Hi, I have r/c car and helicopter experience, and I'm looking to get into airplanes. I would like to get an AT-6 airplane but I guess I should get a trainer first.. so I'm looking for the cheapest possible ARF precovered and all-hardware-including trainer I can get. I've been looking at the Tower Hobbies Tower Trainer .40 MKII ARF for a first (only $80 new), with probably a cheap OS .40 LA (either new, or from ebay). I already have a Futaba 6XHS and 6 or 7 servos, with all radio components, starter, plus some misc hardware.. Is this a good starting package?

Thanks![sm=biggrin.gif]

First of all define "best", "best" is many things to many people
Ok check out the SPAD's either ARF or scratch www.spadtothebone.com some say they aren't pretty (personaly i love them) BUT they are tough and cheap, SPAD boy ARF trainer $40usd
Check out the SPAD forum here on RCU as well.

engines, forget the 40LA the best value around in that size is the TT42, similar price better engine.

as for you "package" looks OK to me

I agree with woodsy on the OS 40 LA. There are better engines. I picked up a Fox 45 on Ebay the other day for $26 in like new condition. A spad is going to be the cheapest, but going by your description that $80 trainer is about as cheap as you can get for that kind of plane. Please make sure you get an instructor to help you out until your ready to solo. I'd hate to hear that you smashed up your new plane too soon!

all traners are pretty much the same. all high wing, lots of dihedral, flat bottom airfoil, trike gear etc. the tower trainer would be fine, but i reccomend the great planes pt-40. that thing flies really nice, but man that thing is tough. anyway, i would not reccomend the la series. i have had some real bad luck with them. some swear by them, some wouldn't use it if it were the last engine in the world, but there is something abotu the .46 that is different from the rest. according to most of the people i talk to, the .46 doesn't run near as well as it's brothers. that was the one i had. the fx engines are great. easy to tune, lots of power, last forever etc. however, i hear that thunder tiger makes some really good engines. from experiance and imput from others, i would reccomend the following.
os 46 fx
os 40 fx
tt pro 46
tt 40
or if you want to take the gamble, os .40 la.

Just a thought, I have a friend using the RCM trainer ARF you can buy at Hobby People fairly inexpensively. Look at the GMS 46 for 70.00 bucks delivered from Starrider. But the engine that works great is the Magnun .52 4 stroke that you can get from Hobby Shack for 119.00 right now great motor.

The Hobbico Avistar is a good trainer. Get a 46FX which you can transfer to another plane as you upgrade.

Thunder Tiger no longer makes the 40GP. They now make a 42GP and it is a great bushed engine, which is excellent for a trainer. It is inexpensive and has better than adequate power or a trainer. Personally, I would use a TT Pro46, which I consider the best value for a .40 class engine.

I'm going to buy a Sig LT 40 this weekend. My opinion dont mean much because I'm new. I can tell you that I have asked around to many people and many sites and they all say the LT 40 is a good trainer that's easy to fly. Just my two cents worth.



Wings,

The LT40 is an excellent trainer, I have trained two students recently with them. I also have a student with a very nice H9 Alpha, and another with a Solo Sport which has trained two other students previously. The RCM trainer is also a good one. I like the Avistar, it can take you from training through substantial aerobatics.

I've seen three really good OS .46 LA's, lately, lots of power, smooth idle. Don't know about the .40. You might want to try a .46 that will fly that AT6, later.

Your radio is fine. Good luck,
Dave Olson