Some Advice/Mentoring an 18yo HS Senior

[Larry Krutz]

Jerry: I have worked with many newbies over the years
using many different trainers and I find the following
to be true. To start with use a buddy box. All the
trainers have a flat bottom wing which works very
well. The best engine for the money is the OS 46FX.
Good performance for medium price range. Easy to tune
and plenty of power. Also replace the bendable bouncy
landing gear with one of the composites available. It
costs around $20, but its worth its weight in gold.
Saves many broken props etc.
I can recommend the Midwest Aerostar as an excellent
trainer. The original is 40 powered and they also have
a 60 size available. The kits are well done with an
excellent assembly manual.
Sounds like you have a student that wants to do it
right. And she has been successful in many other areas
which require concentration and practice. Good
combination! Good Luck!! regards   LK
--- Jerry Budd <jbudd at QNET.COM> wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> I need a bit of advice.
> 
> A few days ago I was asked to mentor an 18 yr old
> high school senior 
> who wants to build and fly an R/C airplane for her
> senior project. 
> Yes, HER senior project.  She's a 4.6 (on a 4.0
> scale) advanced 
> placement, honors student (1380 on her SAT) who is
> waiting to hear 
> back on her appointment to the USAF Academy.  She
> worked last summer 
> for 10 weeks an a high school apprentice at NASA
> Dryden in the 
> Research Propulsion Directorate.  She is also active
> in tennis, 
> swimming, choir, mock trial, Academic Decathalon,
> Mathleets, and her 
> church (which is how she was refered to me).  Her
> first mentor quit 
> on her about two weeks ago, and left her hanging
> with no plan and 
> only 10 weeks or so to get this accomplished.  I
> asked and she said 
> that her preference is to build an airplane from a
> kit, instead of 
> quickly assembling an ARF.  Her father also has a
> complete 
> woodworking shop that she can use, including tools. 
> She is clearly 
> an overachiever and she has a great attitude.  I
> really think this is 
> going to be a lot of fun.
> 
> So what's the problem?  Well, I've been away from
> trainers and flight 
> instruction for long enough that I don't exactly
> know what to 
> recommend for an airplane.  I'm thinking 40 sized
> rather than 60 
> sized to help keep the costs down, although $$$
> isn't much of a 
> problem since she said she'll be spending her own
> $$$, not her 
> parents $$$.  She said that she budgeted around
> $400.
> 
> The following airplane was recommended to me due to
> the laser cut 
> parts that fit extremely well, and also because of
> the very easy to 
> follow, photo illustrated manual:
> 
> http://www.checkerboardair.com/cbweb1004.htm
> 
> I'm leaving early Friday morning for a contest in
> Phoenix, AZ but I 
> would appreciate any and all suggesctions be eMailed
> back to me and 
> I'll look them over when I return Sunday night.  A
> recommendation on 
> a motor and a radio would also be appreciated!
> 
> Thx, Jerry
> 
> -- 
> ___________
> Jerry Budd
> mailto:jbudd at qnet.com
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