Just adding my experience for posterity;

I wanted to get my son involved in RC flight. There is a gas station called Kvindlog (???) near us that, oddly enough, has a huge assortment of RC stuff, boats, cars, planes parts, it's really amazing. I've been toying the the idea for years. It looks like fun so I made the plunge and our week went as follows:

I decided to get my son an Aerobird Challenger. It's a basic battery operated 3 channel. This based on the box mainly because the owner wasn't there at the time. We watched the video, read the instructions, assembled it and took it to the park we live by. It's pretty big-a baseball diamond makes up about an eighth of it. My son and I took turns planting it into the trees and retrieving it. We pounded that poor plane into the ground countless times until finally, the fuselage buckeled and the circuit board broke. The Aerobird challenger was now future spare parts.

The problem, I decided, was the plane was too fast. We were having a hard time keeping track of it. I saw something called the Slo-V online and decided to go back to Kvindlog and buy one of those. Sure enough, they had it. We took it home, assembled it, and withing 1 hour had snapped the fragile fuselage and bent the prop shaft.

Okay-The first one was too fast and a nose dive killed it. The second one was okay but really fragile. I went online and found the Firebird Commander II. It had ACT-anti-crash technology and a rubber nose that I thought would hold up better in a crash. Back to Kvindlog to buy that one. Again-they had it, along with the spare parts I needed to repair the Slo-V. We dutifully assembled the Firebird, made sure that there was NO wind, and went flying. I let my son go first as I was responsible for destroying the Aerobird and disabling the Slo-V. The poor kid needed a break! Unfortunately, the Firebird works a bit differently so he had a hard time adjusting to making the plane climb with throttle rather than tail flaps. After two tries I decided to give it a go. I launched it and it soared like an Eagle! I sent it across the park and gracefully brought it back towards us climbing gradually and circling overhead to head back away from us. This was the plane! We did it! We watched it fly to the east. And fly......and fly....
My son figured maybe I better turn around. I thought I did, but it seemed to be getting farther away! Now I couldn't tell what direction it was going. The last we saw of the firebird, it was in a steep dive (so much for act :o ) and heading for points that remain unknown.

Needless to say we were a little dissapointed. That said, I know we went about it all wrong. Unfortunately, with our busy schedules, I don't have time to go to an instructor. I fixed the Slo-V, and gave it another go this evening. Success! Finally I was able to keep the thing airborn and even control it.

So, as a first plane the Slo V is a decent plane because it's, yes, slow. One just has to be very careful to fly in calm conditions and have spares on hand.

i don't know how to post a connecting link, but go to flyingthingz and check out the flying lawnmower video. really cool.

When I gave up my 15 year RC plane and heli habit I could then afford a 911......you make the choice..... :)

I can see that happening. I'm into the "sport" by $400 and it's been a week!

I'm sorry Bob, but this just made me laugh!

Helo's are THe toughest thing to fly for newbies. I was involved in the sport (gas planes/gliders) and the best advice anyone ever gave me was "Once you become an accomplished rc pilot and then you try and learn how to fly helo's"

If you are dead-set on helo's then buy the largest you can afford. Like 1/5 scale. The larger the craft, the easier it is to maintain control and less ground effects have on the craft just as you are taking off and landing.

When I was in it 20 years ago, I spent @7K in a 1 year period. Silly

You should have been there! I'm sure it was even more comical in person. Don't even get me started on our foray into rockets.:rolleyes:

The neighbors still laugh when we walk past with anything headed for the sky.

Ha - it is fun to read this thread. I am something of a lurker / p-car shopper looking for the right time to get into this (just had a baby - so I just don't know if I have anything near the free time to pick up a p-car at this moment. I have flown an RC plane exactly once since baby was born).

So, clearly the quote above resonates with me.

For the record, I learned to fly heli's first - then went to fixed wing. I like fixed wing better - it is far more relaxing. On a relative scale, planes fly themselves. You need to be constantly on top of a heli - and when it does go down (and it WILL) repairs cost (litteraly) 10x in comparison to a similar heli crash. So the stress is two fold: staying on top if it, and worrying that your are going to fly it into the ground. That said, if you are into it - great - just be prepared for a long(er) learning curve, and don't get discouraged.

Oh - and if anyone is intersted in a used Logo-10 electric heli, I am willing to part w/ mine for the right price. PM me. ;)

I bought the $30 "yellow bee" from Harbor Fright. The d@mn thing can take off under it's own power in a parking lot. It's the best plane I've seen for $30, flies well, but the dual prop setup takes a bit of practise. If you crash it, oh well it's only $30.