My son and I built Sig's Kadet LT-40 from a kit after researching recommended trainers from this forum and various other sources. For power we chose the highly recommended Thunder Tiger 46 Pro and a Futaba 6XAs computer radio - it's cool the way you can memorize trim settings and mix some rudder in (25%) with ailerons (Ch1-->Ch4 mix).

After gaining a lot of "stick time" on the GP Real Flight G2 simulator, we joined a local club and started flight training via the buddy box. After 6 flights each, our instructor said we were ready to solo during calm winds. Since local schools were out for conferences we decided to hit the club field during mid-week but found no one there. Cloudy day with a mild cross wind so we decided to prep everything, taxi out and try a few touch 'n go's - thus constituting our first unsupervised solos.



Son (age 13) shown here attaching the tank access hatch after fueling up the LT-40. He is working on his Boy Scout aviation merit badge and is already an accomplished control line pilot. The LT-40 looks good in cub yellow MonoKote, doesn't it?



All fueled up and carry out to the test stand where we'll attach the rest of the rubber bands, fire up the engine and set the high/low speed needle valves. A radio range check was also performed.



Only complaint about the LT-40 is it requires TWELVE #67 size rubber bands to attach the wing. Alex had a couple slip off the hook and popped his knuckles. His least favorite R/C chore... Note cross wind condition via the wind sock.



Even though we've got the field to ourselves we still follow protocol and impound the TX upon arriving. Note our frequency pin (ch. 15) properly displayed and our club membership cards in the active flying station clips. We joined an R/C club to learn how to fly SAFELY as well as just learning to bore holes in the skies without boring them in the ground.



The Thunder Tiger 46 Pro purrs at idle. From BEHIND the prop, I opened the throttle and richened the high speed needle slightly. On Wildcat Premium 15% and a Master Airscrew 11x5 prop, it'll top out at 13,000 RPM on the ground. Transition from idle was very smooth. We painted the tips of the black MA prop yellow for visibility but still hard to see with no direct sunlight. I also changed out the supplied black spinner for a nice, bright yellow one.



Alex takes his turn. I made the first flight and made probably my best landing - my first ever landing without the buddy box attached. [8D] Alex gets a feel of the ground tracking of the LT-40's tricycle landing gear by making several runs up and down the length of the runway. Turn it around and taxi the length going the other way.



Taxied out and headed it into the wind. OK, so the wind was virtually perpendicular to the runway - we had to guess which way to take off. A computer radio such as the Futaba 6XAs we are using makes it VERY convenient to store previously set trims for up to 6 models. Well, so far we only have one R/C model built but those trim levers sometimes do get moved by accident. Opened the throttle, used rudder to hold her centered on the runway and...



We're up, up and away!!! This CAD designed laser cut kit proved very straightforward to build. With it's proven gentle flight characteristics, it really takes much of the [X(] factor out of your first UNSUPERVISED SOLO. YAY!!!



Now at a safe altitude after climbout we turn back onto the downwind leg and throttle back to practice turns, descents and more climbs. The LT-40 handled the cross wind reasonably well. Glad we have the reserve power available with the TT 46 Pro. It's slight extra weight helped the CG to fall within specs as well.



Here we come on approach for one of our several touch 'n goes. The TT 46 Pro has a very reliable idle but the LT-40 tends to float FOREVER. Fun trainer and highly recommended.



A slow speed low altitude pass then we pour on the coals and the TT 46 powers the LT-40 back up to altitude.

We managed to land on the runway every time today and only ran off it once and wound up mowing just a little grass at the end. A drizzle started and we decided to call it a day for flying. And a great day of flying it was for Dad & son - now fully solo qualified!!!