How do you know when you're ready?

[MCO3024]

My goal is to fly edf and I have a couple specific planes in mind. but how do you know when your ready to go from prop planes to edf? Is there a specific type of plane you should transition from? Is going from flying warbirds to edf too much of a change?

[Hippie 64]

From my experience any switch to a EDF is a change . You have to remember that on a prop plane the prop is producing the wind across the wings for the lift you need . You'll notice that if you need to do a go around instead of landing you can usually throttle back up and pull out of it . On a EDF the plane has to get to moving to produce the wind across the wings . You can't just throttle out of something once you have dropped to certain speed . If you watch videos you will see that it takes more runway to get the speed and wind to produce the lift needed .

Most cases the plane is moving at a higher rate of speed and that means you need to learn a softer or slower input on the sticks to avoid snap moves . I would never recommend moving from a high wing or trainer to a EDF just not a smart move at all . Now there are some who are more comfortable flying the EDF's than prop planes . It all goes back to the person .

If you think your ready my suggestion is to start with a low priced plane because a EDF plane moves at a higher rate of speed the crashes in most cases are worse than a prop plane . Also you don't get as much time flying because the motor pulls more power from the battery making the flight times shorter.

The only one who can say when your ready is you so take your time and all here will offer the encouragement and help we can !

Bryan

[doctormike]

A larger EDF can get away from you before you know it. At a distance you can loose orientation. My EDF Funjet almost dissapears on final because it's so thin. I would suggest starting with a micro size jet. They are fun, less expensive, and good EDF trainers. Doc

[MCO3024]

From my experience any switch to a EDF is a change . You have to remember that on a prop plane the prop is producing the wind across the wings for the lift you need . You'll notice that if you need to do a go around instead of landing you can usually throttle back up and pull out of it . On a EDF the plane has to get to moving to produce the wind across the wings . You can't just throttle out of something once you have dropped to certain speed . If you watch videos you will see that it takes more runway to get the speed and wind to produce the lift needed .

Most cases the plane is moving at a higher rate of speed and that means you need to learn a softer or slower input on the sticks to avoid snap moves . I would never recommend moving from a high wing or trainer to a EDF just not a smart move at all . Now there are some who are more comfortable flying the EDF's than prop planes . It all goes back to the person .

If you think your ready my suggestion is to start with a low priced plane because a EDF plane moves at a higher rate of speed the crashes in most cases are worse than a prop plane . Also you don't get as much time flying because the motor pulls more power from the battery making the flight times shorter.

The only one who can say when your ready is you so take your time and all here will offer the encouragement and help we can !

Bryan

Great points. Any suggestions on planes I should work up to before edfs or suggestions on a good first edf?

[MCO3024]

A larger EDF can get away from you before you know it. At a distance you can loose orientation. My EDF Funjet almost dissapears on final because it's so thin. I would suggest starting with a micro size jet. They are fun, less expensive, and good EDF trainers. Doc

Thanks Doc. Are you suggesting something like a parkzone F-16? Small thus can fly slower, and cheap....or did I miss your point?

[F106DeltaDart]

My goal is to fly edf and I have a couple specific planes in mind. but how do you know when your ready to go from prop planes to edf? Is there a specific type of plane you should transition from? Is going from flying warbirds to edf too much of a change?

It's not an enormous change especially from faster warbirds. The biggest things are that there is a lack of prop wash, so controls can be sluggish at lower speeds. EDFs also take a little to spool up, so the thrust isn't as responsive as a prop warbird. I would say that you could do the typical training path Apprentice (trainer) --> T-28 w/retracts (to learn good landing techniques) --> 800mm FMS warbird (higher wing loading, faster, and small model) --> Freewing 64mm F9F Panther (or Habu, or other edf trainer). Planes may vary, but something like that would make the most sense to me to get from no experience to flying EDFs. In my opinion, once you get to EDFs, the Freewing Panther is a perfect trainer. Good low speed characteristics, and very stable with good flight times.

[VOODOO]

A larger EDF can get away from you before you know it. At a distance you can loose orientation. My EDF Funjet almost dissapears on final because it's so thin. I would suggest starting with a micro size jet. They are fun, less expensive, and good EDF trainers. Doc

I will second this statement, after losing my second SUPER SCORPION yesterday because in certain attitudes it almost disappears from view. I have some EDF experience, and have no trouble seeing my FW ME262, but the SCORPION was a different story. Choose carefully in color and profile when you buy your EDF. I know I will be paying more attention to these factors in the future.

[wvrailfan]

My first EDF was a Durafly Vampire. They are relatively low priced, but they fly great and since they are just a bit "portly" they don't seem to disappear when coming straight at you. I flew mine a good long time before giving it to a younger flyer at our field. I can recommend it as a first EDF. It's not super cool like and F-16 or some of the neat sport jets out there, but it is unique looking!http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...arehouse_.html

[Prowler901]

My first (and only at this time) EDF was/is the FMS Alpha Jet. Sadly it doesn't seem to be available in many places anymore. It is a high wing plane so it is very stable. But, it's still pretty maneuverable and fun to fly. I think that makes it a good EDF trainer.

[Westsider]

Man, this is great advice. Hippie's explanation of what flight differences to expect, Doc and Voodoo's caution about visibility, and Delta all over it again about the timing and progression of planes. Excellent you guys. Lived all of this the hard way, MCO, and it's all true. I cut my teeth on edfs with the 64mm FW Panther and F-86. Vampire- great idea also. That little F-86 has been on the canvas more times than Rocky Balboa, keeps getting up though. All trial and error though. Smart move to check prior to.

[doctormike]

Parkzone micros are perfect starter EDF's. Doc

[gooniac33]

My goal is to fly edf and I have a couple specific planes in mind. but how do you know when your ready to go from prop planes to edf? Is there a specific type of plane you should transition from? Is going from flying warbirds to edf too much of a change?

It is a huge change. EDFs fly much different than prop planes but if set up properly they are just as much fun. The biggest difference is that there is no propwash going over the controls at low speeds. You need forward movement for the controls to be effective and the acceleration is not the same either. It takes longer for an edf to get up to speed when compared to a plane with a prop. And when you do get an edf of choice you want the thrust to weight to be as close to 1:1 as possible and for best performance you want it to be over 1:1. this will allow you to get out of most bad situations that may happen at lower speeds... My suggestion for a first edf would be a Dynam Meteor. One of the best flying edfs on the market and not expensive either... Motion RC sells them as well!

[AkumaZeto]

I have been trying to break into edfs so bad. Still just looking at my amazing fw f86 and still scared to crash it.

[seaviper]

My first DF was before electrics. It was a Yellow Aircraft (Bob Fiorenze) F-16C way back in 1994. The thing to remember about jets is that on landing, attitude is important. Throttle for rate and pitch for speed. No yanking it off the runway, pulling 50G turns, then chopping the throttle and pointing the nose down to land. In a jet, when you point the nose down it speeds up rather quickly.
There is no prop out front to help slow you down. Then you overshoot or worse. DO NOT FORCE A BAD LANDING.
If you pull the power on a jet, it drops. Get used to landing with power.

You can simulate a jet flight with any fast trainer. The T-28 is perfect for that. Make smooth turns and shoot a long approach. Try to resist the "model airplane" way of pulling way too many g's in the turns. Start the turn, hold the input, and let the ship fly the turn. Smooth and precise. Then on final, setup a more or less flat attitude (actually a little nose high for the F-16, nose low for the T-45), and control the approach with throttle. Just practice that stuff until it's boring. Then go fly a jet.

I just maidened my 90mm T-45. If you can land a T-28 then you can easily land the T-45.
Takeoffs, however, are little more exciting in the jet.

[AkumaZeto]

I actually have 6 flights on my F86 AMAZING JET. First landing was not good and thats all it took for me to figure it out the right way. Landings are fun now!