Whenever the question is asked here on RCU about what the "best" trainer is we always get dozens of different answers about what trainer is the "best". But the definition of "best" usually boils down to what each pilot learned to fly on. Everybody always thinks that the plane they trained on is "the best". Of course it is, it's just human nature to think that way. Anyway, I have been thinking about doing this for a while now. Let's find out exactly what is the most popular gear for learning to fly.

I'm going to put down a few rules here on how I'm going to work this.
1. I'll keep a running total of the results both here in this post at the head of the thread and also I'll post running totals as we go along.
2. Please post ONLY the plane, engine, and radio that you used to learn to fly on. Let us know if it was a Kit, ARF, or RTF plane.
3. If you used more than one type please post the plane that you consider to be your primary trainer.
4. No commentaries about any type of plane at all. Please don't put down the trainer that anybody else has used. I'm trying track what is used the most out there, not which one flies better than the other.
5. While commentaries aren't allowed, please feel free to make a short statement about your equipment. Things like "great flying plane", "still flying 10 years later", "wrapped it around a tree", etc... will make this fun.
6. Everybody gets only one vote.
7. Please post even if your equipment isn't made any longer.

On a recommendation from Marc (RCAdmin) I have tried to post a link to the items mentioned. Of course for the older items that have been discontinued there is nothing to link to


Trainers
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXEXK2**&P=ML]Hobbico Nexstar, ARF/RTF[/link] - 9
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXBDF0&P=ML]Sig Kadet Senior, ARF[/link] -3
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFG19&P=7]Sig LT-40, ARF[/link] - 3
[link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=HAN2475]Hanger 9 Alpha 40, RTF[/link] - 3
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCAS2&P=ML]Tower Hobbies Trainer 40, ARF[/link] - 3
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFG11&P=7]Sig LT-40, Kit[/link] - 3
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXDJB9&P=7]Goldberg Eagle 2, ARF[/link] - 2
Goldberg Falcon 56 MK II,kit - 2
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFF91&P=7]Sig Kadet MK II, kit[/link] - 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJ558&P=7]Great Planes PT-60, Kit[/link] - 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXPY56&P=ML]Hobbico Avistar, ARF[/link]- 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCSY9&P=ML]Hobbistar 60, ARF[/link] - 1
[link=http://www.hobby-lobby.com/tel40gas.htm]Hobby Lobby Telemaster 40, kit[/link] - 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXAP71&P=0]Midwest Aero-star 40[/link] - 1
[link=http://www.kyoshoamerica.com/airplanes/gp/11211R.asp]Kyosho Calmato, ARF[/link] - 1
Sig Kadet Jr, Kit (discontinued product) -1
RCM Trainer 40, kit - 1
Apprentice, 6' wingspan, plans built - 1
Balsa USA Easy 100, Kit - 1
Thunder Tiger Right Flyer 40 T - 1
Berkely Smog Hog - 1


Engines
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXEXK2**&P=ML]OS 46 FXi[/link] - 10
[link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=EVOE0460]Evolution 46[/link] - 3
OS 40 FP (discontinued product)- 3
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXKF99&P=]Thunder Tiger 61 Pro[/link] - 2
[link=http://www.mecoa.com/kb/aero/aircraft.htm]K&B 40[/link] - 2
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXBY17&P=]OS 40 LA[/link] - 2
[link=http://manuals.hobbico.com/osm/50sx-40-46-61-91fx-manual.pdf]OS 46 FX (discontinued product)[/link] - 2
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXBY59&P=]OS 52 Surpass[/link] - 2
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJA86&P=7]Tower Hobbies 46[/link] - 2
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFV69&P=ML]SuperTigre GS-40, ringed[/link] - 2
[link=http://manuals.hobbico.com/osm/50sx-40-46-61-91fx-manual.pdf]OS 40 FX (discontinued product)[/link] -1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFMD5&P=ML]OS 46 AX[/link] - 1
[link=http://www.megatech.com/product_detail_engines.php?ID=4709]Mega Tech 46[/link] - 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXKF97&P=ML]Thunder Tiger 46 Pro[/link] - 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXXA42&P=ML]OS 70 Surpass[/link] - 1
OS 25 FSR (discontinued product) - 1
Magnum 25 (discontinued product) - 1
Como 40 - 1
Fox 40 BB - 1
OS 30 - 1
Fox 35 - 1


Radio
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXEFJ4**&P=ML]Futaba 4YF, 4 channel[/link] - 10
JR Quattro, 4 channel - 3
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXHYK7**&P=]Futaba 6XAS, 6 channel[/link] - 3
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXGAF2**&P=ML]Futaba 7CAP, 7 channel[/link] - 2
Kraft Radio (I'm counting all Krafts here, regardless of how many channels)- 2
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCJG8**&P=]Hitec Laser, 4 channel[/link] - 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXLDP9**&P=0]Tower Hobbies 6XM, 6 channel[/link] - 1
[link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=JRP6654**]JR 6102, 6 channel[/link] - 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCUM2**&P=0]Tower Hobbies 4 channel[/link] - 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXVW08**&P]Futaba Skysport, 6 channel[/link] - 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXHYK7**&P=ML]Futaba 6EXAS[/link] - 1
MRC 5 channel (discontinued product) - 1
Futaba digital proportional (discontinued product)- 1
Hobby-Lobby, 6 channel (discontinued product) - 1
Kraft, 5 channel (discontinued product) - 1
JR, 4 channel (discontinued product)- 1
Airtronics Vanguard, 4 channel (discontinued product) - 1
JR S400, 4 channel - 1
JR Max, 4 channel - 1
Futaba Conquest, 4 channel - 1
Futaba FX-18 - 1
Futaba 5UAP, 5 channel - 1
JR SX600, 6 channel - 1
Futaba Attack, 4 channel (discontinued product) - 1


Keep the results coming folks!!

Ken