Poll: Best Beginner’s Plane?

Each of these has very strong points as a beginner’s choice.

Each of these has very strong points as a beginner’s choice.


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4 Responses to “Poll: Best Beginner’s Plane?”

  1. Doug says:

    The slow stick looks like an easy plane to fly but I think it is too fragile for a first plane. The Easy Star is easy to fly and it is easier to build than a wing.

    Wings can be built to be indestructable but they present other challenges to beginners. It can be difficult to set up the evelons on a wing and covering them is a chore. They are much easier to fly with exponential in the TX but adjusting that or even understanding it can be a challenge to some beginners. Fortunately wings can be built to be indestructable as evidenced by my EdgeRC Overlord.

    Since the Mini Mag’s prop on the front of the plane, I think the Easy Star would hold up better to beginner abuse.

    If you spend a lot of time with a simulator before your first flight, the Easy Star might be a better first plane because it is easy to build straight and true. If you don’t spend time with a simulator, a tough built large (48″) wing can take the abuse a beginner without simulator experience would give it.

    I think learning with a simulator and then an Easy Star is the easiest and best way to learn to fly RC planes but if you really enjoy a hardware challenge and and have a friend to help set up your transmitter, a big wing is a good way to go. Also, wings continue to be more fun to fly than the Easy Star and with wings you can increase the excitement by making them faster and/or smaller and eventually there is the combat option.

    How many times can we vote? I want to vote four times for the Easy Star and once for a wing.

  2. petej says:

    Thanks for the thoughtful reply, Doug.

    I’ve been a bit disappointed that so far no one else has commented on the vote. I’m particularly curious to know the Other planes people wanted to suggest. I hope they’re not those nasty v-tail Aerobird-style things.

    One vote per person, I’m afraid.

    I voted for a wing, but if I had two votes I would have voted for the Easy Star, too.

    The Slow Stick has two main virtues: it’s really cheap and it flies slowly. But I think it’s too fragile for a beginner. (Mine was for me!)

    The Easy Star is a bit expensive, but it’s reliable and durable and it wants to fly. You need to add a bit more surface to the rudder for good control, but otherwise it flies great.

    I threw the Mini Mag in because it’s a fine plane and it offers ailerons + rudder, but it’s also kind of pricey.

  3. Dave says:

    Wing wing wing. A beginner’s wing shouldn’t be covered. Then again, neither should anyone else’s. Easy to build, invulnerable, easy to fly if built light.

    I thought about clicking other and saying Boomer, but now that ain’t so easy to build or as durable.

    Wing wing wing. Cheap, too! Heck, build one of those full-size Strykers like mine and you’re cheap AND easy.

    Dave