FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR BEGINNERS

• Q: I am interested, what should I do first?
  • We set aside Monday night during daylight saving time for training. We suggest that you come to the field and talk with an instructor. We have some club airplanes, and an instructor will arrange to give a you an introductory flight at no cost.
• Q: What does it cost to get into RC flying?
  • To fly at our field, you must be a member of AMA ($58 per year for adults) and our club ($70 per year for adults or $5 per year for juniors). In addition to this, you need a plane, a radio transmitter, fuel and few tools. To buy all new equipment, plan on between $300 and $500. If you find used equipment, you can maybe cut this cost in half. Again, come see us at the field on Monday nights during Daylight Savings Time, and we will be happy to discuss this with you.
• Q: Will someone teach me?
  • YES. We have several instructors with decades of combined experience teaching beginners to fly. We use "buddy boxes" to allow an instructor to take control of the airplane during training. During daylight savings time, Monday evenings from 6pm until dark are set aside for training. If you cannot train during this time, many instructors are willing to meet other times. Instruction is free, and it is required before you allowed to fly "solo" at our field.
• Q: What type of plane is best for beginner?
  • From club to club, you will find much debate about this topic. Generally, we have better success with glow-fuel powered trainers with an approximate wingspan of 60". In general, trainers are designed to be stable and relatively rugged and allow the student to learn the basics of RC flight. Some students make the mistake of buying a 'neat looking' plane that is not very forgiving for training. Before you invest any money, come talk to us.
• Q: Where do I get my equipment?
  • There is not ONE good answer. Most of our members have a favorite local hobby shop. Some beginners buy from an internet vendor. Others shop at local swap shops or use one of the on-line acution houses like Ebay. Still others use on line swap shops like RCUniverse. Each of these have pros and cons.
• Q: What about electric airplanes?
  • Usually this question is asked in an attempt to hold down the initial cost. You can buy a small electric airplane for under $50. Unfortunately, the first time you fly it in ANY wind, it will likely disappear into the wild blue. Because of the high cost of new batteries and motors, a reasonable size trainer will likely cost MORE than one powered by glow fuel. Most of our instructors prefer to teach with glow fuel powered airplanes as discussed above.
• Q: Is my son or daughter too young?
  • It seems the best way to answer this question is with some other questions: Can your child focus concentration on the airplane for 10 minutes or so? Is s/he willing to follow rules of safety and courtesy? Are you willing to accompany your child to the field for instruction and flying? Are you willing to help him/her with the maintenance and repair of their equipment? We have seen a number of 9-12 year olds learn to fly. We have seen some 15 year olds get bored or frustrated and quit. You know your child better than we do. We do ask one very important consdieration: for your child's safety, please accompany them to the field and be an active part of their participation in a wonderful hobby.
• Q: What about helicopters?
  • There are some electric helicopters with two counter-rotating rotors that might be suitable for training indoors. However, these can be very difficult to control in any wind. If you are thinking about a single rotor heli, then you are probably going to be in for a long and potentially expensive learning curve.
• Q: What about flight simulators?
  • Some flight simulators have realistic dual-stick controllers and can be very helpful in learning to fly RC. They will help you learn to coordinate your control movements with the actions of the airplane. Simulators are really good to keep your skills active between live flying sessions. In many cases, simulators shorten the traing time at the field. However, simulators cannot totally replace training at the field.

If you have more questions, go to the contact page and ask any of us.