Remote Controlled Plane

W

WhyME

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Hi Good People of the interwebz. Please help I looking at buying RC plane. Something that fits the following description:

> Something that's easy to start
> Easy to maintain
> Easy to fly, this would be my very first RC plane.
> Preferably petrol powered, I have experience with RC helicopter the dan thing dies out of bettery life just when I am getting hang of it. :mad:
> Budget is R6000

Peace!
 
Where are you located? Try & go to your local club & ask around usaually there is someone there willing to sell a decent trainer & radio as your are going to have a few hard lanings before you do you solo :)
My brother is into RC planes he started with a 40 size Stick that was just over 1K exluding the radio servo's & motor.
try visiting this site www.avcom.co.za as thats where he mostly spends his time.
 
Battery powered RC plane is more reliable than nitro or petrol engine. The Lipo battery prices has come down a lot as well so you can buy a couple of packs for a decent price. You also won't have as much problems with people complaining about the noise.
Have a look to see what www.wifly.co.za have in stock. They're based in Durban but deliver countrywide. I don't work for them, but I buy from them. You can also ask them for help on what to get. Ask for Stuart.
- Don't go for too small a plane as they're harder to fly and less stable in wind.
- For good stability, get a plane with a high wing with dihedral (looks like a flat V if you look from the front)
- Buy a radio that works on 2.4GHz. This is the newer technology and more reliable.
 
NeoNarchy said:
Where are you located? Try & go to your local club & ask around usaually there is someone there willing to sell a decent trainer & radio as your are going to have a few hard lanings before you do you solo :)
My brother is into RC planes he started with a 40 size Stick that was just over 1K exluding the radio servo's & motor.
try visiting this site www.avcom.co.za as thats where he mostly spends his time.
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I am in JHB. Trainer and radio? Trainer is this type of plane used for training or do u connect on PC and use as some kind of simulator? sorry for dumb Q
 
Slingshot said:
Battery powered RC plane is more reliable than nitro or petrol engine. The Lipo battery prices has come down a lot as well so you can buy a couple of packs for a decent price. You also won't have as much problems with people complaining about the noise.
Have a look to see what www.wifly.co.za have in stock. They're based in Durban but deliver countrywide. I don't work for them, but I buy from them. You can also ask them for help on what to get. Ask for Stuart.
- Don't go for too small a plane as they're harder to fly and less stable in wind.
- For good stability, get a plane with a high wing with dihedral (looks like a flat V if you look from the front)
- Buy a radio that works on 2.4GHz. This is the newer technology and more reliable.
Click to expand...

Battery powered, how long does each flight last? As I had mentioned I have helicopter RC which I bought for about R1700 batteries on that thing last for 5min before it needs to be charged.
 
Cool thread I am also looking at getting one. Just a bit scared I am going to write it off on first flight :D
 
WhyME said:
Battery powered, how long does each flight last? As I had mentioned I have helicopter RC which I bought for about R1700 batteries on that thing last for 5min before it needs to be charged.
Click to expand...

It depends on the type of plane and size of batteries. I have a powered glider which can fly under power for about 30+ minutes, and almost forever if there are good thermals to keep it up. I would suggest a powered glider for you as well, as they're usually easier to fly (slower and more stable) than the conventional plane, and you get a lot more flying time as you can just glide around until you're low to the ground and zoom up again with a bit of throttle.

One option would be the Parkzone Radian. www.jk-products.co.za are the importers of many different glider, plane and heli kits. They do sell to the public as well, but if they have something on their site, you should be able to order it through almost any decent hobby shop in the country.
I also suggest you go visit Aerial Concepts. They are one of the largest hobby shops in SA. Your mouth will hang open when you see how much variety they have. Tell them what you want to do, where you will fly, and where you want to go with the hobby. I'm sure the guys there will give you good advice. If you don't like the one person's advice, ask another person there. If they can't help you, you can't be helped. :-D
 
Brawler said:
Cool thread I am also looking at getting one. Just a bit scared I am going to write it off on first flight :D
Click to expand...

Do one of two things (or both) or there WILL be crashes and tears:
- get someone who can fly to teach you
- get a decent simulator for RC planes/helis. Phoenix Simulator is the best one, never mind what others tell you. I've used them all, used to work in a hobby shop myself and spent hours on the sims. A proper RC sim helps you immensely, is loads of fun, and with Phoenix you can fly online with others as well.
 
off topic but my buddy bought a R200 remote control helicopter from some fong kong place
About 120mm in length.It was tiny!
Lasted 2 weeks before it bombed out but damnit its cool flying those things indoors!
We made like a landing pad and got a hoola hoop and tryed to fly though and stuff
I flew it over his FULL ashtry at one point, hehe he wasnt to impressed with that :PP
 
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Slingshot said:
It depends on the type of plane and size of batteries. I have a powered glider which can fly under power for about 30+ minutes, and almost forever if there are good thermals to keep it up. I would suggest a powered glider for you as well, as they're usually easier to fly (slower and more stable) than the conventional plane, and you get a lot more flying time as you can just glide around until you're low to the ground and zoom up again with a bit of throttle.

One option would be the Parkzone Radian. www.jk-products.co.za are the importers of many different glider, plane and heli kits. They do sell to the public as well, but if they have something on their site, you should be able to order it through almost any decent hobby shop in the country.
I also suggest you go visit Aerial Concepts. They are one of the largest hobby shops in SA. Your mouth will hang open when you see how much variety they have. Tell them what you want to do, where you will fly, and where you want to go with the hobby. I'm sure the guys there will give you good advice. If you don't like the one person's advice, ask another person there. If they can't help you, you can't be helped. :-D
Click to expand...

Thank you Slingshot for this info, much appreciated. Powered Glider can it perform tricks like loops, fly upside down...etc?
 
WhyME said:
Thank you Slingshot for this info, much appreciated. Powered Glider can it perform tricks like loops, fly upside down...etc?
Click to expand...

It depends on the glider, but almost all of them can do loops, and some of them can do inverted flying and rolls. The flatter the wing is (less upwards bend in wingtips), the more aerobatic it can be. But a flatter wing gives you less stability, so it depends on what you can handle. Google for the Parkzone Radian, you will see the wingtips are pointing upwards quite a bit. This glider is super stable, but loops are about as far as you can push it, with maybe some awkward inverted flight as well.
If it's got ailerons (control surfaces on the wings) it will be usually be more responsive, and more able to do aerobatics.
 
If you see something you want to buy, let me know and I can tell you if it's suitable, what it can do and what else you need to make it fly.
 
Slingshot, what ever happened to that hobby shop call Jix or Jinx? Use to be in london house arcade I think and then later at the ground floor old mutual building.
 
Jix is located at Menlyn Retail Park, but do yourself a favour and have a look at Frazers in Lynwood rd. I've been forbidden from going there by my wife.

Sent from my HTC Desire using MyBroadband Android App
 
I don't know the KZN hobby shops so well, only been in Durban for a year now (I'm from the Cape). I know about Denkit Hobbies and Wifly in Durban, that's about it. Two others I used to shop at in Durban closed down recently. Many of the hobby shops are struggling now that everyone buys online. The shop that impressed me the most was Aerial Concepts in Jhb. Been there only once, but well worth the visit.
 
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Slingshot said:
It depends on the type of plane and size of batteries. I have a powered glider which can fly under power for about 30+ minutes, and almost forever if there are good thermals to keep it up. I would suggest a powered glider for you as well, as they're usually easier to fly (slower and more stable) than the conventional plane, and you get a lot more flying time as you can just glide around until you're low to the ground and zoom up again with a bit of throttle.

One option would be the Parkzone Radian. www.jk-products.co.za are the importers of many different glider, plane and heli kits. They do sell to the public as well, but if they have something on their site, you should be able to order it through almost any decent hobby shop in the country.
I also suggest you go visit Aerial Concepts. They are one of the largest hobby shops in SA. Your mouth will hang open when you see how much variety they have. Tell them what you want to do, where you will fly, and where you want to go with the hobby. I'm sure the guys there will give you good advice. If you don't like the one person's advice, ask another person there. If they can't help you, you can't be helped. :-D
Click to expand...

Slingshot I am really considering getting the Parkzone Radian. Whats the difference between Parkzone Radian and ParkZone Radian Pro?

http://www.ivrcflyers.com/index.php...rticle&id=54:steves-page-2&catid=13&Itemid=37

http://www.rcpitstop.co.uk/parkzone-radian-pro-bnf---pkz5480---now-in-stock-1781-p.asp
 
Good choice! The Parkzone Radian comes with rudder, elevator and throttle control. The Parkzone Radian Pro is the newer version, and comes with aileron and flaps/spoilers control as well. It also has a flatter wing which means it should be good with rolls and inverted flying.
So it is more responsive and more aerobatic, and the spoilers help to slow it down on landing. At first I thought the Pro model would be a bit too twitchy for a beginner, but I saw one fly last weekend and the guy said it is a great flyer and should be good as a first plane. He has both so I'll take his word for it.
Go for the Pro, it will serve you better once you can fly well. And to avoid tears, get someone who knows how to fly, to teach you. Most model flying clubs have instructors. Or buy a sim, the Phoenix sim is about R1200 and I promise you will have hours of fun on it. You can also get a feel for other kinds of planes, gliders and helicopters with it. Good investment if you're serious about the hobby.

EDIT:
When you buy a radio for it, let me know what you have in mind. This will also be a longterm investment and if you buy a proper one, you can use it for whatever else you want to fly as well in future.
 
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Slingshot said:
Good choice! The Parkzone Radian comes with rudder, elevator and throttle control. The Parkzone Radian Pro is the newer version, and comes with aileron and flaps/spoilers control as well. It also has a flatter wing which means it should be good with rolls and inverted flying.
So it is more responsive and more aerobatic, and the spoilers help to slow it down on landing. At first I thought the Pro model would be a bit too twitchy for a beginner, but I saw one fly last weekend and the guy said it is a great flyer and should be good as a first plane. He has both so I'll take his word for it.
Go for the Pro, it will serve you better once you can fly well. And to avoid tears, get someone who knows how to fly, to teach you. Most model flying clubs have instructors. Or buy a sim, the Phoenix sim is about R1200 and I promise you will have hours of fun on it. You can also get a feel for other kinds of planes, gliders and helicopters with it. Good investment if you're serious about the hobby.

EDIT:
When you buy a radio for it, let me know what you have in mind. This will also be a longterm investment and if you buy a proper one, you can use it for whatever else you want to fly as well in future.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the very informative responses Slingshot! I am going to get me self the Phoenix Model Flight Simulator. Do you you how I can find model flying clubs near my place? I am staying in Midrand.
 
WhyME said:
Thanks for the very informative responses Slingshot! I am going to get me self the Phoenix Model Flight Simulator. Do you you how I can find model flying clubs near my place? I am staying in Midrand.
Click to expand...

Go to http://www.samaa.co.za and click on the Club Details link on the left. All the registered clubs are on there. I see there's a Midrand Model Soarers club, in other words glider guys. Contact details and location are also there. Even though you haven't bought anything yet, go visit them this weekend (phone the contact person to see if/where they're flying) and ask questions and advice. If you're lucky someone will give you a go on their glider as well.
 
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