Several times in the past I have seen where a new person to flying has asked the question, "do you ever get bored with trainers"? Because of finances, I have been mainly flying my trainer for three years now. Am I bored? Perhaps some days are kind of boring, especially when I see the other pilots doing great things with their sport planes. But, I would like to share something with those of you who think that your trainers are boring. After you have really mastered the basics, try flying in a little harder blowing wind.
What a challenge! I have even attempted flying in somewhat windy conditions when I possitively would not have done so in the first couple of years.
What a thrill it is to nose that trainer into the wind while in the air, cut the throttle back and hold it still in the air. Reminds me of some of those eagles that you see staying motionless in the air. Talk about something that is fun. And then the other fun comes...trying to land with a stronger wind that you are not accustomed to doing. Man, talk about your heart pumping even more. Bored with trainers? I don't think so. Not when there seems to be more and more challenges.
This is not new to the experienced pilots. I just wanted to share this little tid bit with you other beginners.

There is really little reason to get bored with a trainer, as there are many things that an RC flyer can do with a trainer. There are many aerobactic manuvers that can be practiced and learned, and why not learn to become a flight instructor. Now there's something that you will never get bored with.

Nascarjoe

How about building a different wing for that trainer. Go with the same span or -5% to -10%, change to a more or full symetrical airfoil, decrease your dehidral by 90% or get rid of it completly. If not already doing so use wing bolts. Wala $10.00 and you have a very aerobatic plane.



Rrragman

Im building a new wing for my superstar even though i havent soloed yet! Been workin 2 months on and off and a total cost of $5. 59 inch wing and n dehidral. All thats left to do is cover and one little squareprtion. Also im throwing in a 51 to complete my training. I know ill have this one for a while so i'd better make it fun!

Sugarfoot, you're experiencing what I have been saying for years, learn to fly your aircraft well. Most guys can't wait to end their "trainer" days and move up to the aerobatic, scale and/or warbird types. You've so comfortable with your plane now that you try more things with it, knowing what it can do, that you don't think about it, so you're more relaxed while flying. You are flying and enjoying it! A guy told me one windy day, "Yeah, you'll fly in this wind because you don't mind if you crash it!" When the wind blows and the guys start packing up to leave, I fuel up my 12 year old Balsa USA Stick 40 Plus with her flat wing and go play, and have a ball. My LT-40 has seen better days, but still flies great. I also have an aerobatic job, but don't fly it too much anymore. I like to take my trainers and do slow speed aerobatics, get down on the deck for the low and slow bit, and play with the winds. A suggestion, if you want to perk things up a bit, switch to a slightly larger engine and watch your trainer perk up on those "bad flying days." If it flys, it ain't boring.

Another easy trick is to put a shim under the trailing edge of the wing on the saddle. Go an 1/8 of an in at a time till it flies flat and fast. You'll have to keep adding up trim with each piece, but it will be much more aerobatic and won't balloon up with increased speed. Might better get an instructor to set it up for you as you can go to far. Also much easier to fly in the wind.

David!!!!! How are you? and Where have you been???? THe weather has been brutal this winter....I flew, for the first time in two weeks, last weekend. We are flying this weekend, and you need get your butt to the field!!!!

talk to you later.

Dennis

don't mess with the airframe....
Max out the throws and start fin tuniing your manuvers. Its surprising how aerobatic trainers are.
Slow down berfore a manuver then add power to "blast" the surface with air.
Take-off at slower speeds. perfect sloow landins. flat turns. One wheel landings. tail slides are cool with trainers. Flat spins are possible.
Heck I love getting a trainer every now and then. especally from those who give them away to move on. They come back and ask is that mine?
besides if you MAster all you can do with a trainer, your much better off with the next plane.

Install a second aileron servo and plug it into an aux channel so you can have "flaperons" and do power-on landings but beef up the landing gear.




Stick a camera in it. (or on it)

Put it on floats.

Drop bombs or a parachute.


Tow a long streamer and have guy's chase you and try to cut it.

Or better yet, tow a streamer and cut your own streamer....hehehe

Trainers can be used for alot of cool things...

several have already been mentioned, practice aerobatics, make mods, fly it when you wanna do some calm flying, etc.. Some other pretty cool things you can do are... putting floats on it a whole new world, I'm working on this myself. Put a little video camera or still camera on it, you will then appreciate the stability. Bomb drops, etc.. I always view my trainer as a "stable" plane, not worse than my others, but a compleatly different kind of plane.. those are just my thoughts on the subject.

Somehow i missed the post above that says the same thing right on man.

Seems ironicthat this topic should come up now.I hadn't flown a trainer in quite some time until my Father wanted to give it another whirl.Wow I forgot what a underpowered airplane felt like.Setting up the buddy box and teaching someone to fly R/C was really fun.I had a blast.When you pull a plane out of a death dive is a blast too!Try flying with rudder and elevator only.Then try throttle and rudder only(trim in a little up elevator).Very challenging.