Recommendations for a 9-year old

[Tim Wescott]

One of my nephews lives on Oahu and reportedly is fascinated with all things airplane.  I'm wondering what all I can do to foster that.

I'm thinking that at nine years old, sending him a CL trainer for Christmas is probably wasted effort.  I'm trying to decide between a handful of the Guillow's kits or maybe dig out plans for a whip trainer (now that sounds kinky) and cut a couple of kits for him and his dad.

Are there any CL circles on Oahu?  There's a chance that if I sent directions to my sister that she and my b-in-law and nephew might go visiting to watch the flying.

[Paul Taylor]

http://www.aeromaniacs.com/Platterins.html

[Mike Griffin]

Tim I have sold several kits that went to Hawaii so I guess they have somewhere to fly over there. 

Mike

[Bill Little]

HI Tim,

I would send him a Brodak Flite Streak Trainer (all wood), a .15 engine and Lines/Handle.

9 Years old is fine for C/L flying with help from his Dad.

The PAMPA Directory will list all the members from Hawaii.

BIG Bear
RNMM/AMM

[Dennis Leonhardi]

HI Tim,

I would send him a Brodak Flite Streak Trainer (all wood), a .15 engine and Lines/Handle.

9 Years old is fine for C/L flying with help from his Dad.

The PAMPA Directory will list all the members from Hawaii.

BIG Bear

Tim, the *little* recommendation from Bill is right on.  I lugged one around for years with a McCoy .19 Red Head and put many kids and spectators on the handle.  A *little* more modern .15 is plenty.

One suggestion: cut a notch for the stabilizer about 1/2" below the fuselage top and glue a piece of sheet balsa the thickness of the stabilizer on top of the fuselage in lieu of the stab.  I use this on any Flite Streak I build; it improves durability about 6,000% and doesn't affect the flying.

Good luck!

Dennis
 

[Dave_Trible]

Hi Tim.  If you don't mind my input...my six year old grandson is flying 1/2 A's quite well now so your nephew is surely able.  Also I started at nine years (57 now) and did the 1/2 A's without too much trouble.  Anything larger may seem intimidating to the youngster to start with.  Once he's got the hang of it sure.  Also without any experienced help a solid wing 1/2 A Brodak kit and .049 isn't too hard to deal with-also can be flown about anywhere.

Dave

[Bill Little]

Tim, the *little* recommendation from Bill is right on.  I lugged one around for years with a McCoy .19 Red Head and put many kids and spectators on the handle.  A *little* more modern .15 is plenty.

One suggestion: cut a notch for the stabilizer about 1/2" below the fuselage top and glue a piece of sheet balsa the thickness of the stabilizer on top of the fuselage in lieu of the stab.  I use this on any Flite Streak I build; it improves durability about 6,000% and doesn't affect the flying.

Good luck!

Dennis
 

Hi Dennis!

Thanks for the kind words.  I am in the process of putting a finish (Rustoleum!) on an Enterprise Sure Thing.  It is very similar to a Flite Streak Trainer (it, too, is all wood!) and it is the first plane I did a loop on or flew inverted.  One of my flying buddies back in '63 had one with a Red Head .19!

I let me pick out the colors, and the engine.  Of course he picked the "Blue" OS .15LA with a red spinner to go with the red/white/blue finish he wants.  He's Aaron's son and 7 years old.  Alex, Aaron's daughter, has an all wood PINK 1/2A, but she hasn't flown it yet.  As long as they have been coming here, and able to go to the basement, they both wanted a plane of their own, like Daddy and TaTa! LOL!!

I just need to get able to go out and fly again.

Bill

[Phil Hawkins]

One of my nephews lives on Oahu and reportedly is fascinated with all things airplane.  I'm wondering what all I can do to foster that.

I'm thinking that at nine years old, sending him a CL trainer for Christmas is probably wasted effort.  I'm trying to decide between a handful of the Guillow's kits or maybe dig out plans for a whip trainer (now that sounds kinky) and cut a couple of kits for him and his dad.

Are there any CL circles on Oahu?  There's a chance that if I sent directions to my sister that she and my b-in-law and nephew might go visiting to watch the flying.

Perfect Tim! I just got the Feb '56 MAN and it has plans for the Whippy and a real neat controller for whip models. If you would like a copy PM me with your address. 

[Larry Wong]

The best trainer I've seen is at are club in Alameda, a father built a foam wing Lil’ eHacker

Motor: BP Hobbies   BL-2208-12  1600Kv  (rear mount)

ESC: BP Hobbies  BP 18A Brushless ESC

Battery: Tower Hobbies FlightPower LiPo EONX Lite 3S 800mAh 25C

the best part is pusher prop. and sure starts, as for me as a kid I remember a lot of flipping just to fly 1 lap.

[Steve Thomas]

My feeling (perhaps wrong) is that .049 models aren't the ideal starting point, as they can be fiddly to fly and need to lap fairly fast. Obviously you don't want something big that pulls really hard either. I ended up making a simple sheet trainer with an Enya 09 - it flies with an 8x3 on ~42' lines, and has a muffler to reduce the intimidation factor.

As you can see, my 9-year-old is doing nicely with it!

[John Craig]

http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?topic=27752.0        http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?topic=27745.0

 These guys are the pros & looks good to me.  Think I will build one when I have time.  

Price is right too.

[Larry Renger]

Come on Tim, build an ET1 and send it to him.  Inexpensive, bulletproof and quiet.  Fly anywhere and no neighbor complaints.

[Peter Ferguson]

Rather than sending him a plane why don't you make contact with the local club and get them to give him a demo. They may be already set up to help kids.

[dirty dan]

When my son showed some interest in flying CL he was about 4 years old, clueless but enthusiastic. And I had already seen that movie thanks to efforts of friends trying to teach young kids how to fly.

Thanks, but no thanks.

I built a real durable model based upon a foam wing designed for 1/2A Combat. The model looked pretty much like a Combat plane of the day. Reed-valve .049. Rubber Ducky prop. Steel lines of .008 diameter, probably 30- to 35-foot from handle to model.

When it came time to fly we had him go to the handle and hold it as if he were flying. We adjusted the handle to approximate level.

First launch the model went down. We cranked in some up. Too much. Took some out. It only took 3 or 4 launches and some minor adjustments before whatever handle position was natural to him resulted in level flight.

Was he actually flying the model? Depends upon one's definition of "flying" I suppose. He thought he was flying it. He sure looked to be flying it. And so these first times up were judged successful.

It was pretty funny to see him get distracted by someone outside the circle and while flying along in level flight he would wave with his off hand and in general appear to be a highly experienced CL flier by looking all over the place, only rarely at the model he was flying.

Of course he was still clueless as to what was actually going on. But no tears, no frustration...

Dan

[Douglas Ames]

Be sure to tell your friends to teach him Prop safety.
Like a lot of guys here I learned the hard way as a kid with the .049 Cox props  ouch!
My only help was my neighbor and flying buddy that just stood there and laughed at me.
Respect not fear.

[Sean McEntee]

       I spent most of my early childhood flying a Sig Akromaster.  I believe the only thing on it that wasnt stock was the wingtips, which were block instead of built up.  It still exists today!