ORIGINAL: mlewis73
Do I understand I cannot use the radio and receiver from the Cessna with a larger trainer? Why is this?
I'd never have bought the Flyzone Cessna if I'd known I couldn't use the radio on other 4-channel aircraft later.
Mike
Most inexpensive RTF electric aircraft are bundled with very inexpensive 27Mhz or 49Mhz "toy class" transmitters that aren't suitable for hobby-class aircraft with more powerful motors/engines.
The Flyzone Cessna 182 4-channel RTF comes with a 72Mhz FM transmitter that can be used with virtually any size of airplane or helicopter large or small. The transmitter can be buddy-boxed to a Futaba buddy box or a Futaba-brand transmitter for training instruction. It will likely work with a Hitec buddy box or Hitec/Tower Hobbies transmitter as well if the correct buddy box cable is used.
The receiver and servos that were included with the plane are of the smaller, weaker park flyer variety - the servos aren't strong enough to work with a larger plane and the receiver likely won't work at the farther distances that larger planes are typically flown. They should be fine to use in another small electric aircraft, however.
The previously mentioned GWS Slow Stick is an ideal match for your predicament. You could put the receiver and servos from your Cessna in a Slow Stick ARF and fly it with your existing transmitter. Your 1100Mah battery that came with your Cessna would fly a Slow Stick for a really long time between rechargings as well.
You could also purchase a larger glow trainer such as the $69.99 Tower Hobbies Tower Trainer MkII .40 ARF along with the $49.99 Super Tiger G-40 ringed ball-bearing 2-stroke glow engine and fly it with your Cessna Tactic transmitter. You'd still need to buy a full range negative shift 72mhz receiver w/ freq crystal on the same channel as your transmitter, as well as four standard sized servos. Hobby City could supply you with a GWS RD8SL receiver and crystal for about $30, and 4 HX5010 ball-bearing servos would set you back another $25 or so for the set. Add a 12" servo extension for the aileron servo, a prop, spinner, some thin CA glue, and some 30 minute Epoxy and you would have a complete glow trainer for way under $180.
I think the Slow Stick would be a smarter purchase if you plan on trying to learn on your own without joining a club or working with a flight instructor. The Slow Stick will be much better for basic flight training and will land much more slowly. It could also be flown inside of a large gymnasium if the weather won't allow for outdoor flying.
Good luck and good shopping!