Helis & Planes Compared

[BTCat]

So I know what to expect from my Heli addiction and I love it. But I am also curious about RC planes. Seems there are quite a few multitasker's on the board. I want to know your opinions. Which one is easier? Which one do you like more? ... get more rush out of? Which one is cheaper? Etc, etc....

I wouldn't mind adding a plank to my collection, but I want to know more first, especially since the guys here can compare from a heli guy's perspective.

BTW, I'm doing some of my best flying right now AS I TYPE I got an injection in my neck and the proceedure made me higher than a nitro ;D So if I wake up tomorrow and none of this makes sense....

[r/c basher]

Believe it or not but I like flying my Hobbyzone super cub more than my helis. Flying airplanes are less stressful and cheaper to fly because you dont crash as much and even when you do you dont break alot of parts. Ive only flown my super cub though so I dont have any experience with any other plane. My super cub is alot of fun to fly and durable too. I fly it more than my g2. I think helis give more of a thrill though. For your first airplane I would recommend the hobbyzone super cub lp rtf. www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=HBZ7300 19k showed me it and Ive been enjoying flying it ever since I got it. If you do get an airplane youll catch on quickly since youve flown helis before.

[scarface26]

Comparing helis to fixed wings is like comparing blondes to brunettes. They are both a lot of fun, and are both a pain in the A$$ sometimes. Planes are somewhat easier to fly, and costs are about the same, although you will crash less frequently with the planes. The first decision is whether to get a foam plane or a balsa plane, either in a kit or in an ARF version. I would recommend a "foamie" to start out with until you can decide if you want to continue with planks or not. The Hobbyzone Super Cub LP (LiPo) is the one most recommended for beginners. It has a 4' wing span and is a 3 channel (no ailerons), which unlike helis is a better choice to start out with. A RTF kit is $180.00, and they are about to come out wirh a 2.4 Ghz BNF version that will work with a Spektrum DX6i, or DX7 transmitter for $160.00. PM me if you want more info.

[elkmaster01]

Planes are easier to fly and WAY cheaper,,,buying AND repairing. I have one prop plane,,,an ultra-micro P-51 and I have 6 EDF Jets. You can get the Flying Shark EDF RTF for about $130 delivered from HobbyCity. I love Warbirds mostly.

Helis are more fun,,,because it takes more talent and you can do more with them. Helis can get on your nerves and flying them all day will drain you. It's nice to fly a plane and relax a little while still having a bunch of fun.

[19000rpm]

Helis are definitely more challenging to learn how to fly. I mean, just hovering and forward flight is much more difficult with a heli than flying a basic plane. Anyone who can fly a heli will have a 3ch high wing plane in the air quickly with few crashes.

Like those above: I agree that you should start off with something like a Super Cub and if the bug bites there is plenty of room to move up to more challenging and expensive planes.

Planes "can" be much less costly to buy and maintain than helis. It really depends on how deep you go into the hobby. There are guys that spend tens of thousands on a single plane.

One of the nice things about planes is that they can be very relaxing to fly, or very challenging. For example: It takes some amount of skill and nerve to fly inverted 6" above the deck at 65-100mph, or flat spin until it's almost impossible to recover and then recover. If you move into 3D planes they can have you on edge almost as much as a heli. So, you've got choices; easy relaxing flying, or challenging, or anything in between.

I really like the availability of so many scale planes out there. Half the fun for me is doing a flyover of a plane that looks like the real deal.

If you get into planes; start with foam planes. They are very easy and cheap to repair. Tear off a wing and you can put it back together in a few minutes with CA or gorilla glue.

Happy landings

[BTCat]

Keep it coming, guys! This is exactly the kind of info I am lucking for. Of course I know I could get addicted to planes as well as helis if money were no object. Its amazing what effect "crash aversion" has on my flying these days. Cheaper is better for the moment and relaxing is also a plus. But I could see the need for speed when the good times start to roll again...

[19000rpm]

You're right about the potential of supporting both hobbbies as potentially expensive though the cost to keep a plane in flying condition is usually much less than a heli.

Happy landings

[scarface26]

I bought a small kodak pocket camera which records movies in 720P HD. I am going to strap it onto my Super Cub with electrical tape and take airborne movies. They call this "AP" for Aerial Photography. There are examples of this on You Tube. There are a lot of ways to enjoy flying planks as well as helis.

[akent]

BT, I'm now hopelessly addicted to homemade 'Foamies'!!!

My homemade foamie EDF jet lasted one flight. The second flight ended up with it nosed in, and in a few pieces! But all of the electronics and mechanics survived!
I'm building another one now, and am already making mods to the design! I think it will be more robust and awesome!

My homemade 3d Yak 54 is still flying! I have crashed that thing a few dozen times!! My hot melt glue gun and a few sticks of carbon fiber and it still flies! It's getting UGLY though.

I'm getting ready to build an EPP Yak 55. That will be interesting! The EPP sheets should arrive in a day or two.

These foamie things are incredible!

I built a 25" delta wing foamie with elevons that is just amazing. It is FAST, was only three pieces to cut out, and is amazing!

I love this stuff!

Best,
Kent

[19000rpm]

I agree Kent. You get a lot of bang for the buck with the foamies. I've only built a few, one being the R/CPowers F117, and it was easy to build and fun to fly. I plan on building a lot more at some point.

The plans run from free to cheap. R/CPowers has a Yak for free for example. The foam material; 10 bucks or less for the airframe and the power systems are also reasonable with a motor and ESC combo typically around 20- 40 dollars. Servos can be had for 4-7 bucks a piece. Radio? Throw in anything you like although some of the jet types require Elevon mixing.

Happy landings

[r/c basher]

I printed out those plans for the free 3d foamie from rcpowers. I might build it some day. But I instead got the hobbyzone super cub for my first plane.

[rcdbutz]

I am personally a big fan of my Typhoon2 3D from Parkzone. I've had many a crash on this one and it probably has a full package of hot glue holding it together, but I just love the way it flies. That's what's great about the foam, a little hot glue and your ready to go again. It's a 4-channel, which means it has throttle, elevator, aileron and rudder, but I still think it is way easier than a heli.

I'm sure you have a simulator, right BT? Chances are, that simulator also has some planes on it. Give those planes a try and see how well you do. If it's a handful, start of with something small and easy (the parkzone Vapor and Ember are great little 3-channel planes that are small and easy to learn on, as well as the Super Cub suggested above), but if you find it easy, then go ahead and get something with ailerons.

Nice thing about planes is that they are much easier to fly than helis. I like to fly a plane in between heli flights to calm the nerves and build confidence. Once you get the hang of them, they are actually quite easy and you don't have to constantly be on top of them like you do with a heli.

[Gabe]

Well, I gotta say that heli's fill your adrenaline need and like Elk said, they will drain you after multiple flights. They are definitely more challenging.

Planes however are just plane fun. I have 2 edf's, a Trojan T-28, and the ultra micro p-51 and I love them all. It can be an adrenaline filled ride but super relaxing if you want it to be.
Go get a plank and have fun. Definitely start with the Supercub.

[Solitaire]

OK BT, now that you have some replies, what have you got your eye on for your first fixed wing?

[BTCat]

Jan 29, 2010 2:14:28 GMT -6 Solitaire said:

OK BT, now that you have some replies, what have you got your eye on for your first fixed wing?

Super Cub, maybe this spring or summer ... late for work. No work, no toys ;D