Setting up an electric rc airplane

by MJ

Hey, Nice website!

Here's hoping I can get some help.

First off, I'm pretty new to the sport. I had a few 2-channel gliders which I used to fly on the hills, and I've got a couple of cheap 2 channel RTF planes, but I'd like to move on to something a bit more grown up!

I'm looking at EP, as I reckon it's easier, and I've sort of got my heart set on a spitfire!

Ideally a mid-size (wingspan approx 1.2 metres or so?) 4 channel one that can do a few tricks would be good... Or am I being too ambitious?

Either way, basically I know nothing about how to set up an ARF plane (I'd like to get ARF rather than RTF)

So far I've got as far as thinking I probably want a brushless outrunner motor. No gearbox, and low noise/maintenance, right? But I have no idea on things like how to power it, what ESC to use, what prop to use, etc.

I've got a good background in electrical stuff, so I'm confident I can put the thing together properly. I just need a rough idea of what to buy! Oh, and I'm on a budget!

Thanks in advance for all your help! Matt

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Setting up an electric rc airplane

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Finding the perfect RC plane...
by: Matt Brown

Your name's Matt? Cool, that's my name too!

In order to help you pick out the perfect RC plane I have a couple of important questions.

Do you plan to get help from an experienced flyer? This is very important.

I live 1 1/2 hours from a club, so I decided to learn to fly on my own several years ago. I learned with an Aerobird, well, 2 Aerobirds and about 5 sets of wings!

I joined a club anyway when I started flying glow powered planes. BTW, electric is no easier than glow. The method used to spin the prop really has nothing to do with how difficult the plane is to fly.

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continuation of previous comment
by: Matt

Electric plans are easier in the sense that you don't have to worry about tuning an engine or cleaning the gooo off the wings after each flight...

It was very discouraging learning on my own. I would get SOOO mad! If I wasn't so hellbent on learning, I would have said the heck with it.

I strongly urge you to join a club, or at least go talk to them. There is a link to AMA clubs on my Getting Started with RC Airplanes page.

But, if you really don't want to join a club, it is not completely necessary, but expect to crash a lot. And probably spend a good amount of money for replacement parts.

Whether you decide to join a club or not really will help determine the best plane to start with. A warbird really isn't the best plane to start with, but, if you join a club and get someone to teach you with a buddy box it may be possible, but still not recommended.

My other question is, how much experience do you have on the 2 channel planes? Do you have the control reversal part down? Because that is one of the hardest parts, if you have that down you are in good shape.

I do think a ParkZone Spitfire would be a good match once you learn the basics.

Another question, why do you want an ARF as opposed to RTF of PNP?

There are a lot of good RTF planes out there that already have the correct size motor, battery, and propeller already sized up for you so there is no guessing.

I would strongly recommend getting a RTF for your first plane so you will have no doubts that everything is sized correctly.

After you have one and become more familiar with the equipment you will be in a better situation to custom choose the components for your next plane.

To be completely honest with you, I am still not comfortable picking and choosing the components, I usually either get an RTF,PNP or get ARF's and purchase exactly what is recommended in the plane's description.

I just recently picked up a ParkZone T-28 RTF and I love it!

I imagine it probably flies similar to the Parkzone Spitfire. Actually, it's probably calmer than the Spitfire.

While the T-28 it is not extremely difficult to fly, it is not as stable and slow flying as a trainer. A beginner could easily learn to fly with the T-28 on a buddy box, but definitely not by themselves.

If you have the control reversal under control, and plan to get some help, you can probably handle a warbird. But without those two ingredients, I wouldn't try it. You will probably destroy your plane and quit the hobby before you get started good. This happens to alot of people!

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continuation of previous comment
by: Matt

If you plan to get help,(and have the control reversal down) I think the ParkZone Spitfire may be a good match for you.
ARF though...

If you absolutely are hell bent on learning to fly yourself, I would recommend a beginner parkflyer of some sort.

HobbyZone has a good selection of good RTF parkflyer planes to learn with.

But these are only three channel planes, and you are looking for a four channel plane...

I learned on the original Aerobird. But the Aerobird Swift has ailerons in place of rudder control. This will allow it to roll and do all kinda of "tricks".

It's the only 3 channel plane I know of that has ailerons. Most all 3 channel planes have rudder control and not ailerons.

My advice to you is to visit your local club. They will go out of their way to help. And you don't have to join to talk to them and get their advice.

If you want to learn completely on your own, it can be done! I did it!

But expect to replace a lot of wings and/or other parts because you will be crashing more than flying until you get the hang of it.

And if you decide to go this route, get a park flyer of some sort, not the Spitfire.

I hope this helps,

If you have any more questions please let me know. And keep me updated! I'd love to see a picture of that new plane when you get it!

Good Luck!

Matt

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Cheers for the speedy reply!
by: Matt C

Hey Matt,

I live in the middle of nowhere in Northern England, UK. As as far as I know there's no decent RC airplane clubs nearby.

The one guy who I do know who flies radio controlled airplanes (and who taught me to fly my RC gliders) just uses empty fields, or whatever.

I'll look it up, but I get the impression that England's less into RC airplanes than America seems to be - as such most of the sites I've been looking at for advice are in the US.

When I said EP is easier, I only meant "easier to get going" as in, no starting kit/fuel/maintenence, etc. I dont expect the actual flying skill to be any different between electric powered or gas powered rc airplanes.

The RC plane I started with (Which on reflection was a TERRIBLE choice) was a balsa/ply kit that I built and covered myself. I fitted the radio gear myself, and then promptly smashed to bits the first time I took it up on the hill...

Since then, I've spent more time on another sturdier balsa glider, and also a nice forgiving foam V-Tail glider. I'm pretty confident with the latter, and have a reasonable amount of experience with mending smashed up planes. The V-Tail has aileron/elevator control, and the other two are elevator/rudder

I also have a Skysurfer (paramotor thing) which is pretty cool, I'm confident with that, doing spiral dives,stall loops,landing,take off,touch and go, etc. But I do realize that's a LOT slower than an actual RC plane.

That's also 2 channel (power/steering). I don't know if the skill with this would be transferable to a real radio controlled airplane though.

What exactly do you mean by control reversal? Is that just the case of steering in the opposite direction when the plane's coming toward you? Or something else that I've never heard of?!

Finally - I want to use ARF for several reasons - I imagine it'll be more satisfying flying something I've put together myself, rather than simply pulled out of a box and turned on.

Also, if I get a 3 or 4 channel RTF, then I'm limited to what expansion I can do in the future - I dont want to spend money on the RTF plane with radio system if in a few years time I need to buy a whole new Rx/Tx to progress.

Also, my crappy 2 channel radio I use for my gliders is getting tired, and a new set would help this out too!

Thanks for your help and advice, I'll try and take it in, and not rush out and buy something incredibly sexy that I cant fly...

Cheers,
Matt.

PS - Good website, by the way - loads of useful info!

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You're more experiences than you think!
by: Matt Brown

Control reversal is flying the plane when it is coming towards you.

It sounds like you are a lot more experienced than you give your self credit for. If it flies, it's real! To be honest, I think you will find a 3 channel plane much easier to fly than a 2 channel plane.

You have SOOO much more control over the plane when you have elevator.

I understand what you're saying about buying a park flyer and having another tx that you cant expand with.

I would definitely consider a PNP of some sort. That stands for plug and play. These will have the motor and esc installed. You supply the TX, RX, and batteries.

Bind-N-Fly is a new thing that ParkZone is starting to use. This is where the plane comes with everything including a Spektrum receiver. You supply your own Spektrum TX.
Here are some examples

From hearing more about your experience, I'd say you have the hard part down. I think it's possible you'd do OK with a low wing plane such as a Spitfire. But I'd lean more towards a high wing more stable plane and then move up. Many people learn with those small electric cubs.

Parkzone Spitfire

You also may want to take a look at Pete Carpenter's site. Pete's a good guy, and he's from England. Here is a link on his page for clubs in your area.

Thanks for the compliments on the page. It makes it feel worth it when I know people are actually benefitting from it.

Matt

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