New to the forum. Wanted to say hello.

[xeipher]

Hi,

My name is Pranab and I recently moved to South San Francisco from San Diego. Always wanted to take up RC plane flying, so a couple of weeks before leaving San Diego bought an Easy Star RTF kit.

So far I think I have had a total of 5 minutes of controlled flight . But, I am glad I bought the Easy Star. It can take quite a pounding. I also invested in a mock controller that can be hooked up to a PC and have been practicing with the FMS software. Was able to find an Easy Star module for FMS.

I am hoping to meet fellow enthusiasts who can guide me to becoming a better pilots.

Couple of questions
1) Looking to get some hands on experience from forum members on trimming my airplane. Have followed all the literature, but wanted to make sure I got it right.

2) Any suggestions for parks that are less crowded. Being a noob I do not like the thought of my plane crashing into other planes.

Welcome any and all advice.

Thanks

[Don Cohn]

Welcome to BayRC.com Pranab!

Where are you flying now? I know we have quite few members that live up the peninsula and some drive down to Baylands park in Sunnyvale or Rancho San Antonio in Los Altos.

That Easy Star you got is an excellent plane to start with. I know more than a few pilots here that cut their teeth on that model. If you can bring it down to Baylands Park in Sunnyvale, I'm sure that you'll find someone willing to ensure you have it trimmed out properly. We have a ton of newbie friendly pilots flying there on the weekends.

Cheers,

Don

[xeipher]

Thanks Don. Right now I am not flying at any park. With my skill set, I do not want to be a nuisance to other people. I was hoping to find a dedicated flying zone. Looks like Baylands is the one.

From your experience whens generally a good time to be at Baylands so I can meet other RC plane pilots?

Also, is it good practice to get an AMA membership?

Pranab.

[timdriedger]

Bayfront Park in Menlo Park would be a bit closer for you. A couple of us fly there. I've only ever seen one other RC pilot out there at the same time as me!

Let me know if you need any help. I live in San Carlos (just north of Redwood City). There is also a great little hobby shop called J&M in San Carlos.

Tim

[pemurray]

Welcome Pranab!

There are several people who can help you. George helps many new pilots, and there are several others who will help you as well

I recently started with RC and I also started with an EasyStar. There are several people who can help you get your EasyStar trimmed. I'll be happy to show you the rudder mod George suggested to me.

-Peter

[xeipher]

Thanks Peter and Tim. Have sent you PMs.

[dragonfly]

.

welcome to this great flying hobby.


www.bayrc.com is a good place to start with, locally.

You could also find great resources at these sites
http://www.rcuniverse.com/
http://www.ezonemag.com/
http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/

and many more sites, internationally... ex: like this site
http://www.rc-network.de/magazin/startseite.html

If you keep looking around your neck of the woods
I am very sure that you could find places to fly locally within
a few miles of your residency.

There are thousands and thousands and thousands
of RC flyers out there who fly their RC planes
at their local parks, local school yards, local church yards,
cult-de-sacs, local Soccer fields, local sport fields,
AMA sanctioned air fields .... on and on....

enjoy the sky

[sorenlaf]

Thanks Don. Right now I am not flying at any park. With my skill set, I do not want to be a nuisance to other people. I was hoping to find a dedicated flying zone. Looks like Baylands is the one.

From your experience whens generally a good time to be at Baylands so I can meet other RC plane pilots?

Also, is it good practice to get an AMA membership?

Pranab.

Baylands is not a dedicated flying zone, but on weekends, the rc flyers normally occupy a section of the field the same way as a group of people playing soccer would. Get there first and don't leave...

Week days are also good. There's a pretty regular group there at lunch, and often well before.

There are a lot of people there than will be able to help you with the setup, as well as talk you through a flight. For that matter, you can probably find someone to launch or land it if you'd be more comfortable that way.

Don't worry about being a nuisance, we were all beginners once.

Do ask questions - which you are already doing.

If you're using a non 2.4gig radio (72mhz or 27mhz), you need to post your channel # AFTER checking the existing posts to be sure it's not already in use. Two people on the same channel is a Bad Thing.

AMA membership is a good thing if only for the insurance coverage. My understanding is that it's secondary insurance and if you have home owner's insurance, that will be the primary insurance.

That said, I'm not yet an AMA member, and I suspect that many or most flyers at baylands are not. Organized flying clubs normally require it, as that's how they are insured. Parks seem to either permit electric rc planes or not. Insurance doesn't seem to be a factor.

Welcome to a great hobby!


--Soren