Possible to start off with an EDF?

[grategenin]

I want to start flying this Spring, with my Dad. I was wondering if it's possible to learn how to fly with an EDF, if I buddy box with a trainer at my local flying club.

Not the a-10 though

[chris.7935]

Shiit - Its possible I could win the lotto tomorrow...

Nah all kidding aside it really is possible it is just harder. There is not a lot of forgiveness when you slamming a ducted fan in to the ground at 80+.


Ducted fan does not necesarily make it harder to fly, it is the shape/location of the wing.  THe higher the wing is on the fuselage the more stable the plane will fly and the more likely it will be to "auto-correct" (when you just let go of the sticks and the plane will right itself.)

The shape of the wing also plays a big difference. The flatter the BOTTOM of the wing is the more the SLOW it CAN fly. This is espically helpful during take off and landing. A more symetrical wing will do 3d better (because the bottom and top of the wing are the same shape so it doesnt matter if you are upside down right side up, etc.. But the difference might be landing at 10-15 mph for a flat bottom wing - to 25-30+ for a symetrical wing.

The type of thrust doesn't matter that much. Front prop, back prop, ducted fan they are all just thrust. As long as you can get the center of balance right it shouldnt matter. (by the way the center of balance will make a huge difference. 1/2 inch off and the plane may fly like crap. take your time and get that part right no matter what type of plane you get.

[grategenin]

Shiit - Its possible I could win the lotto tomorrow...

Nah all kidding aside it really is possible it is just harder. There is not a lot of forgiveness when you slamming a ducted fan in to the ground at 80+.


Ducted fan does not necesarily make it harder to fly, it is the shape/location of the wing.  THe higher the wing is on the fuselage the more stable the plane will fly and the more likely it will be to "auto-correct" (when you just let go of the sticks and the plane will right itself.)

The shape of the wing also plays a big difference. The flatter the BOTTOM of the wing is the more the SLOW it CAN fly. This is espically helpful during take off and landing. A more symetrical wing will do 3d better (because the bottom and top of the wing are the same shape so it doesnt matter if you are upside down right side up, etc.. But the difference might be landing at 10-15 mph for a flat bottom wing - to 25-30+ for a symetrical wing.

The type of thrust doesn't matter that much. Front prop, back prop, ducted fan they are all just thrust. As long as you can get the center of balance right it shouldnt matter. (by the way the center of balance will make a huge difference. 1/2 inch off and the plane may fly like crap. take your time and get that part right no matter what type of plane you get.

Do you think the trainers would be willing to teach me on an EDF?

[VROOM]

 

[dallasflyfisher]

Sure it's possible, however ducted fans also have one other drawback.  Throttle response on EDF generally is not as quick as with a prop plane.  So when you find yourself in trouble at slower speeds the plane will not respond as quickly to throttle input.  In all honesty if you have never flown before I would suggest starting with a plane with a prop. Or if you are dead set on a ducted fan then I would certainly consider something like the Diablo from Hobbico.  It has the ability to use the training wings which have tip stall winglets, and once you master those you can get the advance wing kit and dual power pod.  It's not the cheapest jet out there, but it does give you a good dual purpose plane prior to ordering one of the faster more responsive kits from Hobbypartz.com

[dditch66]

+1 to all the above advise.
High wing prop plane with dihedral is MUCH better.

[Doushiyou]

Hey Bro i just bought a FA-18c EDF kit. It is going to be my first REAL rc airplane. I have actual flight experience but I will hit the simulator that came with the kit for about a month before the maiden flight. This way I can practice my orientation.

Kit should be here next week.

I am so pumped for the first flight.

Just as my first time behind the controls of a piper,  remember  SMALL CORRECTIONS

  to both of us    just stay cool

[JohnDoe]

It will be hard no lie I compare flying and EDF to a flying wing just a whole lot faster I would get a nice trainer with a nice amount of dihedral to get you comfy in the air then move on to the EDF not only will it teach you control but when you go to the field you can have twice as much fun.

[Doushiyou]

It will be hard no lie I compare flying and EDF to a flying wing just a whole lot faster I would get a nice trainer with a nice amount of dihedral to get you comfy in the air then move on to the EDF not only will it teach you control but when you go to the field you can have twice as much fun.

well i crashed. rubuilding right now. it was harder.

check out the video on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3JNa2fwkA8

[dditch66]

The hardest stuff about the non trainers is when things go wrong and recovering.  Rarely on a mainden flight is a take of so difficult that I can't recover some way to get it down unless there is a total failure of something.  When I've built it to spec and done my CG, usually it's peachy Keen, but I"ve flown other people's stuff where they just did not know better and took everything I had to get it down in one piece.  A high wing trainer stall charactoristics are very good and forgiving. That's why they are trainers.   

[chris.7935]

The hardest stuff about the non trainers is when things go wrong and recovering.  Rarely on a mainden flight is a take of so difficult that I can't recover some way to get it down unless there is a total failure of something.  When I've built it to spec and done my CG, usually it's peachy Keen, but I"ve flown other people's stuff where they just did not know better and took everything I had to get it down in one piece.  A high wing trainer stall charactoristics are very good and forgiving. That's why they are trainers.   

+1 getting the CG right is 99% of setting up those planes. being even a 1/2" off can make a big difference. The very first plane I had I turfed it on take off. Had no idea that the CG was so important. Since then no worries.

[dditch66]

I finally was able to watch the vid. It seems that even with a light camera,it's gonna be tail heavy which is the death of airplanes. Try and fly again w/o the camera next for a while.  Get it up a little high and do some oval circuits then firgure 8's. The glue from the rebuild can throw the CG off as well but if it's mostly up front, nose heavy is better than tail heavy.

[elkmaster01]

It's possible,,,,,'cause I actually did it. My first RC 'anything' was a 64mm F-4E. I got it at the same time I was learning helis. The biggest problem with starting out with EDFs is that the stall speed is much higher than high-wing trainer prop planes. By the time you get it in the air,,you are past the point of no return and it's either 'fly or crash' time. And since noobies don't have a clue about the 'feel',,,it's all luck at first. The flight controls on EDF are hard to rig and I haven't seen one yet that didn't need some help with expo. These planes need a experienced pilot to set them up and at least test fly before a beginner should attempt them. I learned my lessons,,LOL.

That being said,,,if a guy is intent on starting with an EDF,,,I'd recommend something a little tame. The Flying Shark from nitroplanes is a good starter EDF. It is very light,,,has a slow stall speed and handles well with lots of power. It hauls a$$ too. Put about 30% expo in the ail and elev and it handles very well. Because it is a tail-dragger,,,the take offs are a little long and it has no ground steering. But landings are short and it is so light it takes a crash very well.

My 2 cents!!

Randy