the idea of converting it to an electric, but the added weight of the batteries plus the weight of the autonomous hardware might be an issue.

As far as learning to fly, seems like you hit it right on the nose rutat. The Magister can be had as an ARF for about $110, $50 for the motor/prop, $45 for 3 mini servos, $20 for a battery, $40 for a speed controller, $50 for a charger...wow this is getting expensive. Did I miss anything?

[Basketcase]

Hi Bill, exactly. :) You got it.

Maybe a receiver? Unless you already have one with the radio that's not already being used in an airplane.

Don't forget for glow you still need a glowdriver, fuel pump (manual or electric(electric needs a battery)), fuel, starter (& starter battery), charger, and paper towels and windex. :)

With an 80" plane you're pretty much going to have to fly at a regular flying field, so IC or electric is pretty much up to your personal preference. The noise shouldn't be an issue at a club field.

Although it does bring up one more expense and that is membership in the AMA, almost every club requires it to fly at their facilities for insurance purposes.

The Magister Rutat suggested would be a good plane. Here's a couple of other alternatives that would be easier to fly than the Spacewalker. All are trainers with excellent reputations as being easy to fly. Also they'd probably all have more room and carrying capacity than the Spacewalker. I'm not knocking the Spacewalker in any way, they are beautiful airplanes, it's just that I don't think it would make the best trainer. :)

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFG19&P=ML

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXBDE9&P=ML

http://www.hobby-lobby.com/telemaster-xl.htm

Wayne

[Alkaline]

here is a good cheap plane to learn on:
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCXF4**&P=ML
http://www2.gpmd.com/image/t/towa21.jpg
right now you can get one for 227.00 shipped to your house! What a deal I must say... It also comes with everything you need to fly it!
YOu will need some glow fuel and a glow starter, after that you can be flying away. :p :)
remember to use this coupon for 30 off $200.00 dollar purchase:
011N9

[tran1172]

There was an episode of RC Hobbies on the DiY channel about simulators.

A father and his two sons were given a sim and told to practice, practice, practice. After a few weeks, they went out to the field with a high wing gas trainer to see if they could fly having only practiced on a sim.

Transmitter was buddyboxed to an instructor who could bail them out if needed:

Son #1 took off, flew around and landed no problem.

Son #2 had problems with the takeoff so the instructor took off and got the plane to altitude. Kid flew around and managed a bouncy landing.

Dad was the least competent (he probably didn't practice as much as his sons) but still managed to fly around. I believe the instructor took off and landed for him.

So learning to fly an RC plane just by practicing on a sim can be done. Now having said that, if you have never flown before, going from a simulator to a mid or low wing plane might be a bit of a jump. Going from simulator experience only to say a Slow Stick would be cake. Would you be comfortable learning to drive a car using a simulator and then jumping into an Indy car at 200mph? Probably not. But going from a sim into grandma's hand me down 1976 buick practicing in the mall parking lot would be no problem.

[Ryan Archer]

i have gotten really really really good at flying wings using g3, ask chris click or rich about how well i can do it and u might consider practicing on it, thanks, ryan

[BillLumberg]

Okay, so I've been talking about this more with my professor/advisor, basically coming up with a research plan. The thing is we cant just build an AAV. Everyone already has. We need to do something unique. So we've pretty much decided that we should utilize some type of aerobatics or something crazy. I threw out the idea of automating a hover and he seemed to go for it. In that case, we'd need some type of Extra with a potent engine and enough unused space in the fuselage to hold some gyros. I think I'm over my head here. I don't even know how to fly yet, and we're talking about hovering.

Anyhow this is getting off-topic, so I'm gonna move it to the giant scale forum. Thanks for your help guys.

[Basketcase]

Sounds like a fun project. Even in the case of a 3D plane I think you'd be better off building a foamy test bed first before putting a lot of work into a pretty plane and working the bugs out of an experimental system. No matter how well you plan, with the help of Murphy, you're bound to have a minor little tiny speed bump or two. :)

Automating a hover should be pretty easy to do with off the shelf components. And you don't need much room for gyros, the ones used in RC helis are very small. With the size of plane you're talking about you won't even know they are on board.

Another option to check out is the FMA Co-Pilot, I've seen it used on a heli and when turned on the heli can hover hands off. It doesn't have an altitude control but will hold it steady otherwise. www.fmadirect.com/site/wolf/receivers.htm
www.fmadirect.com/site/products.htm?cat=29

Wayne