Best is always going to get a subjective answer... in part because there are always variables like will it fly off a rough grass field or smooth asphalt, or does one wish an arf or kit build.

Our field is on an old dump ground and is a bit rough making it a bit difficult on tricycle gear, which is the format for many trainers.

So, a good plan is to visit your prospective flying field and get the opinions of what works well there.

I will offer my opinion to add to the mix to sort through. When looking for a trainer for my grandkids, I chose the Sig LT-25 Kadet. The Kadet series fly on the wing, meaning they have plenty of lift so that they can be slowed down yielding more reaction time that is very helpful when learning. The LT-25 is a tail dragger making it better for rougher fields, yet it has very good ground handling manners, sometimes a problem for a tail dragger. The wing is mounted with rubber bands, which are more forgiving when learning to land and suffering hanging a wing tip. Even though a .25 is all the power needed, the plane is fairly large and easy to see, yet at 4.25 lbs it likes to fly and his not wanting to dive for the ground.

Landing is the most difficult part of the learning process and most often the flair out just before touch down is challoenging. I've seen a great deal of nose gear bent on trainers causing a great amount of aggravation because of a failure to flair or too much flair causing a stall and then a hard hit on the nose. The LT-25 firstly doesn't have any nose gear and it needs little attention to the flair as the glide slope is so gentle that it simple lands itself, all that is needed is to track down the runway, cut the throttle and let it come down.

While it is a kit that needs built, it is a very easy kit to build and do so true so that flight performance is not compromised. And... building it is a plus because trainers very often suffer some landing mishaps and having built this plane, the new pilot will find it easier to repair than an arf as there will be scrap covering and intimacy with the construction of the plane. The wing loading is also so light that a few repairs won't make it too heavy to fly well.

A last word about the LT-25 Kadet, models have a recommended range of motors and a lot if not most modelers go with the highest or even go higher than that range. This plane is an exception... Sig ranges this plane .25 to .32 but they advise the .25 and wisely so as it is all this plane needs.

Have fun...enjoy the hobby... it is a great one