A Radio Control Aircraft Club specializing in sailplane and electric powered RC aircraft
Introduction aux avions RC pour débutants
Randall Stark 2022, Revision 1
This article is composed of three sections:
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Beginner sailplane
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Information on radio systems
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Information on power plane trainers
Section 1: Beginner sailplane.
The Introduction F5J, would make a superb first sailplane.The Introduction sailplane uses traditional wood construction and has superb building instructions and plans. It uses a small brushless electric motor to get it to altitude. This sailplane’s control surfaces are rudder, elevator, and flaps, along with throttle for the motor. There is also a version of this airplane which has ailerons called the Inside F5J. If you like this airplane, the Introduction full kit would be a good starting point and as you progress in you skills you could change the wing to the aileron version for a step up in skill level. A separate wing only Inside F5J kit is available at the place I have linked below, but you need to contact them as it doesn’t seem to be listed on the website. This makes this airplane very versatile and a great value.
YouTube video on the Introduction sailplane
The Introduction full kit
(the components that Hoelleinshop recommends on their website are all top quality and if you were to stick with their recommendations I think you would be very pleased with the outcome. I have listed below alternative servos which are s marginally larger and the brand I perfer.
Flap servos – 2 pieces (flap servos are typically slightly higher torque than the other servos in the aircraft and also metal geared. This is because flaps tend to have higher flight loads when deployed and they sometimes strike the ground upon landing if not retracted just as the airplane touches the ground. The metal gear protects the geartrain from damage.)
https://www.amainhobbies.com/savox-sh0255mgp-digital-metal-gear-micro-servo-sav-sh-0255mgp/p1441652
or as recommended by Hoelleinshop-
Rudder and elevator servos – 2 pieces
or as recommended by Hoelleinshop
Brushless motor as recommended by Hoelleinshop
Electronic speed control or commonly referred to as an ESC ( I prefer Castle Creations ESC’s on my better aircraft and find them very reliable.)
or
https://www.castlecreations.com/en/talon-2/talon-25-esc-010-0128-00 and the programming device for the ESC https://www.castlecreations.com/en/castle-link-v3-usb-programming-kit-011-0119-00
(a coupon for this device may come with the Talon 25 ESC so you can get it for free, check the box)
Spinner “middle part” or yoke. The size needed is 35-3.0-8, which corresponds to 35mm spinner diameter, 3.0mm motor shaft diameter, and 8mm propeller shoulder width
Folding propeller, size needed is 11×6 with 8mm shoulders where it fits into the spinner yoke. 11 inch diameter and 6 inch pitch. https://www.hoelleinshop.com/Aeronaut-CAM-Klappluftschraube-11×6.htm?shop=hoellein&SessionId=&a=article&ProdNr=AN723439&t=49302&c=62218&p=62218
Battery to power both the motor and radio in the sailplane. The ESCs suggested has a built-in circuit that allows this to be done safely, commonly known as a BEC or Battery Eliminator Circuit. No need for two batteries. https://rcbattery.com/liperior-1300mah-3s-45c-11-1v-lipo-battery-with-xt60-plug.html
Covering material, lot of choices here. I personally prefer a brand called Oracover (Ultracote in the US). If you’ve never used this kind of stuff before it is an iron on material that has a built in adhesive, and shrinks tight at a temperature higher than which it sticks. Oracover is light weight and goes around compound curves superbly. It will take probably 3 rolls of this to cover the Introduction. Search the following linked website for a range of colors. Here it is in white. https://www.horizonhobby.com/product/ultracote-white/HANU870.html Hoelleinshop sells it too.
Section 2: Information on radio systems
As for a radio system (transmitter and receivers) you have many choices, and RC pilots have all kinds of differing opinions. If you are serious about getting into the hobby buy into the future a bit and get a transmitter that you can grow into. Buying a low-end unit with limited functionality will quickly become a shelf queen and never get used. Buying a unit with a broad range of programming features and memory will serve you will for many models and years to come. One good transmitter may be all you need and will work with many models. Most have multiple model memory, and many have memory capacity that can be increased.
Radio brands that you might consider as a start.
Spektrum – Popular in this area with many pilots using this brand. Many SKSS members fly with this brand. Using this brand might be helpful if you need assistance in programming the radio (actually pretty easy and the manuals are good). They have a wide range of features and a good reputation for reliability and service, if ever needed. They also have a pretty good range of compatible receivers for different applications. A small discus launched glider might require a tiny 4-6 channel receiver whereas a competition or scale sailplane with a sophisticated 6 servo wing, rudder, elevator, motor control and possible tow release might require a 9 or 10 channel receiver. If your transmitter is capable of all this stuff you only need to buy a receiver that is correct for the airplane, and you are set. No need to buy another expensive transmitter. The following linked transmitter would be along the lines of what you would want. I don’t claim to be a Spektrum expert, so a little research is prudent. https://www.towerhobbies.com/product/nx10-10-channel-dsmx-transmitter-only/SPMR10100.html
Futaba – This brand has been in existence since 1962 and is the most established brand of RC systems. I’ve been using Futaba radio systems for 46 years. Not as popular on the East coast as Spektrum, and not as popular with sailplane pilots as other brands. Futaba also manufacturers industrial radio control systems. I currently have multiple Futaba transmitters and use them almost exclusively. (I do have one other brand I exclusively use for two large scale sailplanes.) The transmitter the SKSS Kadet trainer is equipped with is a middle of the range Futaba seven channel that works like a champ and is great for training. Futaba has multiple transmitting protocols, and the following transmitter can do them all. I would suggest the following if you are seriously considering entering the hobby and want Futaba. This is Futaba’s latest technology and should be ready for any future FAA requirements. https://futabausa.com/product/transmitter-16iz/ or https://www.towerhobbies.com/product/16iz-18-channel-fastest-transmitter-only-air/FUT011023481.html You want an “Air” version, not a “Heli” version.
The other transmitter in the Futaba line worthy of consideration is https://futabausa.com/product/14sg/ . I own this one and use it extensively. https://www.amainhobbies.com/futaba-14sga-2.4ghz-14-channel-radio-system-airplane-fut01004364-3/p645525 But, if I were in the market for a new transmitter I really would go with the 16iz simply because it is designed towards the future.
FrSKY is another brand that was quite popular because it has open source programming. It doesn’t appear to be as popular as it was a few years ago, and I don’t know why. I’m not in need for open source programming and therefore can’t speak much to these radios. https://www.frsky-rc.com/
Graupner RC systems is a company that used to be German but is now South Korean. Graupner RC systems were made by Futaba in the past and rebranded but are now made in house in South Korea specifically as Graupner. They have recently developed a good following but are not popular in this area. It is still rather rare to see one. https://www.soaringusa.com/graupner-mz-16-16ch-rc-system.html
Jeti RC systems. Hi quality systems, but not as sailplane oriented as a Futaba or Spektrum systems. Every time I look at them, I end up thinking they are overly complicated, and that’s not what I want in a RC system. https://www.espritmodel.com/jeti-duplex-2-4ghz-900mhz-radio-systems.aspx
Power Box Core RC systems. If you recently won the lottery and want the absolute best RC system on the planet, then this is what you need. You will certainly impress everyone else at the flying field with you choice in radio, although most will probably not recognize the brand. https://www.powerbox-systems.com/en/products/radio-system/fernsteuersystem/radio-system-core.html
Other brands exist, but I would steer away from the anything not on this above list. A quality RC system is critical, and good systems are only slightly more money than the cheap stuff that just looks pretty. Spread spectrum technology has made the RC hobby radios very reliable, but the best brands have the most solid radio links between the transmitter and receiver.
As for a receiver. It needs to match your transmitter brand and transmitter’s protocol. For instance, if you purchased the Futaba 16iz you have the multiple options in receivers as shown on this webpage, https://futabausa.com/product/transmitter-16iz/ . I’d probably buy a Futaba R617FS, https://www.towerhobbies.com/product/r617fs-7-channel-fasst-receiver/FUTL7627.html, as it has 7 channels and will work with airplanes needing up to 7 channels. It uses Futaba’s FASST protocol which is superb, and the price is very good for a high end receiver. This receiver would work on the Introduction which needs only 5 channels, but the aileron wing Inside version needs a 9-channel receiver. Receivers that are made to work with your chosen brand and model of transmitter by other companies exist, but I would caution you to be very careful in the purchase of some of these as fake inferiors knock off models don’t typically work correctly and will cause you to crash. (One of the guys I fly with just got stuck with 3 inferior clones and would have lost a brand-new airplane due to it if it had not been noticed. The signal was basically getting dropped and the servos were freezing in place momentarily when they should have been moving. He thought he had saved money, but instead he almost lost a brand-new high-quality sailplane. Fortunately, the clones only set him back about $100. He replaced them with genuine Spektrum units.
Section 3: Information on power plane trainers
Apprentice trainer with a stabilization system
https://www.horizonhobby.com/product/apprentice-sts-1.5m-bnf-basic-smart-trainer-with-safe/EFL3750.html This airplane is designed to be used specifically with a Spektrum transmitter, which must be purchased separately. It will also need a Lithium Polymer 3 cell/ approximately 3200 mah battery that will fit in the battery cavity in the airplane. Spektrum brand sells Lithium Polymer batteries and chargers, but they are wildly overpriced. I’d look elsewhere, like https://rcbattery.com/ for batteries and at Hitec chargers https://hitecrcd.com/products/chargers/acdc-chargers . This charger in particular https://hitecrcd.com/products/chargers/acdc-chargers/rdx1-pro-/product or here https://www.amainhobbies.com/hitec-rdx1-pro-single-channel-ac-dc-charger-6s-10a-100w-hrc44246/p682456
Timber trainer with stabilization
https://www.horizonhobby.com/product/turbo-timber-evolution-1.5m-bnf-basic-includes-floats/EFL105250.html This airplane will also need a Spektrum transmitter and LiPo battery and charger.
Primo trainer airplane that was hanging in the SKSS building. Made from foam.
https://dynamstore.com/dynam-primo-1450mm-pnp-rc-airplane This airplane does not come with a receiver or transmitter, and you will need both to fly it. Any brand will work fine as almost all RC servos are designed to work with all brands. The radio requirements are like the Introduction sailplane scenario I outlined earlier.
Kadet Seniorita
This is a different, but very similar, version of the Kadet that SKSS has as a trainer. The Kadet that SKSS has was originally designed to use a nitro burning engine but has been modified for electric. (The SKSS field only allows sailplanes and electric powered models, not nitro or gas burning models. ) This model will fly very similar to the Kadet you flew. This particular version is an ARF, or almost ready to fly. It will require a transmitter, receiver, servos, motor, prop, speed controller, Lipo battery, battery charger and probably some other more minor components to get it in the air. Picking the motor/speed controller/prop/battery combination is sometimes a challenge if you are not familiar with the process. Ecalc.com is an online calculator that I use, along with a little experience. It makes the process much easier. The price for eCalc is cheap at about $15 annually if you do this kind of thing all the time.
SIG KADET SENIORITA SPORT ARF (DUE IN NOVEMBER]
This is the stock Kadet MK2 kit. SKSS’s version has had extensive changes done to it to make it electric powered and a tail dragger instead of a tricycle landing gear. I would not suggest attempting these modifications at this point. Just buy the Kadet Seniorita if you like this airplane.
There are pros and cons to learning on a power plane, like the Kadet, versus a powered or unpowered sailplane. If you are interested in flying both types of aircraft, then you could start with either. If you are only interested in sailplanes then go with something like the Introduction, and just take advantage of the club’s trainers to learn the basics of flying. It won’t take long. If you build your own airplane, that also won’t take long. The club’s training airplanes fly well but flying your own is especially fun.
I initially learned to fly on a Sig Kadet 46 years ago. I like flying both power models and sailplanes, but quite frankly sailplanes are more fun. Sailplanes pose the challenge of flight without constant motor power, and thermal hunting is fun. Sailplanes are also used for slope soaring, and I do that as well in Jefferson Maryland. There is a group of SKSS members, and members of two other soaring clubs in Maryland, that also slope soar at the Jefferson site when the conditions are correct.
If you made it this far you are probably genuinely interested in getting into this hobby. I think you will find that most RC pilots are fanatics and love the hobby. As a club SKSS is terrific. The field is one of the best I have ever flown at, and the membership is composed of great people. Several SKSS members, myself included, live down in the Washington DC area and drive about 2 hours one way to get to SKSS simply because it is such a nice place to fly.
I’m available to answer questions, and if specific help on Spektrum radios is needed many of the SKSS members who fly them will be happy to answer questions, and I’ll provide guidance to someone who will help if necessary.
Randall Stark