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Old 06-13-2007 | 08:59 PM
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bigedmustafa
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Default RE: Alpha 40 or Arrow 40?

If price is no object, then get the Alpha .60 RTF trainer. It is the best RTF trainer sold today, with its large size providing more stability and better visibility than smaller .40-sized trainers. My second choice would be the Thunder Tiger Tiger Trainer .60 super combo. My third choice for best RTF, price being no object, is the Sig Kadet LT-40 RTF.

The Alpha/Arrow .40 RTFs and the Thunder Tiger 40H/40T Plus RTFs are honestly almost a dead tie from a quality standpoint. The Arrow is 2" longer and 2" greater in wingspan than the 40H. All of these trainers represent 4th place behind my top three choices above if price were no object. The covering on the non-plus versions of the Easy Trainer 40T/40H is good, strong covering, but it's not Ultracote. I believe all four of these choices are better for primary training than the rest:

Nexstar Select RTF - Nice but expensive, not great in windy conditions
Hobbistar Select RTF - Very nice package overall, covering is problematic
Avistar Select RTF - Excellent package, better covering than most other Hobbico airframes, weak engine, a little pricey.
Superstar Select RTF (glow) - Hobbico covering issues, weak engine, slightly pricey
Mustang PTS RTF - Expensive, better second plane than primary trainer
Raptor PTS RTF - Very expensive, very nice package, better second plane than primary trainer
Tower Trainer .40 RTF - Great value, powerful but finicky engine, Hobbico covering issues, soft gear wire

If cost matters most, the Tower Trainer RTF is available for $219.99 plus S&H this month, and it's a lot of plane for the money. You can fix the weak gear, you can toughen up the trim on the covering, and end up with a very good plane.