In my opinion, electrics are not that great for trainers. Why do I say that? Well, consider that electrics do require some discipline when it comes to throttle management. New students will initially be taught to put the throttle at one point, say half throttle, and fly left and right orbits, figure eights, and so on, at one constant speed. Adding more or less throttle means trim adjustment. So, leaving the throttle at one point, rather than reducing or adjusting it for various maneuvers, will quickly run down the normal battery pack. When I started electrics, I could not get a battery pack last for more than four or five minutes where other guys were getting ten to twelve minutes out of the same battery pack on the same type aircraft and motor setup. It took me some time to learn the differences between glow throttle control and that requried to get some duration out of electrics.

There is enough going on in the brain of a new student already, and to try to add throttle management on top of that is a bit much to ask.

Now, please, don't get your dander up.. consider that what I just said would apply to most students in their first few outtings AS students. Yeah, I know.. eventually, they gotta learn throttle management, but for the first few flights, perhaps even the first few days out there, they are more focused on learning to fly straight and turn and do approaches without worrying about battery depletion.

Now, with that said.. there are some definite advantages to electric, and post clean up is one of those, but, hey, students really ought to get their experience cleaning up that mess, right? Right??? Aw, come-on folks..