Been flyin' r/c for just over 30 years....I cannot understand why on earth model manuf. expect an new flyer to try and learn the ropes...with an "ill flying, under-powered .40 sized, flat bottom wing, piece of junk...so-called Trainer". I think it has more to do with "training " a new customer in the art of buying....nose-blocks, landing gear, props, spinners, ect.

And why has the market started pushing the .40 size stuff so much...over the last several years ?

"Most" .40 size trainers...fly like poop. The little .40 barely drags the thing into the air in the first place....then the thing sinks like a rock when you bank it....and goes balistic when you turn up-wind ! The new flyer is having enough trouble trying to figure out "left from right", and has this $300. piece of junk...diving, and zooming all over the sky !

Then, eventually comes the "slow, stable" landing. ( yeah, right ) If the little beauty isn't totally greased-in...it bounces about 10 feet in the air...off the wire landing gear, stalls...and lands in about 3 feet. Let's see...epoxy, block, spinner, prop...under $20., no problem.

A friend of mine got into r/c this year...bought a guy "out" for cheaps...4 planes, 3 radios....comes out to the field with a "Dura-Plunker" Trainer, K&B .40, says...the guy couldn't get it off the ground ! When I picked it up to check the C/G I could see why....the thing felt like it weighed 10 lbs, and was way too nose heavy. So anyway we slid the wing forward, and peaked the motor to max, and after about a 20 second run-out, I gave her full-up.
The contraption actually rose into the air. It flew kinda' like a Briggs & Stratton....with a 2X6 strapped to the top of it. I couldn't believe that these "things" were actually purchased by Humans....with "Dreams of Flight".

And..."they"...expected a Newbie to learn how to fly...with this junk ! I could barely keep it off the ground...

Bottom line....if I had to teach "myself" how to fly a plane from scratch...I'd get myself an .60 size Ultra Stick...and a new series .90 Magnum engine...(cheap, good power)...straight ailerons. (no flaps), and tri-cycle gear...

Reasons...
1. BIG...flys better, easier to see...
2. Actually flies...no diving, no zooming...
3. Takes off and lands better than any "trainer"
4. "flat-bottoms" work good on surf-boards

So,...that's my 2 cents worth...

Dave.