Just a quick note of advice here, coming from a fellow computer engineer. Actually flying an aircraft is much different that understanding how an airplane works. Buying a sturdy BNF or RX-R ready plane will give you the opportunity to spend more time flying, and the more you fly the better pilot you'll be. Its that simple, no knowledge of airplane mechanics, or theory of flight will make you a better pilot. Its hard to explain but its more a feeling than a cerebral activity. After you've got the flight experience down, then tweak and build planes to your heart's content. At least at that point you'll know its more likely something that is wrong with your design, and it isn't pilot error.

An old farmer in our flying club admitted that he wished he had BNFs and ARFs when he started in R/C. He said it would have been so much easier for him to be successful and enjoy the hobby from the start.

-Heath

Originally Posted by dumb_thumbs

Actually flying an aircraft is much different that understanding how an airplane works. Its that simple, no knowledge of airplane mechanics, or theory of flight will make you a better pilot. Its hard to explain but its more a feeling than a cerebral activity. After you've got the flight experience down, then tweak and build planes to your heart's content. At least at that point you'll know its more likely something that is wrong with your design, and it isn't pilot error.

-Heath

Gotta disagree to some extent here. When I learned to fly full scale a lot of book learning was about what makes an airplane fly. Not so much about internal mechanics but about flight controls and aerodynamics.

I had maybe 1/2 hour of sim time before flying my first RC plane, a 4 channel UM T-28, and I didn't crash it for many flights. All knowledge is good to have.

Bob,
You do bring up one of the finer points that I did gloss over, however, I still stand by my point, and that is that one needs to learn to actually fly (through a combination of theory and practice), and the quickest way to learn to fly RC today is using a foam BNF/RX-R/RTF plane. Anything else you throw onto that (such as flight theory, SIMs etc) is just gravy

I do concede that there are many different learning styles and approaches to learning something new. Although it sounds like I'm saying my way is the only way I don't really think that , just offering some advice I followed to help me from getting sidetracked and to help keep things in perspective. Engineers have a tendency to get caught in the details

-Heath

Originally Posted by 600Bob

Gotta disagree to some extent here. When I learned to fly full scale a lot of book learning was about what makes an airplane fly. Not so much about internal mechanics but about flight controls and aerodynamics.

I had maybe 1/2 hour of sim time before flying my first RC plane, a 4 channel UM T-28, and I didn't crash it for many flights. All knowledge is good to have.

That is the difference between full scale and RC flight. Full scale flight is a cerebral activity, which is why folks like me tend to be good at it, but flying RC is a quick-jerk activity, instinct-driven, more suited to jocks than geeks. Follow? RC is a physical sport - building planes is a mental sport. Your knowledge of airplane engineering and aerodynamics is 90% worthless when you are flying - but it's critical if you are building something.

There is a reason why experienced flight instructors such as myself still continue to recommend the Super Cub, even though we are fully aware of the other options. Around here at my work, we have a philosophy about this kind of argument - you have the choice of either listening to the experts and taking their word for it, or you can become the expert yourself but are asked not to comment until that time. So, as a beginner, you might think something is off here, but you don't have the expert experience level to say what it is, and you're stuck with having to take our word for it. Trust me, there is nothing wrong with the Super Cub, and a lot of things right with it.

There's plenty you can learn from an RTF Super Cub - one thing you might learn is that you don't like this hobby - so it's not bad to go with the cheap radio for now. If you continue with the hobby, you can get a better radio and use the little one as a trainer box.

Also, on the Bixler - it's just an airframe, and that is hard to screw up. HobbyKing is fine in that case - there will be minor quality issues, but there will be minor quality issues with any airplane after the first flight with a beginner on the sticks, anyway

IMO, the best plane to learn on is the Slow Stick. It is slow, big, cheap, flies well, and easily repaired, all the necessities of a newbie. You have to put it together more than the other models mentioned, it is not a RTF or Kit that takes days to put together, somewhere inbetween. There are thousands of posts on the mods you can do and plenty of people to help if you get stuck.

There are a lot of people on here that have had good luck with floater jets, champs, and super cub. I have flown all of them and they all fly well and serve their purpose, but the Slow Stick flies better than all of them, IMO. Many dont like it because it doesnt look like a real plane, but functionality, vs looks, is the most important quality when you are learning.

Get the best radio that you can afford with multiple model memory and you are set.

I will also admit that my first RC heli and planes were either RTF of BNF, just the best way to test the waters. I also know that building a heli made me more comfortable with flying it because I understood more about how it worked.

I think flying full scale helped with my RC because I knew how to fly a pattern and how stalls develop and the importance of co-ordinated turns in slow flight and what a rudder is for.

Wow, 2 pages of replies in just one day, that's awesome, thank you guys! I've read everything but don't have time to respond thoughtfully at the moment, it's almost 2am and I have to go to bed now, so will answer everyone tomorrow. Thanks again!

My advice would be to buy a piper cub kit (foam). That way you can choose whatever tx/rx u want, and customize the power plant to your needs. Just make sure u do your research when choosing a motor/prop/esc/battery setup.

Some other option: gws tigermoth 400http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXCGKX&P=0

I have the Super Cub BNF version (for the same reasons that others have posted). I wanted to invest in a better Tx system rather than use the DX4 that comes with the RTF version.

After extensive practive on a sim (I use the Phoenix RC during bad-weather or other "down-time") I took it out to the field and following the advice of a fellow club member, disabled the ACT. Take-off was ropey (the Cub readily tips ass-over-nose on bumpy surfaces) but flying was a dream (once I got to a reasonable altitude). Landings were also a little problematic (again for the ass-over-nose tendency of the plane) but with over-travel on the elevator and full elevator (zero throttle) on approach, the plane pretty much lands itself.

The thing I love the most about that plane is that if I forget myself and my "jedi-training" when flying and feel an impending screw-up, I just let go of the sticks and even without ACT, the plane corrects itself.

As a first plane I think you could do a lot worse. I retrofitted an E-Flite outrunner motor, ESC and receiver to mine to give it more power. The battery doesn't last as long (naturally), but it will now happily do loops and other basic aerobatics (that the stock engine didn't appear to be able to handle).

Oh, one last thing; the wing edges are fairly vulnerable on hard landings, so I fitted gaffer tape to the leading edges and tips to protect them. Still flies great.

I agree with CodeJock on almost all points.

"invest in a better Tx system rather than use the DX4 that comes with the RTF version." Yessir, spot on.

"disabled the ACT" That is a MUST DO! I even yanked all of the parts, clean out of the plane.

"I fitted gaffer tape to the leading edges " I think that is duct tape, so I disagree there. Clear packing tape looks a bit better and is lighter.

George - these folks have good recent practice with a beginner plane so it is good that you have asked their opinions. IMHO, there are few planes as easy to learn on than the S Cub. Parts are easy to get and it lends itself to meaningful mods. Motor, flat wing, ailerons all make it a "new" plane with minimal investment.

Don

So after analyzing all that was said above I'm leaning towards buying Super Cub BNF and DX6i.
It seems like DX6i TX only is Out Of Stock in many stores right now though, and regardless I was wondering should I rather invest in DX7 or DX8? Will I ever need more than 6 channels?
Thanks everyone who voted for Super Cub (jasmine2501, dkrhardy, Tony K, Rayne, CodeJock)

GooberSB and dumb_thumbs, yeah, I've been thinking about it and now I tend to agree, I should start with something that will let me fly sooner rather than later, and only then learn how it works internally.

balsa or carbon, seems like a great plane to learn too, but.. i don't know, isn't it TOO slow? I guess that's what beginner needs, but I want something at least as fast as Super Cub

dedStik, Bixler does look like a good plane for me too, but for some reason I like Super Cub better. I don't know. Maybe the prop is too small? Sounds stupid I guess but that's how I feel.

600Bob, thanks for the links. I will consider these planes once I have some experience. I want to buy something relatively popular for my first plane so that it's easier to get support here on rcgroups if needed.

Thanks to all others who I haven't mentioned, there's a lot of information to absorb at once, I'm reading all the reviews about the models you mentioned

Originally Posted by georgekronberg

So after analyzing all that was said above I'm leaning towards buying Super Cub BNF and DX6i.
It seems like DX6i TX only is Out Of Stock in many stores right now though, and regardless I was wondering should I rather invest in DX7 or DX8? Will I ever need more than 6 channels?
Thanks everyone who voted for Super Cub (jasmine2501, dkrhardy, Tony K, Rayne, CodeJock)

You're quite welcome, the super cub is a good beginner plane, once you get more comfortable flying it you can mod the wings, stick ailerons on it and learn to fly 4-channel.

The DX6i is a nice radio to get started with and for some it's all they need. The DX7s and DX8 are also great radios with plenty of additional features (including virtually unlimited model memory w/ the SD card slot compared to the DX6i's 10). How many channels you may need largely depends on you and the sort of planes/heli's you're hoping to fly eventually. Also realize there's more to a radio than just the number of channels it has. It is a lot to take in all at once, just keep reading and eventually it'll all make sense.

As far as getting your hands on a DX6i in Canada, I'm afraid I'm not familiar with Canadian retailers.

Ok, I've just ordered HobbyZone Super Cub DSM RTF HBZ7400. Will worry about better TX later. Hope to get it before weekend

Originally Posted by georgekronberg

Ok, I've just ordered HobbyZone Super Cub DSM RTF HBZ7400. Will worry about better TX later. Hope to get it before weekend

Great, if you haven't already, take a little time and read the six keys to success. Remember to read the manual, make sure the cg is correct and the control surfaces are all flush with the stabilizers (with the battery plugged in). Find a good size field free of obstacles and stay away from trees (speaking from personal experience). Lastly, TURN OFF ACT before you go to fly. You'll be better off without it. Good luck.

I've read all the stickies the first day I registered here but I will re-read it again. Thanks for advice about cg and stabilizers (I'm not even sure yet for the latter is to be honest).