Need Advice For 7 Year Old

[r/c basher]

My neighbor's kids want to get their first plane. They always watch me when I fly mine and their grandma wants to get them one for their birthday. She came to me and was wondering what would be a good plane for them.

Their 7 year old triplets, I was thinking maybe a Hobbyzone Champ would be a good plane but I'm concerned that the controls would be to advanced for them since there only 7. The learning curve and attention span is different for young kids then say teens or adults. I'm not sure if they would ever pick up on it, I mean there the typical 7 year olds and theirs 3 of them. lol

What do you guys suggest, the grandma doesn't want to spend to much more than $80. I don't know if shes better off buying a 2 channel toy from say Walmart or get something like the Champ thats a little more advance.

[19000rpm]

7 is pretty young for all the reasons you mentioned. Not that there aren't exceptions. The more time they've spent with wii, sims, etc., can make a big difference.

I just went through a similar thing with a kid that watches me fly. He's now 9 and has had a Champ for 2 years. He can fly it very well now.

I help with a group of kids at the church school where we fly in the gym. We found that if we start the kids out at 8-9 with the principles of flight and gliders; then when they are 10 they transition into R/C very well. We use vapors. They fly the right speed for learning orientation and hand eye coordination.

We also tech seniors. One guy is 89. The look in his eye is about the same as a 10 year old when he's flying.

It's going to take a lot of patience with a 7 year old. And, some of grandma's dough for parts.

[Doozer]

The champ looks like a great Plane! I want to get one for my dad.
Here are some videos I watched:
You'll have to use the link on this one. Wouldn't show up for me even though it's Youtube
www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FAOv5qcBcdM#!



Here are my thoughts:
- 3 kids=3 battery packs (at least)
- 3 kids 3 times the wear and tear
- You'll want rechargeable batteries for the transmitter


Personally, and this would be my biggest concern, I think one plane and three kids sounds like a problem for many reasons.

[Raygun]

Hey I flew at 7 or so but it was a very very slow sail plane with a motor on it. It worked well because if you did nothing it landed it self it was very well balanced. Plus the guy that helped me was there giving me constant directions. These kids now days do a little better at remotes than we did there are much better radios than what we had. Ray

[r/c basher]

Thanks guys, I think 7 is just too young to get started in planes. It'd be a different story if it was a son of an experienced rc'er. And I can't be there every flight they take. Without the help of someone experienced I don't think the outcome would be good.

I might suggest they get a free flight plane first. Harbor Freight use to sell them for $6 I'm not for sure if they still have them or not.

You guys brought up really good points, 3 kids would cause 3 times the crashes. And whose to say the first kid crashes before the others even get to try totaling the plane. I just see disaster happening the more I think about it.

I might buy a champ and let them try it. That way I'll be there every flight they take and there will be a better chance of them learning to fly. It'd be a good excuse for another plane anyway lol.


I taught my 6 year old nephew how to drive rc cars when he was 3, that was alot simpler. We first started out on a toy from walmart but it was junk, it didn't even have enough power in the driveway. So I handed him the controls of my brushless stampede with the dual rate on the throttle to 50%. He loved every second of it but I think he's already lost interest. Now its all about legos and Ipods.