Getting Started

So your interested in flying remote-controlled airplanes and need help getting started. Perhaps the best thing you can do is join a club. Club members have all gone through the same experience and can help you avoid making some common mistakes such as buying the wrong first plane or radio. Some mistakes can be expensive.

If you already have a plane, they can look it over to check for problems that would make the plane difficult to fly even for an expert. And they can fly it to make sure. Finally, they can instruct newcomers. All of this will avoid the common frustration of a newcomer spending several hundred dollars and months of time on a plane, only to crash it within the first few seconds of trying to fly it.

Please consider the following (November 2003):

• The Academy of Model Aeronautics coordinates modeling activities across the country. It also provides liability insurance to members. Almost all clubs or fields require membership in the AMA. Adult membership is $48, which includes a subscription to the AMA magazine, Model Aviation. Youth membership, for those less than 19, is $13 with the magazine, and only a $1 without the magazine. You won't find another magazine for $12, so it's worth getting. AMA membership form.
• CJRCC dues are $15, initiation fee is $10, and fly field permit is $10, a total of $35. Club membership form. Joining a club provides access to pilots who are more than willing to help you choose a plane, provide guidance in building it, checking it over before the first flight, and most important, instruction on how to fly it without crashing.
• Tower Hobbies offers the Thunder Tiger Trainer 40 ARF for $99. But this only includes the plane, not the engine or radio.
• Hanger 9, from Horizon Hobby, offers the SkyPack for $290. It includes a quality engine and radio, and everything else you need to fly for the first time, including fuel.

When you consider all of the above,

$13	AMA membership (<19 year)
$35	CJRCC membership
$99	Thunder Tiger Trainer 40 ARF
$290	Hangar 9 SkyPack

This adds up to $48 in club and AMA membership, and $387 for the plane and accessories, for a grand total of $437.

Sailplane Alternative

While gliders may sem less exciting that powered planes, it is quite a challenge to find thermals and keep the plane up in the air. On good days, gliders can fly into the clouds. But a typical flight without thermals from a 400' launch will last about 3 minutes. Gliders can be launched using a Hi-Start which is 100' of elastic rubber tubing and 375' of nylon line. You stretch the line, attach the glider to the end, and let the line pull the plane up to over 400'. The line eventually falls off the tow-hook, and the breeze catches the parachute to blow the line back to you.

This approach also doesn't require a 4-channel radio, and a real cheap radio can save a lot of money.

$80	Highlander EPP (Foam)
$50	Standard Hi-Start
$54	Hitec Focus 2 AM

Some alternative sailplane that are also durable are:

• Persuasion
• Javelin
• TG-3

The sailplane combination still requires club and AMA membership of $35 (teen). However, the plane and radio are $184 (not counting shipping). The total is then $219.

With some help from a club member you can be flying is no time, and with a foamie, you can build the plane much quicker, and you don't have to worry about crashes.