Groundman

As most of you know , i purchased the Hanger-9 Alpha 60 trainer and I wanted to recommend this trainer to anyone who was looking for a big wing trainer and undecided. It is a great trainer no doubt. Corrects itself and is slow enough to learn on.

bruce88123

We're glad it's serving you well. Have you soloed yet?

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

Groundman,

Great news!!!! Glad to hear that you got a great plane that suits you. Make sure you keep us updated on your progress.

Ken

Safebet

My Feedback: (12)

When you are ready, you can take off the 3-bladed prop and put a 11x6 and you will be surprized what that "trainer" can do. It was my first plane, too. Great plane.

Groundman

I will learn to take off this weekend from what my teacher has told me. Man its a rush flying this plane.

JPPS

I sadly crashed my thunder tiger mk60 plane when somebody else at the flying club put on his radio, which had the same frequency than me. I wanted to purchase another one, but this type of plane is discontinued. I want to buy a Alpha trainer 60 now. Is it worth while purchasing this type of plane, and can you do arobatics with it. I fly solo, but still got a lot to learn.

bruce88123

If you didn't damage your equipment look into going ARF and moving your gear over from the old plane to save some cash. Trainers by definition are not the most aerobatic of airplanes but they will do them. You must allow more time and/or larger control throws. The Alpha will do all of the basic aerobatic manuevers including spins and sustained inverted flight.

tailskid

My Feedback: (34)

My personal favorite for training students has been the Alpha 60....you made a good choice!

Groundman

Take off is going well, it was windy today at the field. I am still a bit nervous on landing. All is well with the JR and the Evolution. Good trainer for sure , no doubt. My older brother bought the P51 PTS and its a great plane , a bit harder to train on by ones self. A teacher will be needed for the Mustang P51 PTS.

JPPS

I urgently need advise please. I am busy buiding my alpha 60 trainer and everything went well till I came to mounting the engine and nose wheel. When I bolted the engine mounts onto the firewall, I saw that it is declining downwards, to the front of the aircraft, which mean the engine is not straight, but the propeller is also tilted to the front. My nose wheel is also tilted to the back. It seems that the firewall is not straight and level. Must it be like that?

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

JPPS,
What you have described it perfectly normal. The engine will have a little bit of downthrust built into it in order to counteract the torque of the engine. The nose wheel tilting back is no big deal either. After a few rough landings all trainer nose gear look that way anyway!!!

Ken

bruce88123

It is common to have a couple of degrees of "downthrust" especially in a trainer. Wing type and location will influence the amount of "downthrust".

bruce88123

Ken, right thrust for torque.[sm=bananahead.gif]

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

Yes, thanks Bruce. That'll teach me to try to do more than one thing at a time!!!

Ken

JPPS

I just want to make sure that I understand correctly what you mean by downthrust. I you look at the aircraft from the side, the engine is tilting down about 5 degrees. Is that what you mean by downthrust. I always thought that the engine must be straight and level in relationship to the aircraft if the aircraft is horisontal. Please make it clear for me

bruce88123

It's probably not quite 5 degrees but could be about 4. Hate to be picky like this. You have the general idea. This varies from plane to plane.

JPPS

I forget to add that the alpha 60 kit that is available in South Africa came without a engine. I have bought a OS 61 engine for the aircraft, which I hope will be ok. That is why it was strange for me that the engine mountings tilted downward when mounted onto the firewall. I know that the kits that you bought in the USA came complete with a engine. If someone can please reply on my previous question where if you look at the aircraft from the side, the engine is tilting down about 5 degrees. Is that what you mean by downthrust?. I will appreciate it. I am not so familar with all the terms, since I am still new to the game.

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

Look at this diagram. Is this what you are talking about?? If so, this is perfectly normal.

Ken

JPPS

Thank you for all the advise. I really appreciate it and I feel much better know.

bruce88123

A plane that is delivered WITH engine and radio installed is called an RTF Ready To Fly here.
A plane that is delivered WITHOUT either a radio or engine is called an ARF Almost Ready to Fly here.

Of course there may be some reason (legal) that they can not ship engines there in the planes?

nailbenderdude

I too am new to rc. I decided to go with the Alpha 60 ARF, so I could install an engine that would work in future planes. I went with an OS FS.91 Surpass ll, that way, I can use it in the Corsair I hope to build one day.
Since I was doing a bit of "future thinking", I went with the new Spektrum DX7 system, which will fly anything I would ever choose to fly. I know the JR and Evolution system that comes with the RTF version is sweet package, all of the opinions I've read say a beginner outgrows it in a very short time. I've even read that the Alpha 60 will surprise you with it's greater manuverability with the larger motor. I'm looking forward to learning with it.

bruce88123

nailbenderdude - You've made some good choices. Welcome to the hobby.

Reson7

My Feedback: (4)

Hangar 9 and Horizon Hobby were real dumb***** to discontinue the best trainer out there I can't beleive the Alpha 60 is gone!!!!!