I'm currently flying an apprentice.
Looking to purchase a glow trainer
Looking at hanger 9 alpha 40, avistar elite 46
nex star 46, sig kadet lt 40 or senior
Want something easy to fly and forgiving still a beginner
Any suggestions would be appreciated
Bernie

Hi berniekos, All of the airplanes you listed except the Nexstar would make great planes. I learned to fly with a Nexstar, but after flying a couple of different models now I see how poorly the airplane really handles. The instructors at my club tend to agree that they are kind of hit or miss with QC, some fly OK and others have some nasty habits, escpecially on takeoff. That being said my recommendation would be to look into a World Models Sky Raider Mach I. Good plane for a great price. I wanted to get another trainer after I ripped the gear out of Nexstar, so I went with the sky raider. Have about fifteen flights on it and couldn't be happier. Takes off and lands like a *****cat and handles wind very well. Has a relativly flat wing so crosswinds don't bother it much and with a semi-symmetrical airfoil it punches through the air pretty well. Not to metion it will preform any basic aerobatic maneuver with ease. The only downside to the sky raider is a somewhat lacking manual. Also, you choice depends on the kind of equipment you have. The avistar comes in a RTF package that would make things much easier and save you some green. The Avistar is actually the preferred trainer by my clubs instructors. Hope this helps and good luck.

My trainer was not the Avistar Elite, just the Avistar. I really liked it for being sturdy taking lots of beginner punishment and a great flyer. I even learned some repair techniques when they were needed. I had the earlier OS 46FX as the power. I flew it even after I had 7 other planes in my fleet. Unfortunately, it bit the dust during a Boy Scout day at our field. A mid-air with a bird took the left wing off and it was history. If I was beginning again it would be my choice.

anything but a next star get the LT-40 but if youve been flying for a while why not go with a Sig 4 Star 60

The LT-40 Kadet is a great plane and is something you can use all seasons with skis or floats. You won't get tired of it.
The Alpha 40 is also a good plane and I believe it's on sale/closeout at Horizon now.

Another with a NO for nexstar. I teach in the club and have trained on the Alpha 40, Hobbico .60, and LT-40. Any of those will work.
Edwin

I would recommend the Sig Kadet Senior kit or ARF with a Saito 4/St. .62. Make it a tail dragger. Or, the LT-40 with a OS 46LA, Super Tigre .40, or Saito 4/St .56. If you build the kit, build it light(sand and then sand some more), and cover it with Sig Koverall. Give it 3 coats of nitrate dope followed with a coat of Butaryte White and color coat on top of that. It will look 40 years old and fly better than any of the ARFs. Have FUN!

My 2 cents, go with the LT-40. Mine is still flying after 13 years. I still have fun with it. Like jetmech05 said, you might also want to look at the 4Star, either the 40 or 60. The 4Star is a beginner stunt plane. Good flying plane with some zip! Nice on landing too.

The Avistar is considered an "Advanced" trainer. It has a semi symetrical wing profile which alows for more aerobatic manuvers. I went from an Apprentice to a Avistar and loved the fact that I wasn't just flying another "first trainer". The new one is even much better than the origanal. You won't be sorry if you chose it.

Avistar Elite is a perfect plane for a second trainer. I have flown many of the planes listed above and I have to go with it, the Avistar Elite.

Frank

If your looking to build, you might want to look at the Great Planes PT-40. I would also get a good ball bearing 46 size motor, that could be used in other planes that you may buy in the future.

Why do you want a second trainer. If you are taking off, landing and doing figure of 8s, go for a secon plane. The easy sport or any of the sticks are great second planes. Capable of some acrobatics and still easy to fly.
welcome to the addiction

get just what you wrote and a good os 46 engine

I'll agree that an Ugly Stick (or one of its derivatives) is the way to go. They can be as slow as a trainer, are much better in the wind, take off and land easier than a trainer, and will let you start working on aerobatics. The difference in flight is that the stick doesn't self-correct. So when you roll into a turn, the stick doesn't resist the roll and try to level itself; it just does what you tell it to. I would compare going from a trainer to a Stick as a similar experience to taking the training wheels off of your bicycle when you are learning to ride it. You actually find that it's easier to fly without the self-correction and more fun too. Of course, if you are still depending on the plane to be self correcting a Stick may be too much for you, but if you feel like you are in control of the Apprentice for your whole fight then a second trainer is probably a waste.
Out of your list though, I love the Avistar. I really wish they had left it alone because the flaps aren't needed for a beginner, but the plane is still nice and stable and better in the wind than a traditional flat bottomed wing trainer. Lots of guys turn their Avistars into their fun planes later with hotter throws and a rearward CG. The flaps let you fly off of water easily if you choose to do that later, and the aerobatic capabilities aren't too shabby. One of our hot shot IMAC guys in the club likes to take his Avistar out and do rolling circles and inverted passes a foot off the ground for the students on training night, so the plane can take it.

Yep...Lt 40 with OS .46 and do the kit if you can that way you can learn to build (and repair).

http://www.towerhobbies.com/products.../gpma1036.html
This is a great flying second trainer. Avistar is a nice plane, but I haven't seen the new model yet.

I have a rarely used SIG Kadet LT-40 w/Enya 40 BB engine for sale at $175.00. It has about three uneventful flights on it. Price includes all servos, but you supply receiver and transmitter. Tail dragger conversion. Pick-up only. This plane flies like a trainer as it should. The price is worth the engine alone,

For sale items go into the marketplace. And no, an Enya .40 isn't worth $175.

I too would stay away from the Nexstar .. I had one and I had lots of fun with it but they really don't fly well at all... If you just want an ARF I would go with the LT40 with an OS46ax in it , and if you build you could build yourself a stick and make a couple of extra wings for it.. One with dihedral , one with no dihedral , one with flaps .. You would not need to build all the wings at once of course but you can do so much with a stick , Make it into a tail dragger ..They are really a cool plane ..You could do this with an LT40 to for that matter but sticks are an easier and quicker build . It is hard to advise someone over the computer like this because we don't know your flying or building skill level .I would ask the members of your club . They should have a better idea of your skill level and are probably more than willing to help ..

I also agree with a stick as well. My first glow plane was a stick, I had a HZ super cub, then a Sesei trainer. You will want someone to help you the first few flights but once you get used to it it will be in your hanger for ever.

You're right the Enya is worth more like $100. http://www.telehobbies.com/engines.htm Still, not a bad price overall.