R/C plane for a 12 year old.

[Elderly]

Is there such a thing as a slow flying, nose-dive proof radio control plane suitable for a cocky 12 year old?

Recommendations please (if such a thing exists?).

[kimducati]

If you're starting from scratch, with no experience or expertise, then I'd recommend one of the little Volantex models, 400 - 500 mm wingspan, everything you need to get airborne in the box.
They're ultra light, so not suitable for a windy (or even slightly breezy) day at first, but they're pretty robust.
Alternatively, find a local club and see if they offer a taster lesson, that won't cost you anything!!
Kim

[clockworks]

I taught myself to fly with a Kyosho Minium Cessna. That Volantex seems to be the modern equivalent, but a bit bigger.

Small and light, so doesn't smash itself to bits in a crash, flies slow enough that inexperienced eyes can keep track of it.

[Elderly]

Thanks for the replies; I’d not thought about the combination of light weight and wind conditions….
I might have to think again about the idea, as every time I’ve visited his parents in their recently acquired barn conversion, the generous outdoor space seems very breezy.

[kimducati]

It's been breezy everywhere for months. Not sure if it's permanent, or a temporary weather event.
Certainly stopped me getting to the field as often as I'd like.
Still, we persevere!!

[GliderRider]

The OMPHobby T720 is well worth a look. It is designed to withstand the rough and tumble of learning to fly. I first came across it when a work colleague, who had not flown an R/C model before, bought one.

Features that impressed me, and I've been flying R/C for 49 years, are:

• The Expanded Polypropylene (EPP) airframe is very tough. The one I saw had been in trees several times and recovered with long poles, yet was still airworthy.
• Everything that usually gets damaged is designed to knock off without damage, i.e. wings & tailplane halves.
• Linkages from servos to control surfaces are all inside the model, so there are no nasty wire ends to impale you or delicate parts to catch on twigs if it does end up in a tree.
• Connections to ailerons and elevator that would normally get distorted in an 'arrival' are designed to separate without damage.
• Hitting a person, car or window is very unlikely to damage any of them as the soft black front cushions the impact.
• The pusher prop means it is out of harms way except if it flips over on landing.
• The lack of an undercarriage is actually a benefit. All they usually do on beginner's models is cause it to stop more quickly and either bend or tear out the undercarriage.
• An onboard autopilot helps stabilise the flight in beginner mode, making it very difficult to get into flight attitudes from which it would be hard to recover.
• The autopilot can be switched on or off from the transmitter, so when handing the transmitter between experienced and inexperienced pilots, the stability can be set accordingly.
• Even though the one I flew had spent over a week in the tree and I had had to bring the Lipo battery 'back from the dead', it still had a very long flight time, probably the 15 minutes mentioned in the advert, by sensible use of the throttle.
• Because it is under the current 250 gram limit to require CAA regulation, you don't need to take any online tests.
• Once you get the hang of it, it is easy to put exactly where you want it. We were repeatedly flying low circuits and catching it out of the air.
• The package comes with everything you need. You don't have to try and work out what bits you need. Open it up, put 4x AA cells in the transmitter, charge the battery, assemble it, go and fly!

Whilst I understand the appeal of flying in the back garden, I would strongly recommend early flights start with a trip to a large sports field or common, either very early in the morning or shortly before sunset, so you have the benefit of plenty of space, light winds and hopefully the place to yourselves.

Edited by GliderRider on Sunday 1st June 11:56

Edited by GliderRider on Sunday 1st June 12:00

[99flake]

kimducati said:

If you're starting from scratch, with no experience or expertise, then I'd recommend one of the little Volantex models, 400 - 500 mm wingspan, everything you need to get airborne in the box.
They're ultra light, so not suitable for a windy (or even slightly breezy) day at first, but they're pretty robust.
Alternatively, find a local club and see if they offer a taster lesson, that won't cost you anything!!
Kim

Another recommendation for the Volantex planes, I got my (also cocky) son two for his 12th birthday, the Cessna, which came with the controller, battery, charger etc and a P40 Warhawk, as a plane only.

The idea being that the Cessna should be easier to start on and then rebind the controller to the P40 once he had got comfortable (the battery is the same for both).

The gyro in them is amazing in beginner mode, makes them an absolute doddle to control, he loves his (although is still too scared to move onto the P40), I have given intermediate a go and it allows far more roll\bank angle for attempting manual stunts. Advanced (assists all off) and they fly very well indeed, but if there is a slight breeze you really notice how much the gyro was doing before.

There is also a button on top, for one click loops and rolls, which he likes, as it looks cool without the fear of crashing.

We have used them in gentle breezes, in a relatively confined space on the local cricket field, they have had the odd knock to the ground, no damage at all, the props are designed to unclip on impact and they come with spares in the box.

One tip, it is worth putting a tiny dab of some luminous nail polish on the nose cone of the prop, they are a right git to find if the pop off and bounce!

[Elderly]

99flake said:

kimducati said:

If you're starting from scratch, with no experience or expertise, then I'd recommend one of the little Volantex models, 400 - 500 mm wingspan, everything you need to get airborne in the box.
They're ultra light, so not suitable for a windy (or even slightly breezy) day at first, but they're pretty robust.
Alternatively, find a local club and see if they offer a taster lesson, that won't cost you anything!!
Kim

Another recommendation for the Volantex planes, I got my (also cocky) son two for his 12th birthday, the Cessna, which came with the controller, battery, charger etc and a P40 Warhawk, as a plane only.

The idea being that the Cessna should be easier to start on and then rebind the controller to the P40 once he had got comfortable (the battery is the same for both).

The gyro in them is amazing in beginner mode, makes them an absolute doddle to control, he loves his (although is still too scared to move onto the P40), I have given intermediate a go and it allows far more roll\bank angle for attempting manual stunts. Advanced (assists all off) and they fly very well indeed, but if there is a slight breeze you really notice how much the gyro was doing before.

There is also a button on top, for one click loops and rolls, which he likes, as it looks cool without the fear of crashing.

We have used them in gentle breezes, in a relatively confined space on the local cricket field, they have had the odd knock to the ground, no damage at all, the props are designed to unclip on impact and they come with spares in the box.

One tip, it is worth putting a tiny dab of some luminous nail polish on the nose cone of the prop, they are a right git to find if the pop off and bounce!

Is it this? I can't see a Cessna.

https://howesmodels.co.uk/product/volantex-sport-c...

The new barn conversion they live in has a 2 acre field (yet to be garden) so that should be enough space to start?

[Mazinbrum]

Get one that’s not nose dive proof to make him less cocky.

[clockworks]

I taught myself in a 2 acre field next to my house.

[GliderRider]

Elderly said:

The new barn conversion they live in has a 2 acre field (yet to be garden) so that should be enough space to start?

Is the 2 acres surrounded by open farmland, by woodland or by houses? If the former, then yes it should be fine. If either of the latter, you are going to be in turbulent air, and possibly not able to recover the model, or even see where it comes down when disorientation sends it going the wrong way.

I would strongly recommend a computer R/C model flight simulator so the muscle memory is there before taking to the air for real.

[99flake]

Elderly said:

Is it this? I can't see a Cessna.

https://howesmodels.co.uk/product/volantex-sport-c...

The new barn conversion they live in has a 2 acre field (yet to be garden) so that should be enough space to start?

Yes that's the one, in my head it said was a Cessna on the box (not hot on my light aircraft and that's what it kind of looked like to me). Great little bit of kit and really well priced.

[Elderly]

Thanks all, but I've just been over-ruled by his parents for reasons I do understand,
but I'll keep these planes in mind for a future present.

I'm going to get him a junior rally driving experience instead.