Bubbagates - do you guys need a RC Monster Truck for Xmas?!!

That would be cool too. But the trucks would tear up the grass on the runway too much.

I think it's just as funny seeing trainers do this, tipping over is a real problem in the turns since the wing is not on to stop it from going all the way over on it's back.

The taildragger conversions would have an advantage in the turns,[X(] but would be a bit twitchy on the straights

Floater is easier to handle for a beginner. Also, landing is easier to learn.

I still say.....the better the flight characteristics of the plane the better ( not the easiest or lowest stall speed etc.) the new pilot learning with an instructor will be....for those of us with the DESIRE and "eye to hand coordination" to do so. My instructor CRASHED my 1st plane! OOPS-SORRY. WHen I changed trainers ( and instructor ) he kept asking me if I had learned on a simulator...as I made my final and then landed with one bounce.

The other problem I see is that after soloing with a "FLOATER" your ago is ready for the low-wing speedster etc, but your TALENT is not!. There is too much being advertised and sold as "Ready to fly in 1 hour" be it Nitro Trainers or E-power Park Fliers.

Let's hope most of the PARK FLIERS graduates don't decide it's time to convert a 1/3 CAP to E-POWER having NO formal instructions! The resulting accidents IMHO are going to bite us AMA members in the butt.

Soap Box serenade- Mikel-T

The problem mike is that most people here don't know the meaning of the term solo

The problem is most of us, when learning, don't have the "eye to hand coordination" necessary to fly anything more than a slow steady plane with few bad habits. The time with the trainer heps us develop these skills.

I'm sure SOME people could learn with something other than a trainer. However, this requires some method of evaluating the student's potential before deciding what class of plane they should learn with. Most clubs do not have such a method, so the standard recommendation is for the new person to get a trainer. If the learns quickly and the trainer becomes boring, it should be in good shape and they can sell it to another new person.

I suspect that when I learned I could have done so on something other than a trainer. I already had experience with R/C boats and cars. However, having to control the third dimension was something new. I'm glad I had the time on the trainer. It let me quickly develop altitude control skills, as well as learning to takeoff and land. If I had done so with a less stable plane, I'm sure it would have taken longer for me to be independent in the air, and longer to solo. This would have required a bigger investment of time on the part of my instructors.
The only thing most new fliers are ready for after soloing is much more flying on their trainer. Their ego may be ready for more, but a good instructor will help them understand why they should stick with the trainer for a while.
Not sure I see the connection between the length of time it takes for a plane to be flyable and the need for good training and lots of practice. Unless of course you are talking about a plane being sold as being able to fly itself.