ORIGINAL: Ed_Moorman
A .46 will over power your trainer ----
If you are talking equivalent power in the .46 range, my .46 engines weigh in the 17.0-17.7 oz. My Saito .72 weighs 18.2 oz, but it is probably that little much more powerful than the .46. The .82 is even lighter.
A good .46 is truly more than a complete beginner need, or would be comfortable with at full bore, but complete beginners don't stay that way & an exciting trainer is one way to keep an inexperienced pilot flying a trainer, rather than boring him into flying something more "exciting". The longer he stays with a trainer, the better the pilot he will be in the end.
BTW, my TT .46 Pro's weigh 16.5 oz with muffler & can comfortably match a Saito .72 -- they can spin an APC 12-5 at 12,000+.