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All Forums >> Radios, Batteries, Clubhouse and more >> User Product Reviews >> To Nexstar, or not to Nexstar? That is the question.
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To Nexstar, or not to Nexstar? That is the question. - 10/27/2005 5:25:55 AM   
twolter


 

Posts: 9
Joined: 10/25/2005
From: Brisbane, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline 		Hello fellow flyers,

I've been flying my electric powered plane for two years now at the local football field but have decided to get real and join an aero club and start flying larger glow powered planes.

After reading hundreds of opinions in various forums I have figured out the following :

1/. I need to join a club with an instructor
2/. I need a flight sim to practice on
3/. I need a plane that I will not be bored with in 2 months time

The Hobbico Nexstar seems to get ok reviews. So to does the Hangar 9 Alpha .60.

Are there any other trainer packages apart from the Nexstar that come with a flight sim ?

Any comments or advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
       Post #: 1

RE: To Nexstar, or not to Nexstar? That is the question. - 10/27/2005 6:56:52 AM   
Safebet


 

Posts: 654
Joined: 9/25/2004
From: Diana, TX, USA
Status: offline 		The Hangar 9 Alpha 60 comes with flight simulator pkg., also. I am currently training with the Alpha 60. I like it very much. It handles wind very well, is stable and flys where you point it. I have observed those who have chosen the Nexstar and generally they end up removing all the flight orientation stuff right away.

The Evolution .61 has run flawlessly. No problems, no dead sticks. Replaced 1 glow plug
in the first gallon of fuel used. Usually fly about 10 minutes at a time. Always have 1/2 tank left. Could probably, safely fly 15 minutes with fuel to spare.

Just my opinion. Quality plane.

Jim

_____________________________

Jim Vines
Diana, Texas
AMA 821369

(in reply to twolter)
       Post #: 2

RE: To Nexstar, or not to Nexstar? That is the question. - 10/31/2005 1:16:13 AM   
myork



Posts: 128
Joined: 5/1/2005
From: Bowling Green, KY, USA
Status: offline 		Man either get a ALPHA 40 or 60. Both fly great. I trained on a Nexstar myself. But I've flew a couple of 40 Alpha's one 60 and one ALPHA Arrow. I thought the Hanger 9's flew alot better than the Nexstar. If you can pick up a Nexstar used like I did and your dead set on getting one then get it. But If your going to buy one new go with one of the Hanger 9 trainer's. All that extra crap on the Nexstar your just going to take off anyway's. Mine came with the stall strips on the leading edge of the wing and a veteran of the club tried to fly it and he said it flew like crap. So we took them off and it flew as good as it was going to fly.

_____________________________

Speed is my game at the field and at a street near you.
skymacrc.com

(in reply to Safebet)
       Post #: 3

RE: To Nexstar, or not to Nexstar? That is the question. - 11/14/2005 2:53:23 AM   
pcsketch


 

Posts: 70
Joined: 1/20/2005
From: Salem, OR, USA
Status: offline 		Bought a Nexstar about two years ago. Would do it again just for the beautifuly done wood work. Flew fine. Just bouth a H9 P-51 same price as the Nexstar, $399.99. Guess in two, maybe three years I'll buy another READY TO FLY RTF. Flown since 93' and glad I can go buy the model airplane I like and go fly!

(in reply to myork)
       Post #: 4

RE: To Nexstar, or not to Nexstar? That is the question. - 12/1/2005 6:52:34 PM   
Bayou_flyer



Posts: 281
Joined: 12/1/2005
From: Galliano, LA, USA
Status: offline 		i BOUGHT A THIRD HAND NEXTSTAR FROM A GUY I WORK WITH ALL OF THE GYRO AND STUFF LIKE THAT WAS TAKEN OUT THIS PLANE IS 3 YEARS OLD AND I FLY IT 3 DAYS A WEEK THE ONLY THING I DONT LIKE ABOUT IT IS THE TRANSMITTER STIX ARE REALLY POINTEY BUT I BOUGHT SOME KNEW ONES FROM RCSTYX.COM AND THESE ARE AWESOME CHECK THEM OUT

_____________________________

Satisfaction comes easy to those with low expectations

(in reply to pcsketch)
       Post #: 5

RE: To Nexstar, or not to Nexstar? That is the question. - 12/1/2005 10:49:04 PM   
famousdave


 

Posts: 2263
Joined: 9/16/2003
From: Bradenton , FL, USA
Status: offline 		Don't waste your time with a nextar ... or any other hobbico junk trainers. The tricycle gear makes ground handling worse, and honestly.... they are harder to fly than many of the sport planes. I don't understand why anyone goes with these planes... probably because that is what the old timers had to fly back then. Trust me when I say this - I was out of mine in 5 days... bored to death with it. You would be better off with something else.

If you get really good on the sim, you don't need a trainer. I debated the need for an instructor too and flew my plane first time without anyone. I flew when no one was around to witness any incidents (I had none)... I bought a UCD 3D as my second plane and was much happier. I sold the trainer a week after making the first flight on it... The UCD was incredibly easy to fly.. and on low rates / low throttle much easier to handle and fly than a trainer... very forgiving too.

The H9 Ultra Stick and the Great Planes U Can Do 3D (60 size with a .91 on it) would make a great first plane for anyone.

Having an instructor around to help is a good thing... but not absolutely necessary.
DP







(in reply to Bayou_flyer)
       Post #: 6

RE: To Nexstar, or not to Nexstar? That is the question. - 2/7/2006 4:45:14 PM   
Lennyshotgun


 

Posts: 22
Joined: 12/26/2005
From: San Ramon, CA, USA
Status: offline 		So - I've been posting, and asking, and reading, and I have to say that this site has been just great. So much to learn.
I decided from the beginning to go with electric only (after watching the guys wiping down thier planes after a flight) which was tough because only a couple of guys at my club knew anything about electric.
I've been flying a Superstar that I outfitted with a AXI and 3 cell and I'm thinking about a nextar (read some negitive reviews) or the avistar.
I would really appreciate some opinions.
I think the avistar would be ok with the 2820/12 I have on the Superstar with a 5 cell instead of a 3.
The Nextar on the other hand would require something bigger. A lot of the negitive stuff I've seen abt the nextar involves the extra cost for the automatic system it comes with and the sim, but tower has the arf for $109. wo that stuff so cost wise it's only $10. more then the Avistar.

I've beem on the G3 sim for a few months and I've always liked the nextar best (but is the sim representitive of the real thing ?)
Anyway
Thanks Lenny

(in reply to famousdave)
       Post #: 7

RE: To Nexstar, or not to Nexstar? That is the question. - 2/7/2006 6:25:43 PM   
R/C Foolish



Posts: 1043
Joined: 2/1/2003
From: BILLERICA, MA, USA
Status: offline 		Desertpig,

I think you are way off here. Everybody's learning level is different. But instructors and buddy boxes have been around for a long time for the reason of training. I have seen more 'hot shots' come to the field and say they don't need an instructor and that they can fly any kind of plane. Remember that if you show up to a Club field when nobody is around and have an accident, you are still putting that Club at risk. You you want to go to some field on your own and crash all day long that is your business. But uising a Club field without following the rules of the club is just not right.

This of course is all just my opinion. To anybody looking to learn to fly, find a club, get an instructor. Forget about package planes, get a Sig LT-40 and a good 4 channel radio and practice, practice, practice.

There are some people that can be self taught but the majority of people learning R/C has done it the tried and true way.

Good Luck

R/C Foolish

(in reply to famousdave)
       Post #: 8

RE: To Nexstar, or not to Nexstar? That is the question. - 2/14/2006 6:38:57 AM   
freakingfast


 

Posts: 761
Joined: 1/3/2005
From: mather, CA, USA
Status: offline 		I've buddy boxed a lot of new fliers, and two of them showed up with shiny new Nexstars and an AMA license. Both planes were a handful to fly and I found that they could be made somewhat better by removing the foreign objects from the wings and bypass the autopilot. A hard right torque was encountered on takeoff with full throttle. Half throttle is all that was needed for a short take off. My favorite trainer is a Kadet LT 40 with an Evolution 46 NT. For breezy conditions I like Carl Goldberg Tiger 40 with an OS 46 AX , They have this wonderful sink rate for landing (bend the mains rearward so it won't tail tip). Avistars and Alphas fly well too. Please note, if your tricycle landing gear's mains are too far spread apart the plane's angle of attack is too steep and makes for bouncy landings, keep these bent down. This sagging is a common problem on most trainers.

_____________________________

When in doubt, give it full power. The smaller
pieces fit easier in the bag! Revver Bro #201

(in reply to R/C Foolish)
       Post #: 9

RE: To Nexstar, or not to Nexstar? That is the question. - 2/26/2006 4:09:19 AM   
Zmike


 

Posts: 6
Joined: 11/27/2005
From: West Helena, AR, USA
Status: offline 		I am a self taught r/c pilot. I first bought the Nexstar but it was very hard to fly experenced pilots had a hard time with all the training gear installed. I quickly sold this plane and bought a Hobbico Superstar Select 40. This is a very easy plane to fly for first timers. I've been flying it for 6months with no mishaps as of yet.

_____________________________

"If you want to kick the tiger in his ass, you'd better have a plan for his teeth."
AMA#858613

(in reply to freakingfast)
       Post #: 10

RE: To Nexstar, or not to Nexstar? That is the question. - 3/11/2006 1:43:42 AM   
ghostrider168


 

Posts: 76
Joined: 1/31/2006
From: Walnut, CA, USA
Status: offline 		I had been trained on the Nexstar. Prior to going to the flying field, I spend approximately ten hours on the simulator. I had an instructor with me on my maiden flight. He disconnected the autopilot. I had tried to fly a R/C plane twelve years ago without an instructor and end result was crash and burned on my first attempt. That was discouraging. It took me twelve years later to try again. This time with the Nexstar…Success! Now I have five planes (P-51, P-40, AT-6 all 60 size). Even with all these sport planes, once a while I still enjoy flying my Nexstar (without the fixed flap). I think is the best way to learn.

(in reply to Zmike)
       Post #: 11

RE: To Nexstar, or not to Nexstar? That is the question. - 7/19/2007 7:59:31 PM   
frenchie79


 

Posts: 626
Joined: 4/10/2007
From: Lancaster, WI, USA
Status: offline 		Better trainers out there-Nexstar has bad take-off habits. Sig Kadet LT40 try it and you won't need a flight sim.

_____________________________

Frenchie #193

(in reply to ghostrider168)
       Post #: 12

RE: To Nexstar, or not to Nexstar? That is the question. - 7/19/2007 11:08:35 PM   
jester_s1


 

Posts: 158
Joined: 12/17/2006
From: Fort Worth, TX, USA
Status: offline 		The guys that have been training me love the Avistar. It's a little more than a trainer but still slow and smooth. It gives new pilots something to learn with beyond flying in ovals.

(in reply to frenchie79)
       Post #: 13

RE: To Nexstar, or not to Nexstar? That is the question. - 7/27/2007 6:24:34 PM   
AKSUMMIT8


 

Posts: 29
Joined: 7/19/2007
From: EAGLE RIVER, AK, USA
Status: offline 		The Nexstar if dialed in correctly is fine, I built an Sig Lt-40 at the same time, whick the LT-40 is also availible in an ARF. The LT-40 flies alot better, soild. I put the new OS FSa .56 in the LT-40 great combo.

(in reply to jester_s1<