Hello,

I have a Super Tigre 51 and some electronics available and would like to build a trainer.
I'm looking for a kit.
I was looking at Bridis KRafty or aircruiser but the are out of stock.
Considering Lt-40 ( Dont really like the Lite ply fuse ) and GP Pt-60.

We normally have lots of wind here...so I guess a heavier model would be ok in this case.
I'm looking for a high wing.

Any other recommendations?

Regards

One airplane comes to mind that will be outstanding with the ST .51 and is an extremely versatile ship for so many things. It is still kitted by SIG (no lite ply) and is called the Senior Cadet.

The kit version is without ailerons but do not let that fool you you can fly and enjoy even this version in winds that shut down many others as well as do competent aerobatics. However if you are an 'aileron snob' they are easy to add since you are building the airplane.

I have Cadet with four engines, I have a Cadet that carries a gallon of fuel and can stay aloft for six hours, I have a Cadet that is a glider and towed aloft by another Cadet and flys with two engines in a five minute transformation., I have a Cadet that is a working Cadet training with a .35 OS engine and last but not least I have a Cadet that launchs gliders and only a .35 AX.

OK so yes I like and have always liked Cadets Heck take a cruise up north sometime we even pylon race Cadets.

John

I agree with John but another good one is the Sr. Telemaster. Like the Kadet it will fly well with a lot of different engines and a .51 would work well in one. The only down side to either one is there size. I must be one of those aileron snobs too, when I teach I always use a plane with ailerons. Funny, I learned on a two channel myself then went to planes with ailerons. Not a big deal but I figure if your going to learn you may as well learn with all 4 channels.

Since you mentioned its windy where you fly I would go with the PT-60. I had the 40 sized version and it was one of the funnest planes I have owned. But the Krafty 60 of Aircruiser 60 would also be good and maybe just a little better in the wind. I emailed Bluejay models about a week ago and asked when they might have the 60 size aircruiser in stock but never got a reply. I have the Krafty 60 in my attic now.

A GP Big Stik 40 or 60 would work with your engine. I have the 40 with a TT 46 pro on it. Excellent airplane. I learned to fly with a Little Stik. So don't think you have to have a flat bottomed wing to learn to fly.

Whatever you get, do work with an instructor to learn basic piloting skills. I know you didn't ask about that, but if you are thinking of going it alone you'll probably be disappointed with the result.

Thanks for all your help and advice, I appreciate it.

Actually the first model I built was a Sig 4-40. Learned to fly with a friend but never got to landing and taking off.
Later continued with a T28 Trojan electric from Horizon, Then I learned to land and take off.

The Kadet will be the third model to be built from scratch. I decided to do so instead fo buying a kit, I truly enjoy the building proccess.
I have a small kadet built from scratch also just waiting for me to install a 0.15 on it. Just gotta find the time.

The motor and electronics i have for this new trainer are the ones from the 4-40, which will be waiting for my skills to be good enough so i dont end with 440 pieces of a 4-40.

Regards

Elias R.

I'm curious as to why you don't like lite ply. I see it used extensively in kits, and I use it in my designs, as well. I find it to be strong, and relatively light in weight.

In fact, Sig uses lite ply in theit Kadet Seniot Sport ARF, a strong, light weight design.

Agreed. It's one of the various options for a building material, with advantages and disadvantages just like anything else. Thin plywood fuselage sides aren't the lightest, but they are durable and easy to repair. That's why they are so common on trainer ARFs. The extra weight is not a problem, and it improves their survivability a lot.

I just like balsa better.
I don;t have any power tools and I dont have a very steady hand so Lite Ply is a little more hard to work for me.
And most of all, i'm kind of attracted to old school building techniques.

What eromeros is saying is more widespread than one ,might think and I could not agree more. In our little part of world here in the wilds of Northern Arizona Senior Cadets are almost a way of RC life with virtually every one owning at least one and some more than that. We take great pride in providing activities for the SC afficiendos. There is a constant bartering and buy selling of various SC airframes . Even wreaked airframes bring a premium here.

Now lets just look at the relative value of an intact SC and the various types. At the bottom of the value list are the (clones, any of them) nitro planes and have the least value In the middle of that list are the Sig ARF versions. They are excellent but at the top of the value heap is without a doubt any kit built version with or without ailerons. Now why is that? Well yes they do tend to come out lighter but only around a half pound lighter than the Sig Arf version or five pounds lighter than the Nitro planes versions.

However what makes them so darn valuble in these parts is that they are far, far easier to repair with the stick built fuselage and the are far easier to kit bash if that's your thing (certainly is mine). The ply fuselage versions I am sorry and have to disagree they are far more difficult for the guys to work with than the stick version and are just as durable done right.

John

I have to agree with the OP. I hate lite-ply (an oxymoron) in models. It has the same properties as wet cardboard, not very strong and heavy. Otherwise you would not see all the ARF's using it with 90% of it cut away. While it is enough for air loads, it tends to self destruct with minor bumps with the ground.

However, the Sig LT-40 is such a great trainer, I can overlook the use of lite-ply. Though if somebody decided to just buy the wing kit, they could scratch build a balsa and ply fuselage.

You just simply can't go wrong with a Sig LT40.

The Sig Kadet Mk II would also be a great choice, it is an all Balsa built model with Aircraft ply in key locations, such as firewall and wing joiner. the Kadet would not be over powered by your ST 51, would actually fly great with it! I loved my Kadet MkII, still have it, but it's last flight resulted in less than desirable results upon the final take of which resulted in a sudden and unexpected Landing, because it was during a fun fly, and was told that the pattern was going one way, while the prevailing winds at that time were going in the same direction! and even though it would probably only take a few hours to repair, I just never got around to doing the repairs, and that was about 6 years ago..

Craig..