Hey guys and or gals!

My nephew came to me and said he would like learn to fly. I told him that I would teach him, however grades and saving his money would be the test to wether we did this when flying season reaches Michigan. He has the advantage, as I can take him to the Toledo show and he can see all the products out there and we can idea what would be the best value.

I will be teaching him on a tail-dragger, as this is what I learned on. So I know this will stir up some controversy, but at our field nose gears don't fair well, due to rough field. Also, the majority of planes that he will eventually fly will be a tail-dragger.

What y'all think about the Telemasters quality.

Thanks for your opions!

I would recommend a GWS Slow Stick. Tail dragger, will takeoff and land on grass, 3 channel. Beef up the wings with shipping tape, slap on a outrunner 370 and you are good to go!!

Thats an interesting idea, I didn't think about the little GWS suff! Thanks!

Still would like to get into something a little bigger, but I may look into your idea as a first trainer!

I am now teaching my wife and her daughter on a Sig Rascal 40 with a Saito 82. I am using a 13 x 4 APC prop. Nice combo for me and seems to be working well for them so far.

Tim

I think a telemaster would be a great choice!

If it's a tail-dragger you're after, a Tele is hard to beat...

But it's also hard to build. (Well, ok, not HARD, but there are a lot of easier-building trainers out there)

Why not something like a Sig LT-40, and just built it as a tail dragger?

I am going to build a Sig LT 40 with my son this winter for his trainer. It will be a taildragger,have 2 aileron servos and wing bolts instead of rubberbands.

Thanks people, lots of great ideas. It's kinda funny, it's been 10 years since I learned and I haven't kept up with the various trainers on the market. So I really appreciate your input! Keep the ideas coming!

Uncle Mike!

My son showed interest so I got him a Rascal 40 ARF.. For young people they need to see results quicker then adults, so the assembly of an arf allows them some input in the build process with fast completion. As for the Rascal I figured in grass a Tail dragger is fine, and if he dosen't stick with it at least it is a plane I can fun around with..

I got a Hobbistar 60 and converted it to taildragger for my son to learn on. Had a ball. You might want to leave out some of the dihedral too. With 3-1/2" wheels it handles bumpy fields pretty well.

Why not go with an Ultra Stick 60? One of the easiest planes I have flown and will keep you interested a lot longer than an ordinary trainer. And it's a taildragger. I taught my son to fly on this plane and he loves it.

Skorman,

It's funny, during my commute home from work yesterday, the very same idea popped into my head. I agree that they are easy to fly, plus once he gets the hang of flying and can take off and land consistently, he'll want to start shredding the sky!

Plus, when the inevitable comes and he ripps the wing or landing gear off, it's won't look that bad and be easy to repair.

Another good idea!

Thanks
Uncle Michael

I would consider a profile like the OMP Katana. This plane will slow down to a crawl without stalling so landings will be easy for a person learning. It is also responsive unlike most trainers. An unresponsive plane makes it difficult for a new pilot to learn what their inputs are really doing to the plane. Just keep the throws way down to start with and the 40 size 3D profiles are some of the easiest planes to fly that can be found. Another bonus, as your nephew grows in his abilities the plane will be able to do what he wants it to do, just start increasing the throws. I learned on a profile and with the buddy-box system it was great. Just a suggestion.

There is also the WM Skyraider Mach 1. It is a high wing semi-symmetrical trainer that can be modded to a tail dragger. The best part is that they are built well with good covering and they have a street price under $70. If you want t a low wing there is the Mach 2 for the same price and it comes as a tail dragger. I have both planes and they are a great value. My Mach 1 has a camera mount and bomb drop, the Mach 2 is just a great flying and aerobatic plane.

I would go for the WM Super Frontier 40 with a SuperTigre G-51 engine, real nice and not expensive

Joe