I have a three channel futaba radio with standard servos (43oz torque) my question is will a tower hobbies trainer 40 fly on rudder, elevator, and throttle. I know its better to start with 4 channels.But I already have this radio and would like to try to learn to fly on three channels.I know I will not be able to perform stunts but thats not what I want to do .any input would help.

It will, but generally a 3-channel trainer has more dihedral built into the wing.

Try a Great Planes PT-40. They give you the option of building it for 3 or 4 channels.

http://www.greatplanes.com/airplanes/gpma0118.html

Is your 3 ch radio on the correct freq for use with aircraft??

You can also get a 4th servo and use a Y harness to hook up the rudder and aileron servos to the same channel.

Or you can fly aileron-elevator-throttle. This will likely require a servo to work the nose gear, and a Y harness. Just fix the rudder straight ahead.

You can Y the rudder to the ailerons and thus control a 4-channel model with a 3-channel radio.

Its not the best solution... but it works OK on a trainer. Generally, this would give more rudder than is correct for a proper "autocoordinated" turn so a reduced rudder throw would help.

That gives a semblence of the old Ercoupe controls which linked the nosewheel to the ailerons and had no rudder.

WHAT? FHHuber shouldn't have his account on the Awaiting Approval thing!

The Sig Kadet Senior kit also lets you build for three channels.

Yub,

I don't think you want to get involved while FHHuber is getting his spanking from the moderators

I would also go with aileron , elevator , and throttle. If you want to use rudder instead
of the ailerons you would probably need more dihedral.

tommy s

Most trainers do OK with the ailerons locked and stock dihedral for Rudder, elevator, throttle mode.

Rudder at slow speed can be more effective than ailerons.

Just for an experiment... take off normally with your common 4-ch trainer and fly it a while at altitude not touching the ailerons. You may be suprized at what you can do. (its a good thing to practice in case the aileron extension comes unplugged in flight...)

I'll 2nd that.

Tracy,
I got your email, but my replies keep bouncing.