Hi all -

I was wondering if anyone had any opinions on the Hobbico FlyZone
Cessna 182 4-Channel RTF electric plane?

http://www.rc-airplane-world.com/rc-cessna-182.html (first one)

I've never flown a plane before (spent an hour or two on one of the
sims at a store awhile back though and was able to fly it back and
forth and land it back and forth as well.. for whatever that is
worth).

I've done a lot of reading online and see a lot about the piper cub
(but it's hard to figure out what *brand* they are talking about) but
almost nothing about the cessna...

anyway, interested in any and all input you folks might have.

Thanks!

-philip

Ted shuffled out of his cave and grunted these great (and sometimes not
so great) words of knowledge:
> Hi all -
>
> I was wondering if anyone had any opinions on the Hobbico FlyZone
> Cessna 182 4-Channel RTF electric plane?
>
> http://www.rc-airplane-world.com/rc-cessna-182.html (first one)
>
> I've never flown a plane before (spent an hour or two on one of the
> sims at a store awhile back though and was able to fly it back and
> forth and land it back and forth as well.. for whatever that is
> worth).
>
> I've done a lot of reading online and see a lot about the piper cub
> (but it's hard to figure out what *brand* they are talking about) but
> almost nothing about the cessna...
>
> anyway, interested in any and all input you folks might have.
>
> Thanks!
>
> -philip
>

The 182 is a nice plane, BUT IT IS NOT A TRAINER.

I realize that you can fly the plane on the simulator, but the simulator
is not the real world. On a sim the plane is ALWAYS perfectly balanced.
The wind (if any ) is always constant (no gusts ) and the plane never
malfunctions.

Unfortunately this is not so in the real world.

A trainer is just that. It is designed to fly slower than a
"real/scale" plane and is "more forgiving". It is designed to allow the
student to be one step ahead of the plane and "self righting".

An instructor (clubs provide them at no charge ) and a trainer type
plane will allow you to learn HOW TO FLY without crashing the plane. On
a sim you just press a button and the plane is whole again, it would be
nice if this were the way it was in life.

As for a Piper Cub, unless it is one SPECIFICALLY modified to be a
trainer (most are not ) it is a nice 2nd or 3rd plane.

I realize this isn't what you wanted to hear, but I hope this is of some
help.

On Apr 17, 10:06 am, Ted Campanelli <t...@grumpyoldmen.com> wrote:
> Ted shuffled out of his cave and grunted these great (and sometimes not
> so great) words of knowledge:
>
>
>
> > Hi all -
>
> > I was wondering if anyone had any opinions on the Hobbico FlyZone
> > Cessna 182 4-Channel RTF electric plane?
>
> >http://www.rc-airplane-world.com/rc-...182.html(first one)
>
> > I've never flown a plane before (spent an hour or two on one of the
> > sims at a store awhile back though and was able to fly it back and
> > forth and land it back and forth as well.. for whatever that is
> > worth).
>
> > I've done a lot of reading online and see a lot about the piper cub
> > (but it's hard to figure out what *brand* they are talking about) but
> > almost nothing about the cessna...
>
> > anyway, interested in any and all input you folks might have.
>
> > Thanks!
>
> > -philip
>
> The 182 is a nice plane, BUT IT IS NOT A TRAINER.
>
> I realize that you can fly the plane on the simulator, but the simulator
> is not the real world. On a sim the plane is ALWAYS perfectly balanced.
> The wind (if any ) is always constant (no gusts ) and the plane never
> malfunctions.
>
> Unfortunately this is not so in the real world.
>
> A trainer is just that. It is designed to fly slower than a
> "real/scale" plane and is "more forgiving". It is designed to allow the
> student to be one step ahead of the plane and "self righting".
>
> An instructor (clubs provide them at no charge ) and a trainer type
> plane will allow you to learn HOW TO FLY without crashing the plane. On
> a sim you just press a button and the plane is whole again, it would be
> nice if this were the way it was in life.
>
> As for a Piper Cub, unless it is one SPECIFICALLY modified to be a
> trainer (most are not ) it is a nice 2nd or 3rd plane.
>
> I realize this isn't what you wanted to hear, but I hope this is of some
> help.

I appreciate it... one of the problems I'm encountering is exactly
what you mention... some cubs are very clearly not beginner planes as
they are huge! And a lot of the pages about the cessna talk about it
being a good beginner plane too. Heh.

What would you recommend for a beginner plane (electric?)

Thanks!

Ted shuffled out of his cave and grunted these great (and sometimes not
so great) words of knowledge:
> On Apr 17, 10:06 am, Ted Campanelli <t...@grumpyoldmen.com> wrote:
>> Ted shuffled out of his cave and grunted these great (and sometimes not
>> so great) words of knowledge:
>>
>>
>>
>> > Hi all -
>>
>> > I was wondering if anyone had any opinions on the Hobbico FlyZone
>> > Cessna 182 4-Channel RTF electric plane?
>>
>> >http://www.rc-airplane-world.com/rc-...182.html(first one)
>>
>> > I've never flown a plane before (spent an hour or two on one of the
>> > sims at a store awhile back though and was able to fly it back and
>> > forth and land it back and forth as well.. for whatever that is
>> > worth).
>>
>> > I've done a lot of reading online and see a lot about the piper cub
>> > (but it's hard to figure out what *brand* they are talking about) but
>> > almost nothing about the cessna...
>>
>> > anyway, interested in any and all input you folks might have.
>>
>> > Thanks!
>>
>> > -philip
>>
>> The 182 is a nice plane, BUT IT IS NOT A TRAINER.
>>
>> I realize that you can fly the plane on the simulator, but the simulator
>> is not the real world. On a sim the plane is ALWAYS perfectly balanced.
>> The wind (if any ) is always constant (no gusts ) and the plane never
>> malfunctions.
>>
>> Unfortunately this is not so in the real world.
>>
>> A trainer is just that. It is designed to fly slower than a
>> "real/scale" plane and is "more forgiving". It is designed to allow the
>> student to be one step ahead of the plane and "self righting".
>>
>> An instructor (clubs provide them at no charge ) and a trainer type
>> plane will allow you to learn HOW TO FLY without crashing the plane. On
>> a sim you just press a button and the plane is whole again, it would be
>> nice if this were the way it was in life.
>>
>> As for a Piper Cub, unless it is one SPECIFICALLY modified to be a
>> trainer (most are not ) it is a nice 2nd or 3rd plane.
>>
>> I realize this isn't what you wanted to hear, but I hope this is of some
>> help.
>
> I appreciate it... one of the problems I'm encountering is exactly
> what you mention... some cubs are very clearly not beginner planes as
> they are huge! And a lot of the pages about the cessna talk about it
> being a good beginner plane too. Heh.
>
> What would you recommend for a beginner plane (electric?)
>
> Thanks!
>

A couple of questions I have are:

Will you be joining a club ?

This is actually the best and, overall, the least expensive way to learn
how to fly. Clubs provide instructors at no charge. An instructor
(besides keeping you from learning bad habits) can usually "save" your
plane from a disastrous move on your part.

Are you going to try to learn how to fly on your own ?

People have taught themselves how to fly, however it is a steep (and
expensive ) learning curve. When teaching yourself how to fly, plan on
going through several planes before you have the basics down.

If you are going to try to teach yourself, I can suggest a plane. If
you decide to join a club, I suggest asking your instructor what he
recommends.

On Apr 18, 12:03 pm, Ted Campanelli <t...@grumpyoldmen.com> wrote:
> Ted shuffled out of his cave and grunted these great (and sometimes not
> so great) words of knowledge:
>
>
>
> > On Apr 17, 10:06 am, Ted Campanelli <t...@grumpyoldmen.com> wrote:
> >> Ted shuffled out of his cave and grunted these great (and sometimes not
> >> so great) words of knowledge:
>
> >> > Hi all -
>
> >> > I was wondering if anyone had any opinions on the Hobbico FlyZone
> >> > Cessna 182 4-Channel RTF electric plane?
>
> >> >http://www.rc-airplane-world.com/rc-....html(firstone)
>
> >> > I've never flown a plane before (spent an hour or two on one of the
> >> > sims at a store awhile back though and was able to fly it back and
> >> > forth and land it back and forth as well.. for whatever that is
> >> > worth).
>
> >> > I've done a lot of reading online and see a lot about the piper cub
> >> > (but it's hard to figure out what *brand* they are talking about) but
> >> > almost nothing about the cessna...
>
> >> > anyway, interested in any and all input you folks might have.
>
> >> > Thanks!
>
> >> > -philip
>
> >> The 182 is a nice plane, BUT IT IS NOT A TRAINER.
>
> >> I realize that you can fly the plane on the simulator, but the simulator
> >> is not the real world. On a sim the plane is ALWAYS perfectly balanced.
> >> The wind (if any ) is always constant (no gusts ) and the plane never
> >> malfunctions.
>
> >> Unfortunately this is not so in the real world.
>
> >> A trainer is just that. It is designed to fly slower than a
> >> "real/scale" plane and is "more forgiving". It is designed to allow the
> >> student to be one step ahead of the plane and "self righting".
>
> >> An instructor (clubs provide them at no charge ) and a trainer type
> >> plane will allow you to learn HOW TO FLY without crashing the plane. On
> >> a sim you just press a button and the plane is whole again, it would be
> >> nice if this were the way it was in life.
>
> >> As for a Piper Cub, unless it is one SPECIFICALLY modified to be a
> >> trainer (most are not ) it is a nice 2nd or 3rd plane.
>
> >> I realize this isn't what you wanted to hear, but I hope this is of some
> >> help.
>
> > I appreciate it... one of the problems I'm encountering is exactly
> > what you mention... some cubs are very clearly not beginner planes as
> > they are huge! And a lot of the pages about the cessna talk about it
> > being a good beginner plane too. Heh.
>
> > What would you recommend for a beginner plane (electric?)
>
> > Thanks!
>
> A couple of questions I have are:
>
> Will you be joining a club ?
>
> This is actually the best and, overall, the least expensive way to learn
> how to fly. Clubs provide instructors at no charge. An instructor
> (besides keeping you from learning bad habits) can usually "save" your
> plane from a disastrous move on your part.
>
> Are you going to try to learn how to fly on your own ?
>
> People have taught themselves how to fly, however it is a steep (and
> expensive ) learning curve. When teaching yourself how to fly, plan on
> going through several planes before you have the basics down.
>
> If you are going to try to teach yourself, I can suggest a plane. If
> you decide to join a club, I suggest asking your instructor what he
> recommends.

We're going to head over to a local club this weekend and check things
out and am definitely going to talk to them about it, but let's say I
wanted to teach myself... what would you recommend?

Thanks!

Ted shuffled out of his cave and grunted these great (and sometimes not
so great) words of knowledge:
> On Apr 18, 12:03 pm, Ted Campanelli <t...@grumpyoldmen.com> wrote:
>> Ted shuffled out of his cave and grunted these great (and sometimes not
>> so great) words of knowledge:
>>
>>
>>
>> > On Apr 17, 10:06 am, Ted Campanelli <t...@grumpyoldmen.com> wrote:
>> >> Ted shuffled out of his cave and grunted these great (and sometimes not
>> >> so great) words of knowledge:
>>
>> >> > Hi all -
>>
>> >> > I was wondering if anyone had any opinions on the Hobbico FlyZone
>> >> > Cessna 182 4-Channel RTF electric plane?
>>
>> >> >http://www.rc-airplane-world.com/rc-....html(firstone)
>>
>> >> > I've never flown a plane before (spent an hour or two on one of the
>> >> > sims at a store awhile back though and was able to fly it back and
>> >> > forth and land it back and forth as well.. for whatever that is
>> >> > worth).
>>
>> >> > I've done a lot of reading online and see a lot about the piper cub
>> >> > (but it's hard to figure out what *brand* they are talking about) but
>> >> > almost nothing about the cessna...
>>
>> >> > anyway, interested in any and all input you folks might have.
>>
>> >> > Thanks!
>>
>> >> > -philip
>>
>> >> The 182 is a nice plane, BUT IT IS NOT A TRAINER.
>>
>> >> I realize that you can fly the plane on the simulator, but the simulator
>> >> is not the real world. On a sim the plane is ALWAYS perfectly balanced.
>> >> The wind (if any ) is always constant (no gusts ) and the plane never
>> >> malfunctions.
>>
>> >> Unfortunately this is not so in the real world.
>>
>> >> A trainer is just that. It is designed to fly slower than a
>> >> "real/scale" plane and is "more forgiving". It is designed to allow the
>> >> student to be one step ahead of the plane and "self righting".
>>
>> >> An instructor (clubs provide them at no charge ) and a trainer type
>> >> plane will allow you to learn HOW TO FLY without crashing the plane. On
>> >> a sim you just press a button and the plane is whole again, it would be
>> >> nice if this were the way it was in life.
>>
>> >> As for a Piper Cub, unless it is one SPECIFICALLY modified to be a
>> >> trainer (most are not ) it is a nice 2nd or 3rd plane.
>>
>> >> I realize this isn't what you wanted to hear, but I hope this is of some
>> >> help.
>>
>> > I appreciate it... one of the problems I'm encountering is exactly
>> > what you mention... some cubs are very clearly not beginner planes as
>> > they are huge! And a lot of the pages about the cessna talk about it
>> > being a good beginner plane too. Heh.
>>
>> > What would you recommend for a beginner plane (electric?)
>>
>> > Thanks!
>>
>> A couple of questions I have are:
>>
>> Will you be joining a club ?
>>
>> This is actually the best and, overall, the least expensive way to learn
>> how to fly. Clubs provide instructors at no charge. An instructor
>> (besides keeping you from learning bad habits) can usually "save" your
>> plane from a disastrous move on your part.
>>
>> Are you going to try to learn how to fly on your own ?
>>
>> People have taught themselves how to fly, however it is a steep (and
>> expensive ) learning curve. When teaching yourself how to fly, plan on
>> going through several planes before you have the basics down.
>>
>> If you are going to try to teach yourself, I can suggest a plane. If
>> you decide to join a club, I suggest asking your instructor what he
>> recommends.
>
> We're going to head over to a local club this weekend and check things
> out and am definitely going to talk to them about it, but let's say I
> wanted to teach myself... what would you recommend?
>
> Thanks!
>

You won't regret joining a club. Besides the instructors, there is a
lot of knowledge available from the various members.

The most forgiving electric planes I have found are:

The Easy Star http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXFXV0&P=ML

Telemaster The Telemaster comes in varying sizes all the way up to a
12' (yes 12 foot) wingspan. The link is for a RTF Mini Telemaster.
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/telemaster-mini.htm

The Telemaster is more expensive than the Easy Star.

I have witnessed a person flying a Telemaster 40 size do the following:

Line the plane up on final approach.
Reduce the throttle to idle.
Put the transmitter on the ground and watch the plane land itself !!!
It was dead calm when the person did this.

I would not suggest doing anything like this though. What this person
did (as a laugh I think ) was extremely dangerous and irresponsible as
ANYTHING could have happened and he would have had absolutely no control
over the plane. If something had happened someone could have easily
been injured.

Campy

<phallstrom> wrote
>
> We're going to head over to a local club this weekend and check things
> out and am definitely going to talk to them about it, but let's say I
> wanted to teach myself... what would you recommend?

Some have succeeded in teaching themselves to fly, but that is the
exception, rather than the usual. By yourself, you need a really slow,
stable plane. Even then, it is hard to get enough air time between crashes
to learn what you are doing wrong. Many people get frustrated and quit
before learning.
--
Jim in NC

Morgans wrote:
>
> <phallstrom> wrote
>>
>> We're going to head over to a local club this weekend and check things
>> out and am definitely going to talk to them about it, but let's say I
>> wanted to teach myself... what would you recommend?
>
> Some have succeeded in teaching themselves to fly, but that is the
> exception, rather than the usual. By yourself, you need a really slow,
> stable plane. Even then, it is hard to get enough air time between
> crashes to learn what you are doing wrong. Many people get frustrated
> and quit before learning.

Morgan,

A good way to start, even before you ask for the help of an instructor,
go to this website
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXG969&P=ML and buy
this video, then watch it over and over and over until you have it set
in your mind. You'll have a much better chance of success.

Earl of Troy AMA#40329

"Earl Scherzinger" <please.post@news.group> wrote

> A good way to start, even before you ask for the help of an instructor, go
> to this website
> http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXG969&P=ML and buy this
> video, then watch it over and over and over until you have it set in your
> mind. You'll have a much better chance of success.

I have no doubt that there are ways, including this video and simulators,
that increase the odds of teaching yourself.

I will also contend that any other method than a teacher is a second best
choice, and should be avoided if a teacher is available.

Get a teacher, enjoy making a bunch of great new friends, (that really can
be a major part of the joy for many people) and learn to fly. It will be
much less expensive than teaching yourself to fly, by a bunch! <g> (that's
a technical term )
--
Jim in NC

I'm teaching myself to fly, not with a trainer but the other way. The much more expensive way. I bought the flyzone cessna as a starter because I REALLY wanted a four channel plane (Well I really wanted rudder, alirons and elevator, but however you want to say it)

The cessna really isn't a great flyer. It's under powered and one crash smashes it up really bad. The main wing is made from one of those really tough foams, but the body is just plain old stryofoam. And the rudder and elevator is really thin. On my first landing I broke the elevator, the next landing I cracked the body, the next I broke the rudder. None of these where really hard landings. Oh and the cowl is really brittle so it shashes up pretty good too.

I've sort of made it my mission in life to make that plane fly well. So I ordered a bunch of parts and while I waited for them to arrive I bought an easier plane. I looked for something with a more powerfull motor, big wings and plenty of dihedral. But I still really wanted Alirons.

I settled on the Hobby Zone Aerobird Swift. I've crashed it a few times, bought one new set of wings ($20) but other then that it's doing great. And I can use the cessna's battery in it. Anyway, that's what I did. YMMV

I keep a flight log, I list what happened each time I fly. I love all the times in the last few weeks I've been able to write down, "Flew three packs, no crashes, all landings gentle"

Oh yea, if you do get the aerobird swift, you might want to do like I did. I took all the landing gear off it and I hand launch it in a big field full off long grass, then belly land it into that nice soft stuff when I'm done.

If I had it all to do again I'd but an Easy Star I think. SO many people say that's what to learn with. 50 million Elvis fans can't be wrong.

HuweyII,
I had to register, just so I could tell you how much I enjoyed your flight diary. I have an old cessna I bought off ebay that is more "hold the foam", then original. After 5 yrs, it still flies great and it was my first plane. I would tell you the name of it, but not sure at this point it ever had a brand name, lol. It was 3 channel, easily converted to 4, which is why i believe it was the best choice for a starter craft. I recieved my Hobbico FlyZone Cessna 182 4-Channel RTF just today, and I look forward to upgrading it to brushless. I also have an eflight cessna 370, and an orion thermal glider. Absolutly more fun then any helli I ever owned....Welcome to the fixed wing world my friend.

Originally Posted by crashit

HuweyII,
I had to register, just so I could tell you how much I enjoyed your flight diary. I have an old cessna I bought off ebay that is more "hold the foam", then original. After 5 yrs, it still flies great and it was my first plane. I would tell you the name of it, but not sure at this point it ever had a brand name, lol. It was 3 channel, easily converted to 4, which is why i believe it was the best choice for a starter craft. I recieved my Hobbico FlyZone Cessna 182 4-Channel RTF just today, and I look forward to upgrading it to brushless. I also have an eflight cessna 370, and an orion thermal glider. Absolutly more fun then any helli I ever owned....Welcome to the fixed wing world my friend.

How is it going on your new plane?
Did you fly it in stock configuration?
Have you upgraded it? Results?

This is a bit off subject, but I can't refrain any longer.

---------
Has this country changed the English language, or is it my imagination?

Is our younger generation, (and some from the 60s and 70s) NOT paying
attention in school, or is it they just don't give a damn when they
compose a paragraph or sentence.

Examples:

They consistently mis-use the word your for you're

I had went to my friend's house.

Do you want your picture tooken?

Do they understand the difference between: Past, Present & Future tense
verbs?

The word 'then' is consistently being mis-used for 'than'.
A couple proper examples using these words:
I went to my friend's house 'then' I went home.
I used a paint sprayer rather 'than' a brush.

I can always tell when a young person sends me an email. They don't
believe in punctuation or capital letters to begin a sentence and they
use NO periods at the end. It's VERY difficult to read their 'rambling'.

And some of these people are 'suppose to be' college students.

If this is the way of our future, we're in BIG trouble.

I could go on and on, but this message will stir up enough controversy.
For sure!

EarlOfTroy

> crashit Wrote:
>> HuweyII,
>> I had to register, just so I could tell you how much I enjoyed your
>> flight diary. I have an old cessna I bought off ebay that is more "hold
>> the foam", then original. After 5 yrs, it still flies great and it was
>> my first plane. I would tell you the name of it, but not sure at this
>> point it ever had a brand name, lol. It was 3 channel, easily converted
>> to 4, which is why i believe it was the best choice for a starter craft.
>> I recieved my Hobbico FlyZone Cessna 182 4-Channel RTF just today, and I
>> look forward to upgrading it to brushless. I also have an eflight cessna
>> 370, and an orion thermal glider. Absolutly more fun then any helli I
>> ever owned....Welcome to the fixed wing world my friend.
>

Glad you had a place to vent. In my humble opinion, you are just now
exposed to what you see because of the internet. What you observe has
always been there in every age group. You can blame a generation but I
think that's misplaced.
That type of stuff is the least of my worries.

mk
(47 years old)

"Earl Scherzinger" <please.post@news.group> wrote in message
news:472957CE.4070306@news.group...
> This is a bit off subject, but I can't refrain any longer.
>
> ---------
> Has this country changed the English language, or is it my imagination?
>
> Is our younger generation, (and some from the 60s and 70s) NOT paying
> attention in school, or is it they just don't give a damn when they
> compose a paragraph or sentence.
>
> Examples:
>
> They consistently mis-use the word your for you're
>
> I had went to my friend's house.
>
> Do you want your picture tooken?
>
> Do they understand the difference between: Past, Present & Future tense
> verbs?
>
> The word 'then' is consistently being mis-used for 'than'.
> A couple proper examples using these words:
> I went to my friend's house 'then' I went home.
> I used a paint sprayer rather 'than' a brush.
>
> I can always tell when a young person sends me an email. They don't
> believe in punctuation or capital letters to begin a sentence and they use
> NO periods at the end. It's VERY difficult to read their 'rambling'.
>
> And some of these people are 'suppose to be' college students.
>
> If this is the way of our future, we're in BIG trouble.
>
> I could go on and on, but this message will stir up enough controversy.
> For sure!
>
> EarlOfTroy
>
>> crashit Wrote:
>>> HuweyII,
>>> I had to register, just so I could tell you how much I enjoyed your
>>> flight diary. I have an old cessna I bought off ebay that is more "hold
>>> the foam", then original. After 5 yrs, it still flies great and it was
>>> my first plane. I would tell you the name of it, but not sure at this
>>> point it ever had a brand name, lol. It was 3 channel, easily converted
>>> to 4, which is why i believe it was the best choice for a starter craft.
>>> I recieved my Hobbico FlyZone Cessna 182 4-Channel RTF just today, and I
>>> look forward to upgrading it to brushless. I also have an eflight cessna
>>> 370, and an orion thermal glider. Absolutly more fun then any helli I
>>> ever owned....Welcome to the fixed wing world my friend.
>>

In article <472957CE.4070306@news.group>,
Earl Scherzinger <please.post@news.group> wrote:

| This is a bit off subject, but I can't refrain any longer.

A bit? Please, next time, refrain.

| They consistently mis-use the word your for you're

You could have at least talked about `your model' or `you're a danger
to anybody within two miles of where you fly!'

| The word 'then' is consistently being mis-used for 'than'.
| A couple proper examples using these words:

My plane hit the tree, then it smacked into my foot. Ouch!

| I used a paint sprayer rather 'than' a brush.

I'd rather fly electric than glow. But I'd rather fly a glider than
either one!

| I could go on and on, but this message will stir up enough controversy.

Indeed. You knew it was utterly off-topic, and you posted anyways!

--
Doug McLaren, dougmc@frenzied.us
What I want is all of the power and none of the responsibility.