ORIGINAL: bb2120
Off topic, I know, but do you guys think it's worth getting a trainer with or without ailerons? I have flown a 3ch glider a couple of times and wasn't hopeless at flying it, but was a little out of my depth, unaided by the large amount of wind...
Not really far off topic.
Whether or not your trainer has ailerons, in my opinion, is a matter of personal ability and dedication.
The explosion of the small electric, parkflyer, class of planes, has been around their simplicity and their ease of flight. Part of that is based on the self leveling, self recoveirng design. There is a significant LACK of aerobatic capability with a lot of the parkflyer trianers. This makes them suitable for self training. High wing, pusher, R/E/T planes tend to fit this model fairly well.
That doesn't mean you can't self teach on ailerons, you can. However, in my observation, ailerons give you greater opportunity to over contol the plane and get it into attitudes from which it is hard to recover. And front motor planes tend to take more damge and more expensive damage than pushers.
The lack of control, if you want to think of it that way, based on the lack of ailerons, is a positive attribute for self training, in my opinion. Like training wheels on a two wheel bike, you get the feel for the bike with little help but you lose some of the control you can have by leaning the bike over. Later, you can take them off and have more control.
One of my favorite planes to recommend for those who will build a kit is the Mountain Models Magpie. It has two wings available. A 3 channel R/E/T slow fly wing. Great for self teaching. Then you swap for the shorter, flatter, aileron spot wing and you have an aileron trainer. Ta Da!
If you want ailerons, and are learning on your own, also consider the Easy Glider Electric or the GWS e-starter. Both of these can be flown R/E first, then the ailerons can be added later.
If, on the other hand you have an instructor or a coach who can help you through your early learning and they are comfortable teaching you on ailerons, then that this the way to go. If you will be learning on a buddy box, then definately get a plane with ailerons. But I don't think that is the situaiton that started this thread.
So it is a situational answer.
What do you know?
How quickly do you learn?
Do you have help learning?
How good are you at fixing? [
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If you are learning on your own, with no help, I recommend a 3 channel, high wing, pusher, R/E/T electric like the Aerobird Challenger, the T-Hawk, the Easy Star or similar planes.