Hi,

I'm a beginnner and I've got my solo last month after about 8 lessons.

From my trainer(Tower Trainer 40), I've learned taxi-ing, landing, take-offs and some aerobatics
which are loops, rolls and figure-8.
However, I tried some inverted flights but it was pretty tough due to the high dihedral(had to give mucho down elevator), which
made me think of more aerobatic plane.
But, before I jump into more aerobatic, low wing trainer, I'd like to get some advice from you about
what more I could learn from this trainer.

I actually have another trainer which I converted to taildragger.
I'll have a maiden flight this weekend, and hopefully I learn some about taildragger.

I'm also looking at some candidates for a second plane,.. I'd like to get a
1. scale
2. aerobatic but easy to land
3. sub $200 ARF.
Know of any plane that fits into this criteria ?

Thanks.

Well......
There is the SIG 4 Star 40. It looks pretty goofy out of the box but I know that you can make a cool cowl and re-shape the cannopy. Check out http://www.renderwurx.com/rc/sig4star/ for a full review and modification guide. You could also maybe use your engine from the trainer.
Oh yeah, the arf is $150 if you get on the dealer net from sigmfg.com
Hope this gives you an idea

Man u have no idea what u can do with a trainer style plane. Try timing your inverted flights. See how slow u can go in a headwind. Try cruisin the runway 6 inches off the ground (no touchin the ground here) Do a spin from about 6 miles up and flare to a landing 20 ft above turf. Anything u can dream of your trainer will do (so to speak)
What I'm sayin is don't give up on the trainer just cause left hand circles are easy.
That plane can amaze ya if ya just get it into your head that it's a ballistic missle and not a trainer.
I've let friends LEARN on mine then shown them what it can do after that.
OK OK the ballistic missle thing is a stretch but trainers are considered a 1 month stint then we'll move on to a kick ass, light speed, air burnin, fuel guzzllin, snap rollin, fire breathin, head turnin, sound barrier breakin,......( ballistic missle)

Take my word for it..
Trainers can be a blast.
Just try not to get to the SECOND plane to fast and use your imagination.
Do a search on( "trainer plane fun" )

I just did the search and found it but it was a bit of a job.
Maybe click on my profile and look it up from there.
Might be easier.

I absolutely agree with aimmaintenance. Fly the heck out of your trainer until you think you have mastered everything it can do then move the cg about 1/2 inch aft and start again. You will be amazed. When you finally decide to get a second airplane you can get just about anything that suits your fancy and you will be able to handle it.

don't know how Handy you are but

you could cut the wing in half drop the dihedral down to almost zero. add in full deflection on your control surfaces. And start moving the balance point rearward. It works this is not necessary to learn aerobatics with a trainer. but it will make it a lot more maneuverable. Did it on a stick .40 and have my falcon set up this way.


4* 40 good plane

OK A TRAINER WILL DO ANYTHING I'M A KID BUT I HAVE BEEN FLYING FOR AWHILE I HAVE A MIDWEST AEROBAT THAT TORQUEROLLS HOVERS TAIL TOUCHES BLENDERS FLAT SPINS WILL KE INVERDED ANYTHING MY FUNTANA WILL TRAINERS ARE GOOD PLANE KEEP AT IT I LEARNED TO HOVER ON A TRAINER BEFORE THE U CANT DO 3 D CAME OUT I RUN A ROSSI 53 JR 10X DS 811 BUT THE THRODDLE HS 55 AND IF YOU LEARN IT ON A TRAINER IT WILL BE EASER ON YOUR NEXT PLANE THE FOAR STAR IS A GREAT 2 PLANE I HAD A GREAT PLANE FUN ONE FOR MINE IT WOULD BE A GREAT 2 PLANE IF YOU COULD FIND ONE JUST BURN A LOT OF FUEL I USE ABOUT 2 TO 3 GALLENS A WEEK IN THE COLD WEATHER O THE ONLY THING THE TRAINER WONT DO IS SLOW HARRIER ROLL TO GOOD

Thanks for the advice.
I'll try to get most out of this trainer.
Aim, thanks for thread link.

If you have more idea, please give me what kinda aerobatics I can try with a trainer.

Thanks !!

Take some of that orange marking paint and paint about a 10 ft diameter circle out in your runway. Try making that circle for touch and goes or just that being the first spot you hit for a landing.
Not really an aerobatic manuever but it's harder than you think and it's alot of fun.
(gotta watch out for the tendancy to apply full down elevator if your overshootin it though.. that can get ugly)[:-]

Invest on a turbine engine and mount it on top of te wing. Lets see a Tower trainer doing mach 1 over the deck.

Look for the Great Planes Super Sportster. Tower sells the ARF, and I believe it goes for $140.
This is at least as aerobatic as the Four Star (4*), and sure looks a LOT better.

Have you done "Stall Turns", "WingOvers", "Spins", "Rolling Circles", "Immelmans", "Split S's", "Cuban Eights"....? There's lots your trainer will do.
Dennis-

Its a "cuban 8" when your model does something and you say "eh chico eso es un ocho" ?

You should be able to do a ton with that trainer. Add more throw as stated, and it will do a lot. You should be able to spin, snap, and learn to fly it inverted, even if you have to hold full down, it will do you good.

Look at the somethin extra for a second plane. I had a student get the 4* and didn't like it, but he loved the SE. It is a good plane, will do anything, and is easy to fly and land. The 4* is a good plane for some, and there are many others, everyone likes something different. The somethin extra is pretty versital though.

Have to agree with everybody here - it's possible to have enormous fun with your trainer. I've got an LT-40 and (after quite a bit of practise and a good few heart-in-mouth moments) can now fly circuits around the field inverted. I've also maxed out the control surface throws and can get it to enter spins (well, kind of 'floating downward corkscrews' anyway.) Snaps are still not happening though - the plane just seems to reply "No thanks - think I'll just do a lazy barrel roll" instead. The CG is still at the most 'conservative' forward position though, so I suspect the plane will get a little livelier when I move the CG back to the 4.25" position.

Despite all the 'seeing what your trainer can do' activities, I also have to say that I still have tremendous fun just flying circuits, slow-n-low passes, and touch-and-go's. I was lucky enough to have a week off between jobs a few weeks ago and managed to get the flying field to myself on a couple of days. I spent most of the time just flying circuits and practising my touch-and-go's and spot landings. I have to say that I found it to be some of the most rewarding flying I'd had all season!

As an aside, I've been looking for a good resource for teaching the more advanced aerobatic manouvers (rolling circle especially.) I've head that the Dave Patrick "Wring It Out" series of videos is a good instructional source, but I can't find a store that sells them. Does anyone know where I could get them from, or know of other instructional resources?

Thanks,
Neil.

P.S. I love my LT-40, but I'm still looking forward to getting my Venture 60 up in the air next spring

move the cg back a few notches at a time,add more throw to the controls,your trainer might pleasantly surprise you.