Nitro Yay or Nay?

[r/c basher]

Whats everyones opinion on nitro planes vs. electric? I've been looking real hard at the Alpha 40. I've been thinking about getting a nitro plane for a new project. Ever since I got into planes I've wanted a nitro plane. Nothing beats hearing the sound of a 2 stroke plane with a smoke trail. I have a nitro revo rc car, I use it alot more then my electric cars and it sounds alot more realistic.

I'm thinking it will hold my interest for a while. Looking at a trainer for now, even though I know how to fly, I want something easier to fly for my first nitro plane. I'm looking at the Alpha 40 RTF, the price of a ARF including servos and an engine comes close to the price of a RTF. I can sell off the Dx5e or keep it as a back up.

I'll be flying off of grass in a hay field, anyone know how well it will handle the grass? Hand launching won't be an option lol. I'll be able to mow the grass so it should be short enough.

[19000rpm]

The Alpha .40 is a good plane to start with your first nitro. Very stable.

The arguments for nitro/ vs. battery are ongoing and really boil down to your preferences and situation. If you like the sound, and don't mind the mess of fuel etc., enjoy tuning, like longer flight times and don't have an issue with neighbors objecting to the noise, then a nitro would be the way to go.

You already know about electrics...

[r/c basher]

All the reasons you mentioned is why I want to try nitro. I like the sound of nitro, my neighbors don't care, and I like tinkering with them.

Would nitro planes be to messy to hang in the house? I wouldn't dare putting my nitro cars in the house, but I would hate to have to put the plane in my shop in the basement where no one looks at it. I have the perfect place for it between my super cub and t28 on my ceiling lol. I wonder how easy it would be to clean them up after each flight?

I was looking at one on ebay, brand new BNF from Hobbemart but it already is at $295 and you can buy a new one with a Dx5e for $340.

www.ebay.com/itm/160877735804?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

I was also looking at the Hangar 9 P-51 Mustang MkII, its $60 more but comes with a Dx6i which I could sell for $100. People say it makes a great second plane and horizon says its a trainer. My runway is pretty rough though and Idk how it would handle it.

www.horizonhobby.com/products/p-51-mustang-mkii-pts-rtf-HAN4425#t1

Although for the same price as one nitro plane, I can have 2 to 3 electrics. Im also worried about never flying it, the plug n play of electric is what makes me fly the most. Most of the time when I fly its spur of the moment, and I dont want to spend an hour prepping to fly for 10 minutes.

[akphill]

I keep my nitros in the house no mess when you wipe them down
Takes 10 minutes to set them up to fly.
fuel and battery and install main wing go fly for the day not 10 minutes.
I say go for it

[19000rpm]

I guess it depends on how you look at set up & clean up. It's either just part of the process or a PITA.

Those appear to be good packages. The .40 Trainer P-51 is one I'm not familiar with.

The .40 size sport P-51 is a nice plane. secure.hobbyzone.com/HAN4440.html

The .60 Blue Nose is even nicer. secure.hobbyzone.com/HAN2420.html

Either plane may be OK for your field. It really gets down to the wheel diameter and grass condition.

You can't beat the electrics for convenience and price.

I think you ought to try one nitro and if you like it, fine. If not, well, then you'll know and not be wondering.

If I had a ready place to fly, with no noise concerns, I'd have a big nitro heli and plane and a gas turbine jet. That doesn't mean I'd give up electrics though.

[r/c basher]

Thanks Ak and 19k, I think I'll get a nitro plane. Its something that I haven't gotten into yet.

The .40 p-51 that you showed me I think is the same plane as the trainer, same specs and everything. I think the only difference is that the ARF is retract ready and doesn't come with the droops.

If I have to buy new I think I'll go with the P51 vs. the Alpha, both come with the same electronics and engine. But for $60 more I get the Dx6i. People say the P51 is a good 2nd plane so I shouldn't have any problem flying it. I just need to work on my landings.

[19000rpm]

Sounds like a good decision to me.

You'll want the flaps. The plane needs them to slow properly. Power on, slightly nose high, landings are something you'll master in no time.

Being able to add the retracts is a nice thing. The Eflite retracts are really well made though a bit on the expensive side. I wouldn't even consider the Hangar 9 ones. HK, and others, have some that will do the job for a lot less money.

[r/c basher]

Man I still can't decide which one to get, I want the Alpha for the simplicity of flying, but the P51 is the better deal with the Dx6i. Either one I choose I'm going to use my own Dx6i.

As far as landings goes, its not so much my skills, but that my field isn't usually well kept. I don't know which one would be better a tail dragger or a trike to land on rough grass.

[19000rpm]

Tricycle gear is the easiest to land; the condition of the landing area not withstanding.

One of the advantages of the tricycle plane is that nose overs are less likely to happen than with a tail dragger. A disadvantage to tricycle gears is the tendency for the nose gear to fold if too much stress is put on it.

If you've got a rough landing area then it will take luck, as much as skill, to get either a tail dragger or tricycle gear plane on the ground nicely.

When faced with a rough landing area challenge; search out the best of the bad surface and take off and try to land on that.

[r/c basher]

Thanks 19k, after my neighbor bales his hay I'll be able to mow with the mower so is should be a lot easier to land.

Another reason why I found it difficult to land is I was only using half of the field. I usually stand at the far end of the field and land with the plane coming at me. I would always run out of space to land. I don't have the best depth perception and what looks like the far end of the field is really only half of it. I found this out last night, by landing my scratchbuilt foamie aka basher plane by landing where I usually start to make my turn. Starting tonight I'm going to start flying on the edge of the field in the middle. Where I'll be able to use the whole field.

I'm thinking about going with the alpha 40 instead, I'm just afraid I'll nose over alot with the p51, I do it all the time with my super cub. But with the p51 I'll break props or worse if I nose over.


Flew my T28 Trojan, I definitely need to mow the grass in the field. I couldn't take off, and I nosed over most of the time on landings. Not a big deal for the T28 I usually belly land and hand launch but I wont have that option with the Alpha 40. I'm thinking about buying some big 3.5" or 4" wheels for the Alpha 40 when I buy it. That should help be able to take off and land.

[19000rpm]

Getting a useful look at a plane on final is a major part of a successful landing. Having a plane coming right at you makes it difficult to judge speed until it's right on top of you. Overshooting the preferred landing area is almost guaranteed. Placing yourself, as you do now, in the middle and side of the field is the way to go. I find that if you can place yourself close to the area where you flair the plane it's a lot easier to nail a good landing.

I think it is a good decision to add those larger wheels to the Alpha. It sure can't hurt. I've done that to a number of planes when I have difficult landing surfaces to deal with. You might try that with your t-28 too.

[Doozer]

Gas...err Coleman... is good

Less icky oily crap all over the place... unless you set it up fat.

[McKrackin]

Batteries are for flashlights.lol....

[Doozer]

Word!

[r/c basher]

Thanks for the input guys. Nice seeing ya around Dooz. Today I mowed myself a runway, and tonight I tried flying the T28 with a bigger 3" nose wheel. It did alot better but I just need to cut the grass shorter and my landings were alot better. I think if I have some big wheels on the Alpha and the grass cut shorter it shouldn't have any problem.

One thing you didn't mention about gas though Dooz is the expense of it. Price a gas plane compared to a nitro plane lol. Anyway I like the sound of the high revving 2 strokes better lol.