I know trainers are designed, well, to train new pilots (like me) but can they fly more advanced aerobatic manuevers once you learn? Do the same flight characteristics that make them easier to fly also inhibit there manuverability and/or aerobatic performance? How severely? Obviously you couldnt do 3d manuvuers on one, but are basic aerobatics possible?

Thanx.

the avistar with a .46 sized engine does some nice basic aerobatics!

Yes, most trainers can do the basic stuff: rolls, loops, split-S, Immelman, inverted flight. They may not be as crisp as other planes but they can be a lot of fun once you have learned the basics. I could even do some tumbling type stuff with mine, again, not crisp, not well defined but still a lot of fun.

Yes, basic aerobatics are totally possible. You'll be doing loops, rolls, Immelmann's, split-s's, figure-8's and stall turns before you know it. With a bit of practise you'll even be flying inverted, although the high dihedral on the wings of trainers will keep trying to flip you up the right way again and the flat bottomed airfoil design of most trainers will mean that you're flying more on the elevator than the wing . I even know people who have learned to perform more advanced aerobatics like rolling circles using their trainers!

Basic answer is yes, they can do quite a wide range of aerobatic manouvers. They're not going to do them as elegantly as a plane designed for aerobatic flight, and in quite a few cases it's actually going to be harder to perform the manouvers using your trainer, but you're going to have plenty of scope for learning.

Having said that of course, when I was starting out with my trainer just keeping the thing in the air and learning how to get it onto the ground in one piece were plenty for me!

Have fun,
Neil.

You can do all the basic aerobatics with any trainer. Once you feel proficient and move up to a more capable airplane you'll really be ready to enjoy it. I flew my LT-40 a couple hundred flights before I got my Four Star 60 going (with a Saito 100) and was really able to enjoy the added performance because of all my time on the LT-40.

I was also flying a Zagi 400X at the same time with the LT-40.

Anyway, fly the heck out of your trainer and take your time picking and assembling the next airplane.

The Avistar's wing is not as flat on the bottom so it can do more aerobatics, and its a good trainer too, so it will do for a long while. Good point, I plan to take a nice long while deciding on my next plane since there are lots out there and really nice ones too.


Good Luck, Have Fun...

I would recommend an Avistar or take any trainer and remove the dihedral from the wing.

Is there an advantage to building a second wing for my trainer (LT-25, I'm building it stock) vs. just flying the wazoo out of it then getting a second plane? I'm planning for a low-wing plane next (HOB Spacewalker, Sig Astro Hog, or the like) but not some crazy 3-D or ultra-aerobatic ship. I suspect that a wing kit for the LT-25 will cost nearly as much as the HOB Spacewalker anyways, so it's not really going to save me much money...

Just learn to really fly the Lt-25. If you really practice moving to a second plane will present little to no problems for you.
biggest thing I've seen here and at the field is that as soon as someone learns how to fly the pattern and land so so the trainer gets put away and out comes the low wing sport plane. BTW Most experience guys can tell that you followed the afore mentioned trainer program after watching you fly just once

So my advice take your time and learn there really isn't any rush that isn't 100% self imposed

I'd recommend flying the LT-25 as is and moving onto a new airplane once you're confident. You can keep the LT-25 for a refresher for awhile.

A trainer is designed to train a person,in that aspect it wants to stay in level flight and climb with more throttle,if a person will learn aerobics on a trainer I think they will be a lot better pilot in the future,most people get away from the trainer and jump to a more aerobatic plane because its easier to turn or loop with,where as if they had learned with the trainer the flying would be a lot better,with the trainer one must force it out of the level mode. When the trainer starts to get boring just add more throw and move the c/g to the tail a little at a time,the plane changes personality,and yes it will knife edge,roll,loop,hover,inverted,tailslide,hammerhead ,flat turn,and big ole sloppy snaps,and sloppy spins,over the years i've built over 60 planes and probably flown over 150 different planes,and this a.m. I'm finishing a lt 25 with fs 52 for a club trainer and float plane.There are times my extras and 540's along with the ultimate's set at home while I have fun with a trainer.

Terrellflyer,

I agree with you. I'd say try everything you can on a trainer and when you're ready to move on hang on to the trainer. I've only been flying RC's since June and have flown the heck out of my LT-40 (I know what you mean about sloppy snaps!). I'm moving on to a Four Star but plan to keep the trainer around because it is fun and also to introduce the hobby to friends, etc.