ARTICLE on What Plane to recommend as a 1st plane

[Patrick Plawner]

Hi

In cooperation between BungyMania, Electron and the help of many Electric RC Pilots, we build an article related to the on-going question: "Which plane to recommend as a 1st Plane"

We selected about 20 planes, from the most spoken/used/famous about and we put them to the test, with a rank, for each criteria. 22 Criteria so a maximum of 220 pts. Then Rated

Results regarding the first 12 planes are on-line

http://bungymania.com/beginners/index.html (in French)
http://www.plawner.net/3/1st_plane/ (in English)






Please, share all possible feedback,
Bernard & Patrick

[Warden]

where can I get similar plane holder? j/k

Nice job. Very well done.

However you dont have one plane which will be # 1 if you compare it by Easy to build - value for money - easy to fly - crash resistance.

T-hawk by Toytx. I agree that Easy star is next after Thawk. its just cant compete with Thawk in value for money paid.

And ofcourse you got some plains that i will not buy even with 1-2 years of experience.....

[Jurgen Heilig]

Well done guys,

A lot of work and effort went into this project and I think the results are pretty fair. Other models will follow for sure, and last but not least it is up to the potential beginner to add some "personal multipliers" to the point scheme.

The T-Hawk mentioned above comes with a 27MHz radio - that may work for some guys, but I would prefer a system which is exclusive to model aeroplanes (In Germany the T-Hawk is sold with 35MHz radio).

Jürgen

[Patrick Plawner]

Hi Warden,


we will try to add it, or find a way to gather enough data on the T-hawk and many other possible planes.

We already got some, just not enough to include it on this first stage.


Cheers,
Patrick.

[Patrick Plawner]

Thanks Jurgen,


Warden, one more thing. I don't know the T-hawk, but I am not sure it would come 1st, if you would run it by all the possible criteria.

I mean, it is difficult to anticipate, before you actually perform 1 to 1 tests, and measures, and compare to all levels.

If we can try it, we'll see

[Warden]

well take a look at www.toytx.com

We can have different opinions on what to recomend to beginer.

As a beginner I need less headache with assembling and preparing to fly. As a beginner I might be dont know all this Cg point calculation. I might be 12-15 years old beginner.

All I want as a beginner is to take my plane to the field and fly it. As a beginner I can smack my plane and breake a wing or tail or propeler and I will be happy to find spare one in the package and not to wait and pay extra for parts.

I need something with "PLUG and PLAY" technology. Install the battery and fly away.

I can tell you that as a beginner I want to stay away from tractor planes becayse when I hit the ground nouse first I breake proppel and i also may break gearbox or whatever they got in front...

I dont want to fly Super Big and Heavy Magister as a beginner. Imagine total n00b trying to fly his very first flight with 5lb Magister. I cant imagine anyone that brave.....

So I think some planes in your article simple cant be BEGINNERS or first planes....Second plane yes, third plane yes...but not the very first.

T-hawk is basicaly "charge battery and attach wing" plane. No extra adjusting. Wich is important for beginners.

T-hawk doesnt need CG point calculating. Another headache gone for beginner.

Performance. You have to try it to tell. Its hard to explain. Its just so easy to fly......

I put Easy star second because of "Value for the price paid" and extra assembling CG point calculating. You are getting more extra/spare parts with Thawk.

Its more convinient to transport Thawk than Easy star since stock Easy Star tail will not fit in stock box. SInce tail glued to the fuse.

I agree that 27Mhz radio can be a weak point for some pilot with experience. But for beginner it doesnt matter - main point for beginner is to actualy fly the plane with minimum hassle.

Value for money is outstanding.

[TeddyV]

But for beginner it doesnt matter

Matters to this beginner - I went for a Slow Stick (Hitec Laser-4 w/ 555 rx) but after reading the report and other posts on the site might add an EasyStar as well.

[Warden]

Slow Stick IMO is not a good first plane. It is a GOOD FIRST PLANE TO BUILT.

[Hivoltage]

Yes...I too need a similar plane holder.

[bass3587]

Thanks Jurgen for putting up this post as it was very informative. I tend to agree a bit with Warden on the T-hawk. I have the ABC and I would have bought the T-hawk first if I had came to this site and read about it.

[Treetop]

Great job guys. I am sure you will get around to testing the THawk and it seems to be a good beginners plane. My only problem would be the radio, as flying other fm 27 mhz, as my first three planes I experienced "hits". Since going to 72 mhz fm, I have had no problems at all. I do have a dual channel receiver and live in a "high electronic traffic" area.

I personally have an EZ star, and must also say the plane is more durable than the firebird types. On my firebird II, the reciever went bad (after a crash). I would certainly recommend the T Hawk over the firebirds, as I spent a lot of money on replacement wings and parts, and on the T Hawk you can replace parts in the fuse. However, I haven't broken anything on the EZ star that I couldn't glue back together with CA and kicker. I did break the wing spar, but I now just use a 5/16 " dowel (hardwood) in it's place.

So it is up to the buyer, as I cannot personally say the EZ star is better than the T Hawk, however, neither can someone who has a T Hawk, but no EZ star say the T Hawk is better.

One other caveat, is the EZ star with standard throws is not suited to a small field if you are a beginner in my opinion. Since I have increased the rudder throws, it is not a problem. If all you have is a baseball field to fly on, perhaps for the first flights you could drive to a larger field, until you get the plane trimmed and get used to it. I think the Pico cub, T-ifo, beaver or slowstick might be more appropriate for a smaller field, however all these have other drawbacks, mostly that they need to fly in almost no wind, and except for the ifo, will break more easily. Another aspect of Multiplex planes is the exceptional quality.

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Back to the website, it is great, (even if the EZ Star gets bumped out of first place) . It will be great to see new planes tested and rated. A small suggestion for when you are rested, a test for the best second planes. Some of the ones tested as beginners planes would make great second planes, and also the more planes the better I always say. Thanks again, tt.

[Patrick Plawner]

Thanks, Thanks !

More than anything, we hope this will help new comers to decide to get a proper 1st plane, as it is always sad to see people starting the hobby, with the wrong plane in hands, and of course, failing to fly it with frustration and disappointment while they are such great planes to start with, which will give you more chances to succeed.


We are already working on Phase II, meaning now including more planes to the table.
And we will maintain it as we go.

[Treetop]

Yes, the tendency for a newcomer is to want that F-16 or B2 or Spitfire. I think a lot of people get disillusioned by starting this way, and your site will hopefully guide them to a more successful adventure. tt

[AirWing]

I actually own both the US and Euro versions of T-Hawk. The differences I noted were quite a few but not enough to change the physics of the plane..

T-Hawk is also pretty decent as a first. I took to the air like a pro on my first flight and landed many times with no prior experience..then made a crash! but it survived with just a few dents and scratches.. I can't emphasise enough how important it is to have a crash proof plane which is one of the big reasons I went for this..anything else would have been in pieces a hell of a lot more easily.

Boiling an easystar plane to repair seems like a funny idea.. imagine boiling your plane and your egg for breakfast at the same time

[Jurgen Heilig]

Originally Posted by AirWing

I actually own both the US and Euro versions of T-Hawk. The differences I noted were quite a few but not enough to change the physics of the plane..

...

What are the differences, apart from different radio frequencies?

Jürgen