These replys has just about covered everything. Mode 2 is the USA standard.
I seen it mentioned to use a two stroke. I would use a four stroke( OS 52FS)
is a perfect match for the LT-40 and its a sweet engine. Four strokes do
coast a little more but are well worth it and very easy to adjust.
You had mentioned throttle and speed. I wouldnt worry to much about
the speed cause the LT-40 is a *****cat at any speed. This plane is very easy
to dead stick. It likes to glid for every. You will be more likely to over shooting
the air strip than under shooting it when you learn to land.

As far as the rudder goes you do need to learn how to use it at the proper time.
As you progress you will be flying on windy days and the rudder is VERY useful
when trying to land under these conditions. Alerions can get a plane flipped
over on windy days. You tilt that wing up and smack its over. The rudder
turns the plane as a whole from left to right. Alerions tilt the plane from
left to right. I find it easier to use rudder on windy days.

The LT-40 is the best trainer for the money and the best trainer i have
ever flew in 32 yrs of my flying.

Ok...first thing I have a Kadet LT-40 with an OS 46 LA....good combination for that plane, although keep in mind that engine is no powerhouse for a next plane.
Have a JR 631, hubby has JR 431....basic difference is mine has dual rates. Both are good computerized radios and will be good for many planes to come. And as far as the wife...hhhmmm...kick her to the curb (J/K).....at my house I kick hubby outta the basement 'cause I'm building and last one to the flying field is a rotten egg (that's usually him)

There not very many couples that are in to it like you
and your hubby(Nice).

I trained my gril friend and she is a very good pilot. But she dont build
i have to do that. I been trying to get her to build but she refuses.
I guess i will have to put my foot down one of these days and tell
her the next time she dumps one she will have to fix it. That will
be awhile cause she hasnt dumped one in Years.But she worked
my ***** of when she first started out. She is flying a low wing now
that i just built. Maybe she will dump this one(She had a few close calls)
But she throwed me the TX and i saved it.

I have been building alot longer than I have been flying......I started out building for hubby, and just hanging out at the field socializing. All of the guys (yes I am the only woman in our club) kept insisting that if I was going to build them I should fly them, so I got my AMA card and the LT-40. By no means am I a great pilot, definately still a beginner but I do know how. I still like to build better, and have never flown anything that I have built only my LT-40 ARF.

I may build eventually. However I would like to start with an ARF. I think that I will have a much better chance of having everything trimmed pretty close when I start. I don't have any tools to check cg, deflection, and that stuff. After I learn to fly the LT-40 and am comfortable trimming a glow engine plane etc. I will build. But, since I don't have full intentions on joining a club, I think the ARF is my best bet for now.

I know every one HIGHLY recommends I join a club. I plan on visiting the club a couple times to observe. I may join eventually, but I really don't have the time to drive there on a regular basis and I feel it would be a waste of money.

I fly my Aerobird pretty darn good. I do crash occasionally but that is mainly because I am constantly modifying it as much as I can to try to get faster response. Things I probably shouldn't do like modifying the tail so the control surfaces are pretty much all the way accross, and extending the servos to get more distance on the control surfaces. So, sometimes it goes bazerk after my modifications and smacks the ground, but many times I can bring her down even if she is flying like a maniac.

I have read many posts and will admit and am scared. Mainly scared of getting the LT 40 up and landing. I really appreciate Montague's warning. I am worried that it may be a little out of trim and I know it only takes one good smack to the ground to destroy it. Thats why I am going to visit the flying field a couple of times to observe, to give me a better feel.

Also, I am going to fly it VERY carefully. Nothing gutsy or stupid. Nothing besides flying in circles for a good while. Then when I get used to it, I will try some loops and stuff WAY up in the air. So, my personal feeling is that if I go to the club a few times and watch first hand, I'd say I would have about 75% chance of flying it without destroying it.

Anyone else have an opinion about the radio? The 6 channel futuba computer radio is 30 bucks more. But because I can't get it with the combo it will cost me 40 bucks more. I am already going to be straining my budget to get the plane to begin with. So, is it really worth while getting the computer radio?

Thanks again for all the good feed back,

Wings

You say you have about a 75% chance of flying it without crashing it...........my opinion is that if budget is tight spending the money to join the club (what is it $20-30) is way cheaper than replacing plane after plane. Even if you only spend 3 or 4 weekend days there and then fly closer to home I think you will be money ahead. I have found the networking is just as much fun as flying itself. Not trying to be rude or anything I have a "firebird" and an LT-40.....I give your LT-40 a 10% chance of survival. Remember even a hard bounce on landing can send you to the bench for repairs.

Thanks for your suggestions, but keep in mind an aerobird is three channels, the fire bird is 2. I respect your predictions of a 10% survival rate. But, in all do respect, what is so difficult about it? Really. I realize its bigger and faster, but other than that, what makes it so much more difficult than the aerobird. I have heard that ailerons make it EASIER to fly!

I do realize that it wont take much to destroy it. But.... as far as actually flying it, what REALLY makes it that much more difficult. I sincerely would like to know.

I may join a club. But like I said before my job will not allow me to go there that much because of the distance. Plus I'm pretty sure I will have to join AMA to join the club. So, its probably going to end up costing me 75 to 100 bucks or maybe more, and after I learn to fly I wouldn't be going anymore. If I had a club close I would definetely join. But I like to fly because its relaxing and fun. Waking up at the crack of dawn to drive to the club before the wind picks up don't sound very relaxing.

I plan on visiting the club this weekend. And I realize doing it myself will be totally different from knowing what to do. But I will at least learn quite a bit. My opinion my change after watching others fly this weekend.

But sincerely, exactly what makes the LT 40 SOOO much harder to fly (other than its faster, bigger, and more delicate)

I have seen on a couple forums that people say a basic glow trainer is actually easier to fly than the aerobird. I find that hard to believe, but if people are saying it, then the LT-40 must not be THAT much harder.

Thank you,


Wings

Wings-If you are anywhere near Green River Lake State Park in Campbellsville Ky, stop by our field on a weekend, and I will put you on the trainer cord with a LT-40. It's true a LT-40 is a very gentile flier, but you will still need help. E-mail me if you are interested.

Hey wings,
Personally if youve flown the aerobird i think flying the Kadet wont be too difficult, however youll still be playing the percentages. If you really wanna play it safe take it to the field for its maiden flight, if your only going to go there once you probably wont have to join the club and someone will be nice enough to take you up on it, but youll still need to get AMA to do that. Another plus about the Kadet (if you got the kit) is that its really easy to repair if damaged (most of the time) so if you do get a little crash you can probably be back out in less than a few days.

Papa,

P.S. This post was not made to encourage you to fly it on your own.

I am flying a LT40 now and I just have a couple of points to add. The dihedral of the wing makes the plane bank when the rudder is used, I have very little aleron and it is quite effective unless I am trying to coordinate a turn when I have to use full aleron to counter the bank induced by just half of my rudder control.. It yaws alot with the rudder input and the bank rolls back out due to the dihedral. I can fly into a turn and it will fly itself back straight if I neutralize the controls. It is big, a kite almost, I can coast around with less than 1/2 throttle for along time without loosing much altitude probably around 20-25 mph. It does take a good bit of runway to get up to speed before rotation and if you don't chop the throttle way back in the downwind leg of your approach it takes alot of runout on landings. I would suggest a prop in the 10-6 or 10-7 range for added power to escape from missed approaches and stalls low to the ground. I didn't feel my 45 OS had enough guts to get me out of trouble with a 10-7, but I am flying at over 6,000 ft and need extra power for the thinner air here. Even being able to fly under 1/2 throttle for an entire 15-20 minute flight it will use about 8 oz. of fuel per flight so a quart will get you 4 flights, not bad for a beginner over a weekend, but it is more expensive to buy that way. Don't short-cut just to get in the air for a day. Take all the time you need to get some good help, good equipment as everyone above has mentioned and build a pit that has the tools you need to start right. You will be able to keep your plane(and your hands) in one piece long enough to learn and then the fun starts. Shortcuts will just make you get discouraged before you have a chance to feel the joy this sport can give you.

rod

What do you mean by short cuts? Not joining a club? My main concern is take off and landing. Landing I think I can handle. Not real sure about take off. I am afraid the plane will veer off the road (runway) on take off and crash. Thats my main concern at this point. Do you use the rudder to steer on take off? If so, how much speed to you need before its effective. My main concern it, how the heck do you guide it on take off.

Enjoy your LT-40. I personally think you've gotten all the knowledge you should get here. Sage advice it is and no one is open to liability. Any further and someone may be blamed for your certain crash. BTW, it is pretty well guaranteed.

No AMA, no club, no insurance, flying off road. Is this what we want out there to represent the hobby????

I want to add my $.02...relative to your planned purchase from Tower. The combo's they sell are priced to make a SALE, not necessarily the BEST buy for you the consumer. They sell them at a price to get you to buy. Not that they 're selling inferior products, just that they're trying to sell.

I think the OS.40LA is an ok, low budget-priced engine, but I wouldn't buy one. There are many more higher quality engines available that will also be better engines for your second plane. The OS46FX fits this need very well...plus it's construction is better, that's why it costs more. Since the Kadet is big and high drag, a slower flyer, you'll only fly at high throttle when taking off anyway. Put the right prop, and it'll be a good trainer engine...change the prop and it'll be a great engine for a sport plane. Sure it costs more...but it'll be better, and durable in the long run. There are other engines out there that can do just as well as the 46FX too.

I would also reconsider your choice of radio. Get a reasonably priced 6 channel computer radio. Which one? Get the brand that most of the people around you fly. All the brands do the same thing. Just get one that you can easily get help out on the field from other flyers around you. All of the brand names have flight packages...transmitter, receiver, servo's & batteries together. That will save $$$.

Don't limit yourself to what one discount retailer offers. Try to think ahead...what can I buy now, that I can use later, on a faster, more maneuverable plane...that I can also easily get help on?

If you buy the 40LA now, when you buy that second plane, you're going to want a different engine...more $$. Go for the better engine now. Same thing goes for the radio...you'll want a more capable radio with the next plane. Save some money...get better equipment now. I'm not saying to go spend tons of $$ on everything...just get better than the bargain basement quality.

Oh yeah...you won't go wrong with the LT-40...IMHO. Great trainer.

Ok...I'm off my stump. I feel better. Sorry the $.02 turned into $.25.

Chuck

PS. No knock against Tower Hobbies...they're great.

4*60,

If you would read my post you would see I dont have TIME for a club. Its too far away. Sure, I could manage to get there, but it would be HUGE hassle. And it will cost me $120 bucks. 60 for AMA, 60 for the club, just for the remainder 3 1/2 months of the year. For $120 bucks I could buy a new plane!.


The point of me joining the club to begin with is to save money by not destroying my plane. So if I fork out $120 I probably could repair the damaged plane once or twice.


Sure, If I had a club close by, you bet I would join. As far as representing the hobby, well my friend, in AMERICA, its a free country. If i want to fly my plane with no AMA insurance, its my choice. I will pay the consequences if something happens, so I dont think the rest of the hobby is realy affected by whether or not I am in AMA. And the road I am talking about is a road in the middle of the back roads of Kentucky. I can see if someone is coming and I will NOT cause any damage. So, I would appreciate any information you have. However, I feel you should mind your own business when it comes to my personal choices as to whether or not to join AMA or a club.



Wings

Ditto wings,

Guarenteed crash? Bad representation of our hobby? Give me break man. You take things to seriuosly. Its so much easier for someone to say join a club, than to actaully drive an hour and pay $120, its his money let him do what he wants with it.