When I was young I loved the thought of RC, but it was not financially feasible for me to get into it. By the time I was, life and living it had already driven it from my mind.
A few months ago my nephews birthday had me wandering the aisles looking for a present when I came across an Airhogs Hawk Eye plane. It was a 2 channel foamie with a built in camera. On his birthday we took it out, watched the video and in general had a great time. I made it back by the store on the way home and picked up another one.
Flying a 2 channel toy from Wal-mart was short lived, but beneficial. I learned to be gentle on the sticks and that small adjustments translate to large movements of the plane. Within a week I was getting the short range plane up and out of range easily and wanted both more range and more control. 2 channel gives you throttle and left and right, elevation comes from heading into the wind and adjusting the throttle along with the bob of the plane.
I hit the net looking for two things, a plane I could completely control and that could carry a camera. I searched a bit and landed on hobbyking where I loaded my cart with a Bixler rtf (ready to fly), a way too expensive camera and a few other accessories. This shopping trip ended when I saw the shipping was about $50. I am a cheap shipping kind of guy so I rolled looking at different videos of planes and on board cameras before settling on what seemed to me to be the best combo, a Hobbyzone Firebird Stratos and a $10 808 keychain camera, which everyone seemed to be using.
Looking back I wish I had skipped the camera, it was fun for a bit, but being that I flt in the same spot, there was little need to film over and over. This would have allowed me to get what I think should have been my first plane, rather than my second. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the Stratos and as seen above, it was steady from the start. My problem was, as you can see, I did not have quite the field to fly as a beginner. It was necessary to get it up above the trees rather quick, then you had to keep it close, or lose it behind the trees (This is why I no longer have it). You will also forever have to use the little red controller with it as nothing else will bind to it.
My second plane should have been my first, and that is the Hobbyzone Champ. One reason for this is it is ultra micro, which means that slightly too small for a beginner field becomes a huge flying area. After getting comfortable with it I fly it in my yard with no issues. The transmitter, while similar to the Stratos controller, can bind any Parkzone / E-flite BNF plane. For those who are wondering, even though the Champ is 3 channel, the controller binds and works with 4 channel. It is also cheap, 90 bucks gets you in the air. I suggest ordering a replacement tail as it is fragile and, after repairing many times while learning, you will want to replace it. Also hit Wal-mart and get a low temp hot glue gun, repair and in the air in a few minutes. I ended up rebuilding the whole plane (minus the electronics, which were fine) once I beat the hell out of it trying to do more than I should have been doing at my level. This only ran about $30 to replace all of the foam.
The Champ can fly slow , that is a big benefit to a starter. If you want to fly fast, learn to fly first, crawl, walk, run is the name of the game. These guys are goofy, but they have the right idea for your first flights. There are 4 videos that will help you crawl.
I find the best time to fly is just as the sun is getting behind the trees, not because of the sun in my eyes, but because the wind dies down, at least in VA, at that time. No wind is key to your first flights. (I didn't follow that rule, hence rebuilding the plane. Forget the tricks, keep out of the wind, fly even circles until you have it down.
I recommend taking a lot of time, I couldn't wait to get on to something new and all but my last plane is good and beat up now. I went Stratos, Champ, UM Corsair, UM Spitfire, then Night Vapor. My corsair and Spitfire would still be pretty if I wasn't rushing into things. My goal is to never crash the E-Flite UMX Carbon club that will be showing up this week. It's good to have goals.
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