Mississauga Model Flying Club.

We play it safe….

Thinking of getting started?

Where to begin…

 

The first thing you should probably do is take a good look around the field, get a few magazines and read them cover to cover, just to make sure that you are interested and won’t regret spending a bit of money on your first model, which should be a trainer.

 
How much does it cost?
A lot depends on your budget. You can spend as little as $100 or as much as $1,000 on the basic equipment. Average cost for a complete (but no frills) beginner package runs around $350-$550.

How fast does a model go?
Trainers usually cruise at 25-30 mph and can land at speeds as slow as 12-15 mph. However, there are also unmodified, off-the-shelf airplanes that can deliver speeds of up to 200 mph!

How far can a model fly?
The range for a modern R/C system is about a mile. But to maintain control, you need to have your model close enough to tell what it is doing. Even a plane with a 5-6 foot wingspan looks tiny at half a mile.

What happens if I run out of fuel in flight?
Contrary to popular belief, you have control even if your engine stops running. You just glide your plane in for a "dead stick" landing. The radio system has its own batteries for power.

 

A few things to consider:

RTF Package—Ready to fly. Preassembled, only needs a few minutes for final assembly. They include your plane, engine and radio gear, which you can reuse after you’ve mastered your trainer. Probably the best choice for first timers. It will help you understand how everything works. Here is a great example.

Hobbico Nexstar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARF Package—Almost ready to fly. 90% preassembled, the wings are covered, usually only require a few hours of work. You have the opportunity of choosing your engine and radio gear.

 

Kits—Comes with plans and a lot of balsa and plywood. You will have to construct it following the plans, then cover it and add your engine and radio.

 

Is it hard to learn to fly RC planes?

It’s not hard or dangerous if you fly at a designated flying field with an instructor, but they should not be considered toys, but aircraft that operate very much like a full-sized plane.

IMPORTANT:

To fly at our field, you will need a few things.

A plane to begin with, and MAAC coverage.

What is MAAC?

MAAC (Model aeronautics association of Canada) the official governing body of model aeronautics.

MAAC will provide you with insurance coverage for a minimal amount of money.

Why do I need insurance?

We are humans and we make mistakes. Can you imangine what would happen if you flew your plane through a windshield of a very expensive car? Or worse hit someone. A five pound model traveling at 90 miles per hour can very seriously injure someone. MAAC will cover any damage you’ve caused by technical failure or errors, even pay your legal fees in case your are being sued.

Visit www.maac.ca for more details.

But if you pay attention to your instructor and experienced pilots, you can be very safe and fly forever without incidents.

 

Electric or Glow?

 

 

 

 

 

Some people prefer electric over gas. No messy fuel, not much noise, no engine tuning problems, but your flight times will be considerably lower than with glow. There are options that will expand performance and flight time, like Li-poly batteries and brushless motors, but it may cost you more than a good glow engine. An average electric trainer will only fly about 8-10 minutes on a single charge, where with glow you get about 10 minutes on a tank, but you can just refuel it and keep flying.

 

Is operating a glow engine dangerous?

 

It’s not dangerous if you have someone with experience guide you through and you follow the manufacturers recommendations.

 

What fuel do they require?

 

Generally glow engines run on 70% methanol, 16-22% castor or synthetic oil for lubrication, and 0-30% nitro methane to help the engine burn the fuel faster and more efficiently.

 

Choosing the Size of Your Plane

The "size" of a model plane generally refers to the size of engine, in cubic inch displacement, required to fly it successfully. The most popular sizes are 20 (requiring a .20-.36 engine), 40 (.40-.53 engine) and 60 (.60-.75 engine). Many other sizes are available, too, ranging from small, .049-powered craft up to massive, giant-scale models.

Most trainers fall into the 40-size category. That's because 40s are fairly stable, with enough heft to fly well in breezy conditions, but still small enough to be affordable for new hobbyists. Many 60-size trainers are also available, and offer the advantage of even greater stability—plus easier visibility once aloft—both due to their larger dimension.

 

Radios:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

R/C planes are controlled by a radio system that consists of a transmitter—which stays with you on the ground—plus a receiver, servos, and receiver battery (all of which are "on-board" components, mounted inside your model). Most aircraft radio systems come with everything you need, including a rechargeable battery pack.

As mentioned earlier, first-time pilots should always seek the help of an instructor. And an important part of working with an instructor is making sure that both of you use radios with "trainer system" or "buddy box" capability. The trainer system allows you to connect your radio to your instructor's, using a cable. You'll still be the one controlling your model, so long as your instructor holds down the trainer switch on his transmitter. But if you start having trouble, all the instructor has to do is release the switch to take over full control.

Most trainer planes require a radio with at least four channels of control, to operate the throttle, elevator, rudder and ailerons. But not all 4-channel radio systems come equipped with the necessary four servos. Make sure your system has as many as your plane requires.

 

For more information about how to get started, please contact us or visit a hobby store in your area.

www.hobbyhobby.com