G'day Kadeters. My first one was built in 1991 from a kit and is still flying. I started it with a Saito 45s and then sold it. Its new owner flew it for about 10 years with an Enya 46 four stroke and then it returned to me. I then put an elderly OS FS40 in it. What fun. It had just enough power to take off and would then float around indefinitely. Loops needed a small dive but were quite neat and landings were a total non event. Next came some real power - an OS 52 Surpass and even a Suprass 40 (not a great deal better than the FS 40 and then a series of ASP and Magnum four strokes in the 52 and 61 class. These were cheap and ideal for a serious trainer. They taught several people to fly and then take off and land.

Since then I have built several more from kits for my self and even one ARF. All have had Saito four strokes ranging from 50 to 72. My current three Kadets have a 56, a 65 (this one is an ARF) and a 72. I find the four strokes make excellent training engines as they are happy to plod around all day at half power or less and leap into life if more power is needed.

My current project will be Kadet Number 8. It is getting a Laser 70. Total overkill I know but Lasers are just such loverly engines and with our AU dollar rising against the UK pound I could not resist.

If I had to power a Kadet on a budget, I would use either an ASP/Magnum 52/61 four stroke or an OS LA 46. Both are reasonably priced and reliable. The OS in particular is a very easy engine to use.

But for total satisfaction and long life it would be a Saito or OS four stroke. Probably in the 56 to 72 range to keep the weight down.

The one in the picture had a FA-62 at the time and now has a FA-72. The 62 was needed somewhere else.