Hey guys,
I'm thinking about getting the Hobbico Superstar 40 ARF. Instead of the OS 40 LA engine I'm probably going to get the OS 46FX and a 6-channel computer radio (Futaba). This way when i get another plane I can still use the engine and radio so I can do retracts and flaps. What do you think about this plane/engine combo? Anyone else running a 40 Trainer with an OS 46 engine?
Thanks

yes sounds good you will fly that plane longer with that engine so it has more power to do more than fly around and around and around it will be more fun so you can do a lot more with and save money if you fly the same plane than it takes you to learn to fly some guys at the field haven that plane it amazes me what that plane will take before it quits flying for the day i think thats a WISE CHOICE

It is a great trainer and a terrific engine choice that will be good power for your next plane. My old S\S 40 had 150 flights and several crashes, but lived to fly again. (except for flight # 151!!) The last 50 flights were set up as a tail dragger. I reitired the .40 LA and stuck in a Saito .56. (OVERKILL..... but it was for my next plane). Go for it!! .......lownslo

There's a guy at my field flying a Kadet 40 ARF with a huge .72 four stroke. He really beefed up the wing by converting it to a bolt-on instead of the rubber bands. It flies like a bat-out-of-hell, but he is a very experienced flyer. I wouldn't recommend overpowering it by that much. Most .40 size trainers do really well with the OS .46FX. It is a really nice engine and you'll be better off learning to set a two-needle carb instead of the air-bleed carb of the LA. You won't be dissapointed with that setup.

Jesse

Thanks guys,
I wanted the extra power from the OS 46FX so that the S/S wasn't too slow and so I can use it in any other 40 plane out there. Any of you using a computer radio? I probably won't use the computer too much with this plane but I know i will in the future once I start getting into bigger planes. I've already flow a friends 40 plane before I got a electric plane of my own. I use the Great Planes Simulator a lot so I think I should be fine as far as keeping it flying, but landing is going to be another story.
Thanks again

I hope that you are using the services of a competent instructor and flying at a actual flying field. It is too easy to crash and cause damage to yourself or others during the first few flights of a powered, (gas), plane. It is a world of difference between a electric and glow plane. The sim is great, but it can't replace the act of flying the real thing. That's where a good instructor and a buddy cord come in.

Jesse

Yeah 've got a good friend thats been flying planes for many years so I'll have him help me out. He has a 46 airplane too so it should be similar. I'm going flying with him tomorrow so I'll probably fly his to get practice cause he has a buddy-box system.
-Tom

Thats good thinking and you will have fun. Hey
you want to fly my smiths mini bi plane its a blast.
Just joking but i would let you fly it.

Hey Randy thanks for the offer but I don't want to crash it. I wasn't able to fly my friends plane cuz it was too windy. Do you have a helicopter? is that what the Caliber 30 is at the bottom of your post? My dad has a heli that he wants me to fly but they're really hard. He has a Century Hawk 30.
-Tom

hey ToMorrow:

Im new too, but when I was at the lhs, the person took out a magnum xls .46 and an os fx .46. I compared them. They were the same size, same displacement, same design. even the mufflers were the same. Best of all, the magnum is $20 cheaper!

Like your name, Wes!

those 20 more are going to transforme you into a pilot and not into a mechanic. Go OS and make your life easier.

I plan to go with the OS because they're known for reliability. My dad has an OS and so does my friend and they've never had a problem with them. I'd rather spend $20 and know I'm getting a good product. Just too bad the car & truck companies don't build those engines as well as OS does.
-Tom

I got the SS 40 in a combo that came with the OS 40 LA. There's nothing wrong with going with the FX 46....a better engine with lots of power for that trainer. But go easy with good instruction at the start. The 40 LA is a good choice for the beginner. Even though it's lower in power, it's very dependable and easy to tune. So...if you know you're going to progress in the hobby and be ready for that 2nd. plane before long, get the 46.

Yes i do have a heli(caliber 30) and a bunch of airplanes. This is my first
year for heli but have been flying panes for over 33 years.
Doing pretty good with heli so far. You dads hawk and my caliber is both
trainer helis. LOL