Downtrodden

Hobbico's Sturdy Bird II, when powered with Super Tigre's .51 is the ultimate trainer, with a few modifications. First, cover the entire wing with the strapping tape before covering and lose the thrust angle on the fuse.....just cut it straight across! This setup allows the plane to fly inverted without effort, and the power is great! I can't imagine why they would suggest a .25 for this plane, but with a minimum of .40 you'll be pleasantly surprised. This plane is inexpensive and even though I've moved on to faster and more 3D capable craft........I still find myself flying the Sturdy Bird when I need to put a smile on my face. If you want a plane that can take all the punishment that a novice can give it.....try the Sturdy Bird II. I believe that the Sturdy Bird is one of the oldest ARF's out there too, so that says something doesn't it? You won't be disappointed. Have a good one.

McFlyboy

Most here won't have heard of it, but the Uno Wot from Chris Foss here in the 51st state is unmatched by anything and everything.

here's one I borrowed, hope he doesn't mind
http://www.herefordshiremodelaeroclu...lds/unowot.htm

it's easy to build, no fancy bits to get confusing, and flies like a dream. once you get your A(bronze, basic,...) cert. with it, put a 36 in it and it'll teach you aerobatics too. Great value for money

Crashem

Thats Simple!!!! What ever one you learn on This fact is proven over and over in many threads here on RCU. Forget about whats the best plane and instead concentrate on being the best pilot I think you'll like the results and it will make chosing subsequent planes much easier

McFlyboy

touche, but i still like it.

Scar

My Feedback: (3)

I wonder how many new students would think of omitting dihedral and engine thrust. If they did, I wonder how well they would do, using a "trainer" with no dihedral.

My first flyer was a Study Birdy I. After I broke the wing, I bought the SB II aileron wing. I suppose I might have learned on it, had the Kyosho radio that came with it not glitched so much. After I solo'd (on a high wing trainer with dihedral) I went back and flew the SB, with a different radio. I finally mastered the dratted thing, not that it flew all that well. Not that it was so sturdy, either. I'll say this, it was a challenge to fly inverted. What a waste of money.

Dave Olson

DBCherry

My Feedback: (4)

And there you have it. Opinions from opposite ends of the spectrum.

I doubt that anyone will ever convince everyone of any plane being the best, but I'll toss my vote to the Sig LT-40. The Sig Kadet Senior has probably taught more people than enything else, but it's out of date now.

And for the record, I learned on a Great Planes PT-40. Also a very good trainer.
Dennis-

fearlessJOE

these "indestuctable" trainers arent all that indestructable

MikeEast

My Feedback: (3)

I agree the Kadet Senior is THE number one best PURE trainer ever. Its slow and easy flight is TOTALLY unmatched. Most guys want a 1st plane that they can train on and then take it to the next level and fly some simple aerobatics. The kadet is more like flying a kite its so gentle.

But if you are looking for the easiest airplane on the face of the planet earth to fly,, the Kadet senior is IT

agexpert

My Feedback: (1)

I am still a very new student R/C flyer BUT...I have 3 working trainers.

I travel allot and have them staged in areas where I may be able to bum a lesson occasionally. This rain HAS NOT HELPED. My favorite of the 3 is the Kyosho Calmato. It has semi symmetrical wings and a very slight and gradual dihedral. It's well built for an ARF and it goes where you tell it to go, (at least I think I told it to go there).

The other 2 are common Flat bottomed trainers. They are good, but I can really see the difference.

ho2zoo

My Feedback: (5)

Goldberg Eagle II. Excellant compromise between the lightness (and fragility) of the Kadet and the durability (and heaviness) of Dura-trainers.

Daryl_y

Only because it was what I learned to fly on. The great Planes PT-40 really just an all around nice flying plane. I even took 3rd place in Novice pattern with it. I smeared in my Ultra Sport practicing for the contest a couple of days earlier and it was the only flyable plane I had left.

Razor-RCU

My Feedback: (50)

I think there are QUITE A FEW folks who learned on the Telemaster or senior Telemaster--- I actually learned on an electric ARF (This was in 1983) called a "Snark"--- I soon switched to glow and had a couple "Barnstormer" kits---

The Kadet SR. came to mind and the LT-40 as mentioned as for current trainers...

Sukhoi_Madness

Agree

McFlyboy

Thats i why I said the Uno wot, I've been flying 14 years with everything up to 3d, pattern, speed, scale aeros,
but the Uno is so much less maintainence than any of the others, and its so forgiving in flight you can't help but enjoy it.
great on floats too.

joeb102072

My Feedback: (9)

WOW i hope you are ready for an array of opionions on this subject. I am sure there are favs out there and there are people who say never again. For me I have to say I have only flown one trainner when I was learning I guess I was lucky. Since then I have trainned many people and I would say I dont have one particular favorite but I do believe a semi symetrical wing is the way to go when you are learning IMO those are the best trainners.

Deadeye

Sig Lt-40 is the best high wing trainer. When you get proficient on that, and your ready for a low winger; you can't go wrong with the Sig Four-Star. And that's my 1/50th of a buck.

rambler53

My Feedback: (494)

I have 25 planes, and I still take out my Telemaster! It's a great plane. Instead of the nice slow landings for a reason to fly it now, I like how it flat spins extremely well, and pulls out 40 feet from the ground, every time. Can't get away with that on my other planes. Telemaster requires kit building I think, I've still seen it around. LONG wingspan helps slow them down. How about the worst? Flying school bus trainers, which have too much dihedral.

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

An Itallian girl named Gina Statutory - She taught me things you wouldn't believe.

She was my First Girfriend back at Lincoln High School - In fact, she was once voted "Miss Lincoln" ... Because every guy took a shot at her in the Balcony

Oh, sorry, Were you talking about Airplanes?

raideron

My Feedback: (1)

Minn... Mine was the babysitter that watched the brothers until
I got home from school..... She taught me how to fly better...
( frist flight ended before I got off the ground, But it still was
good:-) We use to "fly" in my dad's U/C hobby room as I use
to show her my planes:-)

MikeEast

My Feedback: (3)

Oh boy,,, here we go I'll just say I was 18 and she was 21,, enough said....

Sukhoi_Madness

Ohhh... That sort of trainer...

Well I've had a few faster models since then... But I will never forget the first one I started...

I fumbled a lot with the controls... But got her down safely...

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

As I recall, learning was half the fun

Ok, my bad,

Let's bring this back on topic before I have to moderate myself

Downtrodden

With regards to the subject you've eluded to.....I needed no training.........that was inherent knowledge (I'm sorry to say). Seven children later and a whole lot deeper in debt I'm looking forward to those blessed "senior moments" when I can be content in knowing that it's primary purpose is waste-water removal!

Back on topic......The Sturdy Bird II will also perform loops, axial rolls, flat spins (inverted too), hover briefly, full power dive and recover, inverted flight plus all the basic aerobatics. (Providing all the above mentioned modifications were performed)

As always, this is my most humble opinion.

Endeavour105

My Feedback: (1)

I was very pleased initally training on the M.E.N. Trainer back in the mid 1980's - easy to build and delightful to fly...Still is. Later, I had a blast with the F-14 TAMEcat build from AMA plans - used it as an experimental test platform for dropping bombs and firing pyrotechnic bottle rockets...Easy to fly and rugged construction. Doesn't look like a "typical trainer".

FlyNBHappy

My Feedback: (7)

SPAD Debonair or other variants of SPAD trainers. Nothing on the market is tougher or cheaper.

As for balsa trainers: SIG LT-40 (good old reliable), Kyosho Calmato (very easy to assemble)