Stevie Starr Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Hello, I'm about to take up R/C flying, I'm going to buy the Aurora 9, 7 channel, as I read it's well future proofed. I've read good things about the Hobbyzone Super Cub and I was wondering if there was anything similar that comes in the artf format that is suitable for someone learning to fly alone. I'd be interested in a kit that only requires me to supply my radio gear and maybe servos and stuff. Does such a thing exist? If not what would be my next best route? I wouldn't have the time to spend on doing much building. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Hello Stevie and welcome to the forum. Aurora 9 will be a good choice, especially now, with the price drop. Radio is the most important part of any kit, Aurora will last You for years. I use Optiic 6 and there is no way that I use all of its features. HZ Super cub will be ok, but You can look for something like PZ Radian, Dynam Sky Hawk, Multiplex FunCub... there are many options and I'd suggest to have a good read here on the forum - You'll find any info that You need. Soft landings! Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Starr Posted January 23, 2013 Author Share Posted January 23, 2013 Thanks for the swift reply Tom. I'll go get the Aurora then and have a good few days browsing on here. That PZ Radian looks sort of huge for a beginner though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the unmagnificent man Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Hi Steve, welcome to the forum, your in the right place for good advice. I'm sure there are lots of better informed people on here than me but just a quick question, is the Aurora 9,7 on 72mhz? because I don't believe thats an aircraft frequency unless your able to use it on 2.4 g As for the first aircraft, well there are lots of ARTF trainers but if you MUST fly for the first time without any instruction from people at a club then I suggest you try some sort of simulator at least. There are so many things that a newbie can think are good only to find out that they werent quite as good as first thought after speaking to someone who has already made all the mistakes. Its a great hobby but it only takes a couple of crashes to put people off. Have a go on a sim, go to the nearest club and have a chat with like minded people, have a couple of lessons, (covered by insurance) and then if need be you are at least a little prepared for that first solo flight. Good luck... it really is a great hobby, don tget put off.... UMM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Starr Posted January 23, 2013 Author Share Posted January 23, 2013 Hi UMM, the frequency is 2.4GHZ. I was going for that one as it has great reviews and it's available for £200 delivered. I don't know if I am allowed to post links, if not, then I apologise. http://www.tjdmodels.com/aurora-9-24ghz-afhss-combo-7ch-rx-nimh-m2-p-3783.html?cPath=16_46 I'm already liking the look of the Multiplex Easy Star 2, but I'm like a kid in a sweety shop right now. Whilst I've never did radio control aircraft, I did a fair bit of free flight back in the 70's, so I'm used to the sorrows of things not quite turning out as planned.... I'm not sure if there's an RC flying club where I live, (Dunfermline,) so I'm going to be busy doing some digging around. Thanks Stevie Edited By Stevie Starr on 23/01/2013 21:05:46 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Littleton Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Hi Stevie, welcome to the forum. I agree with UMM about making contact with your nearest club , i would hate to think that you went out and crashed your new model on its first outing and then gave up before you had a fair chance. You will find most club flyers very welcoming and only too willing to help a potential new member get into the air . Dont be worried about feeling a little lost because we all had to start somewhere and we continue to learn even after many years in the hobby. All the best ......... Edited By Les Littleton on 23/01/2013 20:57:52 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 As the person, who made most (or all) I can tell You one thing - don't buy any aircraft, which just looks fascinating to You. I did that mistake, and so my Cessna is gone, little Spit eaten by cat, Piper never flew (although it wasn't my fault, plane itself was junk, but then - should know what to buy/avoid)... At first, try some trainer and yes, try and find local to You club -it'd save me a lot of cash if I did. If in any doubt, ask on the forum - a lot of helpful people with great knowledge You can find here. If You wish to go alone, again as self-learner - it is perfectly possible. Choose Your model wisely, read, read, read and have a go. It works. Regards Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Laughton Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Three simple pieces of advice 1/ Go to your local club(s) to check out how friendly/ welcoming they are 2/ Go to your local club and aks them to recommend a suitable trainer 3/ Go to your local club and ask them to help you to learn to fly Learning to fly alone is asking for trouble...get insured and join the BMFA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Skilbeck Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Stevie, the Easy Star 2 is a good model to start with, flies really well and is quite damage resiliant, the standard components in the RTR version are all of good quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Hargreaves - Moderator Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Hi Steve & welcome from me......we were all beginners once so ask away & enjoy this great hobby.... Some good articles to read through here & some tutorials on how to get the best out of the site just here The Aurora 9 is a great bit of kit but RC sets are very subjective & I would urge you to try before you buy.....just to see how it feels in your hands. I would also recommend visiting your local club a few times before flexing the credit card......they will be able to offer invaluable advise.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Starr Posted January 24, 2013 Author Share Posted January 24, 2013 Many thanks for all the advice. I'll be on the net tonight looking to see if there are any RC flying clubs local to me. I'll also be taking the advice on insurance. Cheers Stevie. Edited By Stevie Starr on 24/01/2013 13:26:00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Skilbeck Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Stevie, the BMFA web site lists all the affiliated clubs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Starr Posted January 24, 2013 Author Share Posted January 24, 2013 Thanks Frank. Closest to me is Balbedie Aeromodeling Club. Looks great, close to the beautiful Loch Leven and only about 25 mins from me. They look to have a good training scheme in place. Membership is £50 though and compulsory membership of the BMFA is £31, so not exactly cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Starr Posted January 25, 2013 Author Share Posted January 25, 2013 Well, the Aurora 9 arrived today. (Excellent service form TJD Models.) I opened the tome that passes for a manual and nearly fainted.... "It's full of stars" was my first thought. I'm getting the hang of it now though, I've got the battery charging on both the TX and RX, the rest should be a dawdle..... Decided to go for the Bixler 2 against the Easy Star 2, simply because I will kill it very quickly and the RR Bixler with this eqpt :- 1x #9310000060/29053 Hobbyking Bixler 2 EPO 1500mm w/ Brushless Motor, Servos and Optional Flap (UK Warehouse) (ARF) = $82.57 1x #HKESC20A/28672 H-KING 20A Fixed Wing Brushless Speed Controller (UK Warehouse) = $9.07 1x #T2200.3S.25/26715 Turnigy 2200mAh 3S 25C Lipo Pack (UK Warehouse) = $12.76 2x #HKSCM12-5/28725 HKSCM12-5 Single Chip Digital Servo (5V) 10g / 1.5kg / 0.18s (UK Warehouse) = $7.12 Works out at £79 as opposed to the £124 of the Easy Star 2. I've plumped for it, so I won't look back and get on with what I have. It's already been dispatched after ordering last night, with a projected 3 day delivery service, I've had 4 emails since yesterday telling me exactly how my order is progressing, so Hobby King look to be on the ball. Cheers Stevie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Starr Posted January 26, 2013 Author Share Posted January 26, 2013 Got a phone call from a member on here (Bob Gadd,) inviting me up to Kinross Flying Club tomorrow, which I will most certainly take up. Doesn't get any better than that does it? Thanks Bob. Stevie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 Steve, regarding the cost of club membership - the BMFA you will need club or not for the insurance - so consider the club at just £50 - believe me its a bargain. That's not even the price of one model - and as Tom out lined above you will go through a lot more than one model if you try to teach yourself. BEB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Starr Posted January 26, 2013 Author Share Posted January 26, 2013 Hiya BEB, aye I get that. Way I read it, is that I would pay £50 for the club membership, then the extra £30 on top of that for BMFA. So that's still £80 before I even crash a plane, tough going tbh. Going to Kinross club tomorrow which is a 15 mile drive up the M90 from me, nice and easy Will get a better handle on everything then. stevie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFlyingCrust Posted January 27, 2013 Share Posted January 27, 2013 Do consider the fact that many clubs either own or have to rent their flying sites, power sites especially. This costs money, the cost being shared by the membership. All in I'd say £80ish is quite reasonable. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Starr Posted January 27, 2013 Author Share Posted January 27, 2013 Ok thanks for the advice. I'd appreciate it though if my thread isn't used as a vehicle purely for the pro's of joining a club. (I've already said I'm looking to join one.) I was more looking for advice on getting an aircraft into the sky and what stuff a new flyer would need to do that. I realise saying this will mark me down and prolly presona non grata, already I'm on the defensive on a new persons forum, but I'm honest if nothing else. Is there any way I can just discuss what planes and stuff I should get? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Buckingham Posted January 27, 2013 Share Posted January 27, 2013 Steve, You've got a good set up there for making it solo. However. Even good choices for a first plane like the Bixler or EasyStar, are ballistic missiles. There are fatal accidents every year involving model planes (most of them from people going solo and which is reflected in the price of the insurance for all of us, so please forgive us for preaching). That said it's bloody good fun and the Aurora is an awesome bit of kit. Get stuck in. Steve Edited By Steven Buckingham on 27/01/2013 02:46:28 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tangental Posted January 27, 2013 Share Posted January 27, 2013 Hi Stevie, I'm brand new to this forum also. Welcome. The HZ Super Cub is OK but you'd probably be better with a Hobbyking AXN Floater. I've just got back into flying after a long break (40 years) so I bought a Floater to get my hand in and It's great. Remember only to fly on calm days to start with, wind is THE killer when you're learning. If you're trying to fly straight and the model is being bounced all over the sky ends in tears. The Floater is here **LINK** and costs about £50 all in. Great value flying fun and a good stable video platform. Have fun!! Tangey PS I notice Scott Finnie of this forum is from your neck of the woods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Starr Posted January 27, 2013 Author Share Posted January 27, 2013 Hi Steve and Tangey, not all doom and gloom then. Steve, there's no way I was going to fly without insurance TBH, I was a golfer and recognise the need. I've already purchased the Bixler 2 Tangey, so I have to go with that. Piddling down here today, but going to head up to Kinross if Bob's still going, as I'd like to get clued up on stuff like field etiqutte etc. Regards equipment, I now have/have ordered, the Bixler2 Aurora 9 7C. 3 x Turnigy 2200mha Lipos. 2 extra servos (For flaps on Bixler when I have the skills.) A Mega adapter for charging everything, an Orion Advantage IQ605 AC/DC Charger and 2 rolls of glass fibre tape for under the nose and the leading edges of the Bixler, as those crashes will surely hurt. Will order an Eflite Prop adapter too when they are in stock, as I read that the supplied one stinks. Any other "must haves" you folks can suggest? Stevie. (Is Scott a member of a club up here Tangey? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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