RC Airplane World Forum

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Dimitris and I reside in Limassol, Cyprus. I am new with Electric RC and I ordered the E-Flite Apprentice from Red Rocket two days. I hope I made the right choice. I was debating between the Apprentice and the Super Cup. I opt for the Apprentice because of the better quality Tx.

Can anyone know where to download an Apprentice plane to use the FMS simulator.

Thanks
DP

Hi Dimitris, welcome to the forum

You've made a good choice, the Apprentice is a very nice plane. The 4th channel (ailerons) gives it a slightly steeper learning curve than the 3 channel Super Cub, but that's no bad thing at all.
I've just been searching for the Apprentice on the FMS and couldn't find any info, so I'm not sure that it's available for that simulator. Someone else might know better though.

If you can't get that exact plane for that sim, practice on the sim with a standard 4 channel trainer and you'll have a similar experience - the majority of high wing trainers have very similar flying characteristics

Thanks Pete,

I will tell you more when I get the plane and fly arround a couple of times. But I do thank you for your reply.

One more question if I may. Do you think I made the right choise starting with foam vs balsa plane? Because after I bought the Apprentice I came across the Alpha 450 sport trainer by e-flite also electric. What do you think?

Thanks

Modern day foam rc planes are very durable and perform well. Personally I prefer balsa but only because it's more traditional, and I like to build with balsa - more satisfaction.
But for an RTF foam is perfectly acceptable and I do have a couple of foam planes myself, from ParkZone. So don't worry, you made a good choice

If, as you get more in to the hobby, you want to see what the model-building side of the hobby is all about then that's the time to look at balsa kits.

Hi Pete,

Last Sunday, I had my first flight with the E-Flight Apprentice.

As soon as I reached the airfield I realized that some wind started to blow my model as it stood still in the ground. I asked one of the more experienced rc pilots to fly the plane for me as I wanted to see how it will behave, I did not want to take the risk of damaging the plane on it's first flight out. The flight only lasted a few minutes and we had to land it.

Well I was a bit disappointed as everyone was telling me that the electric planes are not as strong as the the IC engine plane models and that soon I will be flying the IC versions. To tell you the truth I really want to stick with electric version ones.

Tell me, is it because of the apprentice foam construction that I got a bit disappointed as I saw the plane being blown away left and right in the air? Are the other electric versions by E-flight made by balsa are more rigid in the air?

http://www.e-fliterc.com/Airplanes/Scale/

Thanks
DP

Hi DP,

Don't be discouraged by what the IC guys say, if you want to stick with electric then do so!

How a plane is effected by the wind of course depends on its weight and size, but a foam plane like the Apprentice isn't that much lighter than a balsa and ply one really (of the same size). Besides, the lower weight acts as an advantage on calmer days because lighter planes perform better, and stay up longer

Incidentally, how strong was the wind? I bet there were some IC planes being buffeted about too.

You'll find that die-hard IC pilots will always have something negative to say about electric planes, and die-hard electric fans will always have something negative to say about IC - it's the way of the world.

I think if you get the Apprentice airborne on a calmer day, you'll have a completely different and more positive reaction

Dear Pete,

Just thought I ask you how to you solve the charging issue of your Lipo batteries while you are in the flying field. I have two lipo batteries which I use when I fly my plane. Last time while on the flying field I had to wait 1 hour or more for the other battary to charge. I was charging at 2amps. Does this mean I have to buy more battaries so that I can fly more often while on the field.

Thanks
DP

Hi DP,

Which charger are you using, the one that came with the Apprentice? 1 hour is about as fast as you'll get for charging a li-po pack and you shouldn't charge at more than 1C otherwise you risk damaging the pack (although more expensive packs can be charged at higher rate these days).
1C means that if the pack is, say, 3200mAh then you shouldn't set the charge rate to more than 3.2A.
A 2100mAh pack shouldn't be charged at more than 2.1A and so on. Many flyers like to charge at 0.8C which would mean a rate of 2.5A for a 3200 pack (3200 x 0.8/1000)

More packs is the convenient, but expensive, answer if you can't wait the hour. I take 3 packs for my plane and 2 for the heli; everything combined just about sees my through a relaxed couple of hours flying.

Actually you've raised a good question - how many packs do the other members take to the field?

Hi Pete,

Thanks for your comments

Yes I do have the charger that came with the Apprentice. So you are saying to charge the battery at 1C, and take 3 batteries with me at the flying field. Another option is to use another charger right? Which one would you recomend and I can use my car to that?

Isn't better to get an engine plane, this way all I do is refill tank and then I can fly again!!!

Thanks
Dimitris

Hi Pete,

As you know the battery that I have is 3200 3S 11.1V LiPo.

The charger has a dial and it starts from 0.5 and goes up to 3 (Amps). Where should I set this dial?

Thanks
Dimitris