So you want to fly RC?

Most of us in the hobby can't think of a better way to spend the weekend than 'moving the sticks'.  There's something about each successful flight that puts a smile on your face.

The first step to enjoyment of the hobby is taking the plunge and spending the money.  I know, that's a bit forward of me, but it is what it is.  This hobby is not cheap, but it doesn't have to eat you out of house and home either.  Once you get used to the hobby, your spending will drop considerably, unless you're like many of us who just can't live without that new model that just came out.  :)

Before you start looking at models, you should start on the AMA website.  You will want to fill out the online membership and spend the $58 to get your membership card on the way.  AMA membership is required at most flying fields for insurance reasons.

How should I start?

For years people got started by buying a nitro trainer plane, dragging it to the field, and spending time with an instructor.  This is still a great way to go.  You get to learn the hobby with someone who's been doing it for a long time.  They can pass along all kinds of information about model construction, radios, servos, control horns, linkages, and just about everything else while you learn to pilot your model.  If you develop a great bond, they may even help you put your model back together once or twice when you have unplanned surface to aircraft contact.  It doesn't just have to be a Nitro plane anymore.  Today's electric powered models can be an excellent way to get started in the hobby.  They're somewhat cheaper to operate, usually easier to fix, easier to maintain (no cleaning after flight), and often easier to transport.  For these reasons electric powered models are becoming increasingly popular today.  One example is the Apprentice from Horizon Hobby.  It comes with a 5 channel 2.4gHz radio (DX5E) and everything else needed to get in the air for around $300.  You'll probably want to pick up an extra battery or two and a fast charger in order to get some quality flying time in when you head to the field.  If you feel like you're not having fun unless you're making a bunch of noise, then you need a Nitro powered trainer.  There are a bunch of options in this realm.  They will run you $400-600 depending on the plane, transmitter and motor options that you choose.  For these you will also need a field box with a starter, glow plug ignitor, fuel, fuel pump, and a few assorted tools for changing glow plugs and tuning the engine.

There's another way to learn that is gaining traction.  It's the R/C Flight Simulator.  These simulators do just that, simulate actual R/C flight.  A good example is RealFlight version 5.5.  For around $200, you get a USB transmitter and the software.  The coolest thing about learning to fly R/C this way is that when you crash, a simple press of the space bar repairs your aircraft instantly.  I recommend crashing for many hours before getting cocky and trying the real thing on your own.  Once you've spent serious time on a simulator, you should find the transition into actual R/C flight to be much simpler.  You'll still need to spend some time with a field instructor just to make sure that your skills in real life are as strong as those on the computer screen.  But if you can take off and land your simulated model numerous times with wind conditions variable, you have a good shot of doing the same with a real one.  Many experienced pilots find the simulator to be an excellent way to learn a new maneuver or keep their skills sharp in the cold weather season.

Of course, if you go the simulator route, you'll have an extra $200 into the hobby, because you'll still need a plane.  Personally, I think the $200 is money well spent if you use the simulator the way it's intended.  It could help you make sure that your takeoffs and landings are equal in number.  Take it from someone who's crashed their fair share of models, there's something to be said for taking them home at the end of the day in one piece.

Bottom Line

The bottom line is that you'll spend between $400 and $800 to get started in this hobby.  Touching base with Dennis Sargent for guidance and pricing would be a smart choice.  He can help guide you based on your budget to getting the most bang for your buck both short and long term.  See the Vendors page for Dennis' contact information.