Advice for Beginners.

The following information is offered as guidance to help you avoid purchasing unsuitable equipment and incurring unnecessary expense.

If you have never flown an RC aircraft before you need to be very careful about the model that you choose to learn to fly on as the wrong choice can be frustrating and expensive. People new to the hobby often buy unsuitable models or radio equipment and have to replace it at considerable expense before they can learn to fly.

Advice on equipment, building, setting up a model and training is readily available in most clubs. If you do not already own a model or RC equipment it is strongly recommend that you do not buy anything until you have spoken to an experienced RC pilot. If you are planning to join a club wait until you are a member and seek advice from their trainers as to the most appropriate equipment as there are advantages in operating equipment that is similar to that generally in use in the club. If your radio equipment is compatible with that of your trainer a dual control system (buddy box) makes learning much easier.

Many RC aircraft advertised as trainers are too small and light to be flown in all but the calmest conditions but are often recommended because they appear to be cheap or in stock. Your first model needs to be a high wing trainer that is big enough to fly in a wide range of weather conditions and although not as attractive as a Spitfire or Mustang they are designed to be stable and have very forgiving flight characteristics. They are able to fly relatively slowly and give beginners time to rectify their mistakes as well as being able to take the inevitable bumps and bangs they will suffer in the hands of someone learning to fly. Although, some of the latest models have self-righting built into their electronics, which undoubtedly will help the novice, do not believe anyone who tells you that this makes it possible to learn to fly safely without assistance.

You should not attempt to fly a model until an experienced pilot has checked it out or try to fly it on your own if you have not flown before. Not only can it prove expensive, but also, in certain circumstances, dangerous.