TufFlight Models - Beginning R/C Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Starter Questions

Here are some questions often asked by beginning flyers, with answers:

If all your kits are indestructible, why should I start with a Titan?

Can I learn to fly by myself?

What makes the TufFlight Titan better than almost ready to fly (ARF) kits?

How long will the Titan kit take to build?

Is this a good hobby for kids?

How does the Titan compare with park flyers?

Can I fly the Titan in my yard?

Why do I need to join the AMA?

Why do I need to join a local R/C club?

How high can I fly?

How far away can I fly?

How fast do these planes go?

What is ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING I need to enter this hobby, and how much will it cost?

What if I crash?

If all your kits are indestructible, why should I start with a Titan? Just like each job has a preferred tool, each task in R/C flying is best suited by a particular kind of plane. While you may be impressed with the stunts our 4D and Enduro perform, and want to jump right into aerobatic flying, the fact is it takes a lot of practice to be able to keep a responsive plane in the air.
The Titan is much more controllable "hands off" a good aerobatic plane. Just like a good sports car, aerobatic planes perform commands exactly when you say, very precisely. This is great when you know what to do, but if you are second guessing your technique (which always happens when learning) you won't have time for error. A beginner would crash an Enduro or 4D once every 15 seconds or so. While you can repair minor damage and replace props and bolts every 15 minutes, I'm sure you don't want to do this more than necessary. Also, you wouldn't want to let the plane stray over people or property.
A Titan lets you see what you are doing, because things happen much more slowly and you'll have time to "second guess" each move as you learn how R/C planes fly and are controlled. On hearing this, a beginner will always think to himself, "Well, my reflexes are pretty good, and I can just slow down until I learn how to handle a plane." It's a difficult lesson to learn, but just as a craftsman knows every job has a perfect tool, the experienced flyer knows what kind of plane is best for each flight task. In this case it's a trainer -- the Titan.
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Can I learn to fly by myself? Flying R/C is not like driving R/C. The added dimension of altitude brings with it a host of problems like airspeed, attitude recognition (disorientation), groundspeed, and many safety concerns. When things get hairy flying a R/C plane, you can't just "park it" like you can an R/C Car -- it's going to come down, and probably very fast and someplace you wish it wouldn't.
If flying solo your first time, if the plane takes off, it is most certainly doomed to crash, simply because the knowledge and reflexes needed to keep it aloft aren't there! Unless an experienced instructor who will take control in case of an emergency (which happens several times on an average first flight) is present, you may be in for many “nature hikes” to find and retrieve your plane. In the worst case, you could endanger other people or property. return to top
What makes the TufFlight Titan better than almost ready to fly (ARF) kits?
Three reasons:
1. The Titan is virtually "immortal." There is no tougher trainer made that flys this well. See our videos for proof
2. The Titan is among the best flying trainers The Titan's huge 1400 square inch wing makes it a real floater. It handles well because it has a lighter wing loading than virtually every ARF plane made. Plus, it's huge, so you can see it much more easily than other 40 size trainers.
  ARF's are made to be cheap, so they always employ compromises in wood selection. A skilled builder will chose the lightest wood possible for the intended job. When making hundreds of planes using wood -- a natural material, compromises must be made, and the best wood can't always be purchased in bulk.
  Since our Titan has a foam wing, which varies very little in density from batch to batch, and almost no wood in the kit, our quality and consistency is much higher than the typical cheaply built ARF, and wing loading will be the same on the first and 1000th kit we make. That translates to a superior consistency in flying quality.
3. You built it, so you know what it takes to keep a plane flying. When an ARF crashes, suddenly the insides of a mystery are thrown out into the light. What is this mess, you ask? The typical reaction for most beginners, is to either trash the plane, or buy a new part. If you bought an ARF you didn't build, you would have little clue on how to fix what broke.
  While our Titan is extremely rugged, even if you did manage to break it, you'll know exactly what needs to be done to fix it. That's a certain pride that is earned in craftsmanship, and can not be bought at any price.
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How long will the Titan kit take to build? About a week or two of evenings, depending on your schedule. Our 60 page manual is excellent with almost 500 pictures illustrating steps and diagrams. Click for sample of instruction manual Each step is very short, with it's own picture so you can walk right through from start to finish. return to top

Is this a good hobby for kids? YES! The only stipulation is that youngsters need to have support to guide them during this process. This is a great hobby for the whole family, as the fun of radio control flight is inspiring and rewarding. There are so many avenues to explore once the training phases are complete.

These planes are not toys and there are a few considerations for younger students:

financial aspects : buying equipment and fuel
logistical aspects : where to fly, and getting the kids there (especially if Mom or Dad is not also a flyer)
safety : These planes use powerful glo fuel engines, which need to be started and tuned. This procedure is not difficult, however it requires respect and responsibility to operate. Youngsters are quite capable of handling the task, but should be supervised until proficiency is gained.
commitment : as with anything worthwhile, flying well takes practice. If you have the desire, you've won half the battle. The rest comes with time and endeavor. These teach a great work ethic, and the rewards will last a lifetime.

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How does the Titan compare with park flyers? A park flyer (very small electric plane) can be a good choice to "whet your appetite" and let you know if the R/C hobby is for you. Most park flyer kits aimed at beginners are cheap, simple to put together, and will let you fly in very small spaces without bothering anyone. They are definitely on the "toy" end of the hobby spectrum, as performance is very limited. Inverted flight, take offs and landing on grass, and flight in wind are well beyond the capability of most electric park flyers and one tends to become bored with them quickly.

To progress in the hobby, you'll want to enter the arena of fuel power which is by far the most popular category, and encompasses everything from glo powered trainers, to gas turbine powered jets.

The Titan is an extremely capable craft:

The Titan will easily take off from rough grass fields
The Titan fly in winds as high as 30 mph.
The Titan will take all the punishment you can give it while learning to fly and land.
The Titan can easily be repaired at the field without needing to buy more expensive parts at the hobby shop.
The engine and radio system can be removed from the Titan and re-used in your next project.

No park flyer can make these claims. return to top

Can I fly the Titan in my yard? If you live in suburbia, no. If you own a large parcel of land, and have no neighbors close by, then perhaps, but it's not recommended unless you're experienced, and aware of all the associated risks. return to top

Why do I need to join the AMA? The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) provides a universe of aircraft modeling knowledge, and associations of folks who fly all types of models -- from rubber powered free flight to actual turbine powered jets.

The AMA has been protecting our needs and providing flight insurance and assistance for many decades. Nearly every R/C club in the US requires AMA membership. For a modest fee you get a great color magazine : Model Aviation, and liability insurance protection. Check the above link for more details. return to top

Why do I need to join a local R/C club? If you accept the almost certain fact that you can't fly successfully the first time by yourself, then you will need a good instructor, and a club is a great place to find one!

If you can't find a club, stop into a local hobby shop, and ask where local clubs can be found. A good hobby shop should know, for it depends on this clientele for its business! If you get desperate, then ask the AMA (1-800- I-FLY-AMA) and they will help.

Go to that club, and make some friends. You'll meet lots of nice people, many will be willing to serve as an instructor. Some clubs have formal training sessions which are proving to be quite successful in safely introducing new modelers to R/C flight. return to top

How high can I fly? The real limitation is how far you can see. We typically fly around 500 feet high, but if your plane is large enough to see you could fly several thousand feet high. If you fly near an airport you should be aware of any local ceilings and fly safely under any full size airplane traffic. return to top

How far away can I fly? Again, the real limitation is your eyesight. Your transmitter is likely capable of controlling the plane for 2 miles or more. You probably won't get more than a thousand feet away from yourself horizontally. return to top

How fast do these planes go? Training airplanes fly from 20 to 60 m.p.h. Our higher performance planes can travel 80 m.p.h or more. return to top

What is ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING I need to enter this hobby, and how much will it cost?

The quick answer is: trainer airplane, engine, radio, field equipment.

Grand total for all new top shelf components is about $400 - $600. You can most certainly save one or two hundred dollars by finding deals on used equipment or sales locally. Check with your local hobby dealer, and local R/C club.

The really great news is the engine, radio and field equipment can be transferred to your next plane, so the initial investment is not lost.

Click here for a detailed list of all equipment you'll need

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What if I crash?

Repairing TufFlight kits is faster than repairing ANY OTHER kind of trainer. A roll of tape, spare prop, can of WD-40 and some nylon bolts are all you'll need. This can be done at the field in usually under 15 minutes. Compare this with a typical ARF or other balsa kit which could easily kill a week's worth of evenings.

If your time is important, you'll agree it's better to spend it outside in the open air, than in the basement.

While you shouldn't fly without guidance, if you do crash, you'll be protected by over a million dollar insurance policy as an AMA member following the AMA safety code. See the AMA link for more details. return to top

If you have a question that was not answered here, feel free to contact us : our contct e-mail address

Great flying to you,
Mark and Joe