Discussion Difficulty to Fly Rating System

[jpwkeeper]

I would like to propose a rating system for how difficult it is to fly a particular aircraft. The rating system would work as follows (NOTE: I'm reconstructing this after a bad edit, so it may vary slightly from the original):

0 -- Safe to give to a young child
1 -- Young flyer can solo (maybe ages 4-8 with adult supervision?)
2 -- Beginner can solo
3 -- Beginner can solo with sim experience
4 -- Beginner can solo with flight instruction
5 -- Beginner can solo with extensive flight instruction/Easy 2nd plane
6 -- Good 2nd plane
7 -- Good 2nd plane with flight instruction/Sim
8 -- Good 3rd plane
9 -- Good 3rd plane with flight instruction/Sim
10 -- Requires expert flyer

I'm defining Fly as: Ability to take off/launch, maneuver, and land the plane in the conditions for which they were intended. Not the ability to do aerobatics or 3D maneuvers or such; just fly it.

When rating a plane, please try to put the rating on its own line so that I don't miss it in the middle of a paragraph. Also try to put the make and model of the plane (E-Flite Mini Edge, for example, rather than just Mini Edge). Try not to abbreviate.

Here is what I've compiled so far:
9/08/09, 276 planes rated.
Multiple entries for the same plane are averaged.

0 Aero Ace Bipe
0 Airhogs Havoc Swarm
0 Brookstone MicroHeli
0.5 Foamtastic Models Park Shark

1 E-Flite Blade mCX
1 Foamfly Frog
1 Stevens Aero Gym-E
1.5 Parkzone Vapor
1.5 Stevens Aero Diddle Bug
1.5 Stevens Aero Diddle Rod
1.5 Stevens Aero Lil'SQuiRT
1.5 Stuart Little BiPlane (scratch)
1.833333333 Stevens Aero 1919 White Mono Plane
1.833333333 Stevens Aero Mud Bug

2 Clancy Aviation Laxy Bee Classic
2 E-Flite Blade CX 2
2 Exceed-RC Accipiter Badius
2 GPW Trainer One (scratch built)
2 GWS Slow Stik
2 Gymallo
2 Hobbyzone Commander 2
2 Hobbyzone Firebird
2 Hobbyzone Super Mini Cub
2 Mountain Models Dandy
2 Mountain Models Dusk Stick
2 Mountain Models Magpie Slow Flyer
2 Multiplex Easystar
2 Multiplex Mini Magister
2.225 Parkzone Ember
2.275 Hobbyzone Super Cub
2.5 Aerobird Phantom
2.5 GWS DHC2 Beaver
2.5 Hobbyzone Slo-V
2.5 MS Composite Citabria
2.5 Parkzone Micro Cessna 210
2.5 Parkzone Micro Citabria
2.7 Kyosho Micro Flybaby
2.833333333 Parkzone Radian

3 3D Hobby Shop EBT
3 Art Tech Wing Dragon HL
3 Gloal Wattage Cessna 180
3 Great Planes Yard Stik
3 GWS Pico Tiger Moth
3 Hobbico SuperStarEP w/ailerons
3 Hobby Lobby Cobweb
3 Hobby Lobby Miss2
3 Hobbyzone Aerobird Extreme
3 Hobbyzone Freedom
3 Kyosho Micro Edge
3 Mountain Models Magpie AP
3 Parkzone J-3 Cub
3 Ripmax Reflection
3.166666667 Stevens Aero Stik
3.25 Stevens Aero SQuiRT 400
3.5 AeroHobby T-Hawk
3.5 GWS Estarter
3.5 GWS Pico Stick-F
3.5 Hobby People Simple Stick
3.5 Mountain Models Magpie Sport Flyer
3.5 Mountain Models Tyro 100
3.5 MS Composite S2 Bulldog Biplane
3.5 Stevens Aero SoarStik
3.5 Stevens Aero SQuiRT 700
3.75 Art Tech Wing Dragon 4
3.75 Mountain Models Tyro 150

4 Great Planes Fun Force Fokke Wulf
4 Great Planes Fun Force Mustang
4 GWS Estarter
4 Millenium SSX
4 Mountain Models C170
4 Mountain Models Dandy Sport
4 Mountain Models Switchback Sport
4 Multiplex Easy Glider Electric
4 Multiplex Magister
4 Sig Kadet EP-42
4 Sig Kadet LT-25
4 Wattage F22 Raptor
4.25 Parkflyers.com BeginAir
4.41875 Parkzone T-28
4.5 GWS Tiger Moth 400
4.5 Hobbico Nexstar EP
4.5 Hobby Lobby Profile P-38
4.5 Hobby Lobby Telemaster Electro
4.5 Skyartec Cessna 182
4.6 Parkzone Corsair
4.75 Multiplex EasyGlider

5 AirFoilz Extra 260
5 Combat Wings XE2
5 E-Flite Apprentice 15e
5 E-flite P-47
5 Electrifly SE5
5 Estes (in general with pulse pulse steering)
5 Fox Lite SNOTLiner
5 Great Planes Slinger
5 Hobbico ElectriStar
5 Hobbyzone Aerobird Swift
5 Lanier Stinger 80" Electric
5 Lazertoys Lazer
5 Model Tech Fledgling EP
5 Mountain Models EZ Scout
5 Mountain Models EZ Sport
5 Mountain Models Magpie AP
5 Multiplex Twinstar 2
5 Parkzone Stryker B (stock)
5 Sig Raskal 110" Electric
5 Superfly RC HyperFlea
5.1 Mountain Models EZ Cub
5.25 Mountain Models Dandy GT
5.5 Carl Goldberg Tiger 400
5.5 E-Flite Jenny
5.5 ElectroFlying Designs eSKA
5.5 Mountain Models SmoothE SP
5.5 Parkzone Corsair
5.5 Parkzone Spit
5.5 SIG Four Star
5.5 Stevens Aero Adrenaline Rush
5.6 E-Flite Sea Fury
5.625 Stevens Aero Shaft
5.666666667 E-Flite Mini Ultra Stick
5.75 Art Tech Cessna
5.75 Multiplex Gemini
5.833333333 E-flite P-38
5.833333333 Hobbyzone Phantom
5.875 3D Hobby Shop Extra 300 SHP (47")

6 3D Hobby Shop Extra 300 SHP (87")
6 Alfa P-47
6 Copperhead Extra Stiffy
6 DMZ Decathalon
6 E-Flite Funtana 300
6 Gary Wright E3D
6 Great Planes Hellcat
6 GWS PT-17
6 GWS Zero
6 Hangar 8 Twist 40
6 Hangar 9 Ultra Stick
6 Hobby Lobby Firebird EDF
6 Hobby Lobby JAS 39 Gripen
6 Hobby Lobby Yak 55
6 Lightflite Bug
6 Mini Pulse XT
6 Mountain Models EVA Bipe
6 Nitro Planes Predator
6 Stevens Aero DoubleSHOT
6 Stevens Aero E-Spresso
6 Stevens Aero Shaft 25e
6 Stevens Aero Shaft 400
6 Stevens Aero Tiny-X
6 Superfly Superfly
6 Tower Hobbies Vista EP
6 Ultrafly Cessna 182
6 Ultrafly Super Decathalon
6.25 MS Composite Swift II
6.25 Parkzone Stryker C
6.325 E-Flite T-34 Mentor
6.333333333 Fly Zone Cessna 182
6.5 E-Flite Mini Pulse XT
6.5 E-Flite Ultra Stick 25EP
6.5 Flash EPP
6.5 GWS F4U
6.5 Hobby Lobby Super Zoom
6.5 Multiplex Acromaster
6.5 Multiplex Blizzard
6.5 Multiplex FunJet
6.5 Parkzone P51 Gunslinger
6.5 Superfly Hyperflea
6.5 YardBird YB-22
6.55 E-Flite Taylorcraft 450
6.75 GWS FW-190
6.75 GWS Spitfire

7 Art Tech Pitts Special
7 Cox Christen Eagle
7 Exceed-RC Pitts
7 Extreme Flight Yak-54 47"
7 Hobby Lobby Cessna 337 MIXMASTER
7 Hobby Lobby Pitts 2s
7 Mountain Models Switchback 3D
7 Parkzone P-51
7 Phase 3 Fidget 3D
7 Precision Aerobatics Extra 260
7 SportFliers Quick-1
7 Typhoon 2 3d
7 Wild Wing Boomer (Scratch?)
7 Wildrc IFO
7.25 Art Tech (Hobby Lobby) P51D Mustang
7.25 Parkzone Sukhoi-26M
7.5 3D Hobby Shop Yak-54 55"
7.5 Alfa F-86
7.5 Alfa F86 Sabre
7.5 Grayson Sukoi
7.5 GWS Formosa II
7.5 Wattage Cap 232
7.65 Multiplex Twister

8 3D Hobby Shop Extra 300 SHP (55")
8 3D Hobby Shop Katana 85
8 6mmFly RC F4D Skyray
8 Alfa P-51
8 Art Tech Christian Eagle
8 Brushless Miglet
8 E-Flite Extra 260 3D
8 E-Flite Mini Funtana X
8 Electrifly L-39
8 Fancy Foam Vrolet Freestyle V2
8 Great Planes Lancair ES
8 Great Planes® RC Universe Biplane
8 GWS A-10
8 GWS BN2F (EDF Version)
8 GWS Magician
8 GWS P-38
8 GWS P-40
8 Hangar 9 Gee Bee Sportster
8 Herr Little Extra
8 HL SU-27
8 Hobby Lobby F/A-18 EDF
8 Hobby Lobby Thunderbird/Firebird
8 Lynx XF
8 Mefisto electric sailplane
8 New Directions VecJet
8 Nitro Planes OV-10
8 Precision Aerobatics Addiction
8 Riccs TB-20
8 SAPAC F-22
8 SAPAC Fox Hawk
8 SEPAC F16
8 Shulman Zip Stik
8 Stevens Aero CAP 232 .40e
8 Stevens Aero CAP 232 S300
8 Stevens Aero Dystraction
8 Stevens Aero G300 G-Ride
8 Stevens Aero G400 Stella
8 Stevens Aero G480 Groove
8 Stevens Aero RV-4 S300
8 Tim McDonough Ministreak
8 Ultrafly P-51
8.25 Alfa Mig-15
8.25 E-Flite Mini Showtime
8.5 FlyFLy Mirage 2000
8.5 GWS Funny Park
8.5 Mountain Models Tantrum
8.5 MS Composite Mini Swift Wing
8.5 Phase 3 F-16
8.5 Stevens Aero Edge 540
8.8 Harbor Freight P51 (*Modified)

9 Alfa A-4
9 E-Flite Brio
9 E-Flite Ultimate 20-300 10e
9 Electra Extra 330s
9 ElectriFly Synapse
9 Great Planes Miglet
9 GWS F-15
9 GWS Formosa
9 GWS ME 109
9 GWS ME 262
9 Multiplex Picojet Combat
9 Powerline Yak 54 Extreme
9 QQ 102 Yak
9 QQ 49 inch Yak
9 Stevens Aero CAP 232 Micro
9 Ultrafly Extra 330s
9 Ultrafly PC-9
9.166666667 3D Hobby Shop Velox
9.3 Sebart Sukhoi 29 30E
9.5 3D Hobby Shop Sukhoi 29 30E
9.5 Electrifly Camel
9.5 Electrifly SPAD
9.5 Kyosho A-6
9.5 SAPAC F22

10 E-Flite Mini Edge
10 Great Planes Flat Out Reflection
10 Great Planes Ultimate Biplane
10 Hobby Peoples Wild Wing
10 Kyosho F-16
10 Kyosho Mirage
10 Long EZ
10 Powerline Hobbies/Green RC Sopwith Camel
10 RCPowers Mig29
10 Wattage Cessna 195

[u2builder]

I am not sure I give the AeroStik a rating of 3; I would say at least 4 and maybe 5. I am a beginner and started with a Slow Stick, which I would rate a 3. I am pretty good with the SS now, but my flights with the Stevens Aero are a little shakey. It is a faster plane, and is a lot easier to stall than a SS. I would think someone who had only sim experience might turn it into a pile of balsa pieces in fairly short order.

[jpwkeeper]

Originally Posted by u2builder

I am not sure I give the AeroStik a rating of 3; I would say at least 4 and maybe 5. I am a beginner and started with a Slow Stick, which I would rate a 3. I am pretty good with the SS now, but my flights with the Stevens Aero are a little shakey. It is a faster plane, and is a lot easier to stall than a SS. I would think someone who had only sim experience might turn it into a pile of balsa pieces in fairly short order.

One of these days I have to fly one of those. The SA Stik is so calming to fly as it is. Honestly I can't seem to stall mine, but my CG is a bit forward due to how I placed the components.

[u2builder]

Its all so relative, isn't it. I am sure the Areo Stik is gentle, but as an aileron ship it is just not as positively stable as the SS, plus I can't slow it up to the nearly the same degree.

While some folks may be able to go from a sim to the Aero Stik, I think there is a pretty good chance I would have crashed it. Heck, I had more than a few SS crashes, and tree landings, though none were particularly destructive.

Anyway, I like the rating system and think it would be great to have such a number associated with the plane.

I would give the SS and the Pico Tiger Moth both a "3" based on your criteria, and I personally would up the Steven's Aero to a "4".

[jpwkeeper]

Let's keep rating the planes, guys, and I'll keep updating the list at the top.

[ATIS]

Super Cub 2
GWS TM 400 5/6
GWS EStarter 4/5
GWS A-10 8
Kyosho F-16 10
GWS F-15 9/10
PZ T-28 4/5
PZ SPit 5
Alfa P-51 8
GWS P-40 8
HL SU-27 8
YardBird YB-22 6/7
Long EZ 10
AeroBird Swift 3/4
Aerobird Phantom 2/3

[juancivic]

Multiplex Easystar should be a 2

[jpwkeeper]

Keep em coming guys. The list is already getting long.

If multiple people submit for a single plane, I'm going to average their submissions.

[ATIS]

Lynx XF 8
GWS ME 109 9
GWS P-38 8
Typhoon 3d 7

[Iunnrais]

Bigger electric. I learned to fly on mine fairly quickly with a club instructor.

Multiplex Magister - 4

And an Old Favorite

SIG Four Star - 6 (maybe even a 5)

[flybye]

110 mph microjet= 10

[jpwkeeper]

Originally Posted by flybye

110 mph microjet= 10

FlyBye, can you be more specific?

[MNMadman]

In my opinion;
Enroute/Phase 3 F-16 10
Kyosho Mirage 10
GWS-15 8/9
Stryker C 8
Brushless Miglet 8
Typhoon 2 7
PKZ P-51 7
PKZ Spitfire 6
DMZ Decathalon 6
E-flite P-47 5
E-flite P-38 5
Hobbyzone Super Cub 2

[ArsonDave]

I see a sticky in the future. Good idea!

Dave

[ATIS]

You have to be careful with FLYBYE... he has a speed addiction so everything he buys gets a motor two sizes too big... unlike the Grinch who's heart was two sizes too small... LOL....