SoCalHeli,

From the points that have been raised so far I can divide your choices into two options:

1. You wan't a slow flying plane you can fly yourself:

Start with a lightweight 3 channel park flyer like the GWS Tiger Moth. Provided you hand launch it and land it on grass you probably won't damage it unless you purposely ram it into the ground.

When you are proficient, you can then graduate to a slow flying 3 channel glow plane. Look at the Ripmax Zephyr as an example.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXAHR0&P=7

It plods around at just over idle using an OS15LA. You can fly this one at the RC club and practice touch and goes with it. This can be either hand launched or taken off from ground.

By the time time you're proficient with this plane, almost any trainer should be easy to fly and you'll be solo on a 'proper' 4 channel in no time.

I don't have one but I would look into a SIG Senior ARF as a big easy trainer (in red or blue). It has an 80" span and only needs a .40 engine. That should tell you how light and slow it should be:

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXBDE9&P=7

The kit version is a box of sticks and will take ages to build (I know I've got a Seniorita).

2. Go straight to the 4 channel trainer with a buddy box:

I've got a Superstar 60 for exactly the same reason, bigger plane, more visable, more stable etc.....

Here it is:

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXK975&P=7

Again, the Senior above would be a good choice....

I read on another thread someone has a Tower Trainer 60, same size as the Superstar. After some discussion they decided to try it with the TT pro .46 they had. Apparantly it flew well.

Just goes to show you don't need a 60 to fly a 60 sized trainer...


There's also a selction of 'out of the box' trainers to choose from in 40 size, but If you've already been in the hobby you probably have engines and radios already around.

Hope that helps....