The first question is "How do I get started?" The purpose of this page is to give you, the beginner, some pointers on how to answer that question. If you ask "how do I start" from every pilot out there, you'll get as many answers as there are pilots, but most of them will probably agree on most of the following points:
The first, and most important, step is to get help. There are self-taught pilots out there, but they are very rare indeed. If you ask most of them, they will tell you about the many airplanes they crashed and destroyed while learning to fly. Having someone with you to guide you through those first days in the air can mean the difference between success and utter failure. So, how do you get help? The best approach (at least in the US), is to find the closest AMA chartered club
in your area. It's easy, click on this link : AMA Website
This will take you to the AMA website. Once there, click on the menu item "About AMA", then select "Chartered Clubs" from the pull down menu. This will take you to a list of clubs by district, from which you can browse through to find your local club(s). Once you find one, contact the club and schedule a visit. Your local AMA club can give you a much better introduction into R/C than this webpage. If you're serious about the hobby, you will need to join the AMA (US only). Membership currently is $58/yr, and includes insurance if you happen to cause personal or property damage to someone else. Most clubs won't let you fly at their field unless you are a member.
The next question most beginners will ask is "How much does it cost?" Like any hobby, the answer to that question isn't simple, but we normally tell beginners to plan on spending $400 - $500 to start. From there, like any hobby, the sky's the limit! (No pun intended).
So, what do you need to start? That depends on many factors, and is best answered by talking to your local club members. At minimum, you will need a trainer airplane, (sure, that fancy biplane at your corner hobby shop looks great, but it will still be there next year, after you've gained the skills and experience needed to fly it), an engine, radio equipment, fuel, a method of getting the fuel into the plane, a glow starter, and a method of spinning the engine up to starting speed. Let's take a look at these items one at a time, along with our club recommendations on possible selections.
The Trainer
A beginner's first airplane should always be a trainer. These planes are designed to be easier to fly, and even have limited abilities to get themselves out of trouble, assuming the beginner is willing to just "let go of the sticks" and let the plane fly. You have two choices to make here : power and construction. Power can be either glow (a piston powered engine using "glow fuel"), or electric. Our club flies mostly glow powered planes, but electrics are becoming more and more popular. Again, check with your local club. This page addresses glow powered planes, see our links page for information on electrics. A beginner can build the trainer from a kit, but today's ARF (almost ready to fly) planes are generally of excellent construction and value, and get the beginner into the air a lot quicker. The choice, of course, is up to you. Some people really enjoy the building process, while some just want to "put some air under those wings".
The Engine
Again, we're talking glow fuel here. The engine should be matched to the plane, per the kit manufacturer's recommendations. Again, your local club members are the best source for help. Most glow engine trainers are in the "40" range. This means .40 cu in of displacement. Don't let that small engine fool you, a 40 engine, turning an 10 or 11 inch diameter propeller at 10,000 to 15,000 rpm can be dangerous. In this, as in all hobbies, safety first! is the prime rule. These engines and planes can cause serious injury, and even death if used carelessly.
The Radio Equipment
Here too, the beginner is presented with a bewildering array of choices. Again, the best bet is to consult your local club members (have we said that enough yet?). A simple, 4 channel radio is usually a good choice. Plan on upgrading to a fancier 6 or more channel computer radio later, if that's where the hobby takes you.
Luckily, the airplane companies have begun selling kits that include all of the above in one package. One set we recommend to our beginners is the Hobbico Superstar. This ARF kit includes the trainer, engine and radio all in one, and retails for around $300. Here's a picture of the plane.
Note : While you can assemble this plane in 20 minutes, we always recommend that the wing and tail assemblies be epoxied for greater strength. Also, it takes overnight to charge the transmitter and receiver batteries.
This is a great trainer plane. There are many others. Need we say it? Consult your local club.
Ok, now you need fuel, a fuel transfer method, a glow starter, and some way to spin the prop (not your fingers!).
You can use a simple rubber bulb to fill your fuel tank, but you'll probably want to purchase a manual, crank type pump. The glow starter is a 1.5 volt, battery which heats up the glow plug prior to starting. You can spin the prop with a simple starter stick, but that method can get frustrating for a beginner, especially with a new engine. Electric starters are easier, but then you get into the cost of a flight box, battery, control panel, etc. Most club members will be willing to help you out by using their starters, etc. just to get you going. Later, when you've gained more experience, you'll want your own flight line equipment.
One last time :
Consult your local club!
One excellent link for more beginner information is : R/C Flight Unlimited
The information contained there includes a great introduction for beginners.