Im just in the process of finishing my Nexstar trainer that has been sitting in the box for the last year or so. I have heard people recommending not to install the leading edge droops and speed brakes. Should I just leave the plane naked or is there a benifite to installing one or both of the training aids. FYI i did not install the flight assist as it is not compatible with my JR radio - Also it was recommended to do with out.

What would you guys recommend in terms of flying aids?

The best flying aid is an instructor...

Agreed. get an instructor.


And yes, I would leave all of that off. I've trained many students on the Nexstar and I think it's easier to train them without those on the plane

Ken

I will be joining a club, fortunatly the flying field is only a 5-10 min drive from my house. I will leave the flying aids off. thanks.

put on the droops, leave off the speed brakes

I trained with all that stuff except for that AFS system that we tried (we being my instructor and me) but did not like it at all. So, we just never connected it. As for the other stuff, it did no harm nor did it do any good. After I solo'ed, I took it off. No big deal, just a little trim adjustment in the elevator and it was fine. I seem to recall that it did cause the plane to come in a tad steeper, or maybe that is vice-versa, not sure, that was a while back.

Bottom line, if you don't have it on, no big deal.. I wouldn't waste any time with any of that stuff. Just put the engine and radio in there and get your instructor to help you learn to fly.

CGr.

I'll second Ken. They fly a lot better with all the training aids removed.

Hogflyer

Put on the droops, leave off the speed brakes <span class="info"></span>

This is how my Nexstar flew best.

No matter how you configure the Nexstar, with our without the gizmo's, it's a fine trainer. It does well with or without them. It is a strong aircraft.. I pretty much beat up mine, as most student pilots do, when learning. I busted a lot of props, that's for sure.. I'd buy them in bags of five.. . So, no matter how you configure it, it will do well as a trainer.

Now, just to qualify that statement, I've flown about 5 separate trainers, two as a student, and three others well after I solo'ed. Two were designated as "club trainers". I destroyed one by forgetting to raise the antenna.. dumb mistake, but it happend after I was flying 2.4 GHz for a while and, well, I simply forgot to raise it.

Anyway, use it with everything, with just the droops, or the brakes, or nothing at all. After flying it with everything, then removing the droops, then the brakes, and making a few trim adjustments to the elevator trim, it flew just fine.

CGr.

Mine is a blast set up with a tail wheel. The Saito 91S, makes it very easy to get out of a mess

I got mine used ,it's an old one and didn't have any of the flying aids on it.

It's a funny flying plane in the wind for sure.
I found that it needs a fair amount of speed in the turns and rudder use.
She does bounce around some when the winds blowing.
I had her up a few weeks back in about 8-9 mph wind and it was pretty challenging.

The guy that was helping me hated it.
So i just been flying it and finally got some real nice smooth landings yesterday
with very little wind.
Put the 11x5 prop back on, trimmed it a little nose up for slow flight and
just finally figured out how to bleed off enough speed for a landing.
The landings were giving me the most problem and it's not fun to watch em bounce down the strip.

I've had some hard landings and the plane has held together well and I do enjoy flying her more and more now.
Figure if it's not simple to fly it, then when you get something easier to fly then you'll be ahead of the plane I would think.