I have been flying my GWS Beaver for about a month now and have had a great time with it. In the first 2 weeks I flew it 50 times with no crashes. I usually land on grass which usually tips it over on it's nose with no damage, when I have landed it on concrete it has stayed on all three wheels. I have a GMS .47 motor that I used with a few spads that I tride to fly before I got my Beaver all of which ended in lawn darts. Now for my questions. After becoming very comfortable with my Beaver and being able to do any maneuver that it can handle with no problems I would like to try gas planes again. Instead of going with another spad or something that I have to build I would like to get an ARF and I'm considering the Sig LT-40. I would like to take the builder error out of the reason why I might fale again at gas planes. In the future I would like to build some kits but for now I am going to stick with an arf. If I can fly a plane like the GWS Beaver with no problem does that mean that flying a plane like the LT-40 should be easy for me? How hard is it to switch from electric to gas? I have also been using FMS for a few months and can fly most of the planes on it without any problems. I guess I am just looking for some reassurance since my first try at glow flying wasn't to successful. I am planning on getting a plane in the middle of October for my birthday from my wife. I plan on continuing to fly my Beaver and I'm also going to start flying my Great Planes Spirit glider that I built last year but have never gotten the nerve to fly it. I should have the Spirit in the air this weekend. Between these two plane will they give me enough experience that my switch to a glow trainer will be a success? Thanks for any help or advice you can give.

spd37, If you can fly the GWS in a controlled manner then a gas powered trainer shouldn't be to different I went from GAS to a GWS TM with no problems. Couple things to keep in mind a Gas trainer like the LT-40 will fly faster then the Beaver. You will need to fly it higher and in a much much larger space then the Beaver. Also Remember that the Lt-40 ailerons in addition to a rudder. Planes turn differently with ailerons then a rudder. Other then that hope you have fun and good luck

SPD37,

I started in March flying a Merlin - electric slow flyer, I'm not sure if the Beaver has ailerons the Merlin doesn't, and got my LT-40 flying in early June. I had pretty much gotten all I could out of the Merlin.

Based on that experience, I think you will probably be able to solo and master the LT-40 a lot faster than someone with no experience. DON'T however, think you can zip out on your own and solo it by yourself the first time out.

Definately go for a buddy box (best choice) or at least an experience instructor the first few times. Just having someone to help you get the engine started and running right will make it more than worthwhile. I am still convince that 2 cycle gas engines require a degree in voodoo to get them running right.

In my case, I was taking off, flying, and landing with no instructor input on about my third flight on the buddy box and I soloed two nights later. Soloing (standing all by your lonesome) with no one to say pull up or go right a bit was still quite a nerve racking experience.

You may go faster than that, but I think the point is to just have fun. Also, keep in mind that an out of control LT-40 CAN take your head off (literally).

GB

Crashem, I thought about the ailrons and this is a concern of mine since the Beaver is rudder/elev. plane. Hopefully it won't be that hard of a switch. I have been practicing flying further away with my Beaver going about 200 to 250' up and about 400 to 500' away from me. I figured this is good practice for when I switch to a gas plane.

Ghostbear, As far as tunning 2 cycle engines I have been using them for the last few years in my rc trucks .15 and .21. The thing I have found about 2 cycles is the larger the motor the easier they are to tune usually. Like I said I have a GMS .47 that I have broke in and had it tuned to fly in my spads, never did get to fly them just stuck them in the ground so I'm not sure if the .47 was tuned just right to fly. Hopefully I will find out in an LT-40. If I do end up with a dead stick how well does the LT-40 come in for landings with no power? I figure with a 70" wing it should glide to a landing rather well.

Thanks for the encouragement and information that is what I was looking for. Anyone else have any thoughts?

I love my LT-40 Kit. And yes, it can glide! When I first flew it, my instructor would kill the engine on landings. Good practice and easier to land until I set the idle properly.

First, let me say (as will almost everyone else) fly with an instructor. You may solo on your second flight, but you may find there are some things going on that make you glad for the instructor. I taught myself to fly the Merlin but, fortunately, managed to scrounge a orientation flight on a gas trainer at a local fly-in. That was enough to convince me that help was a GOOD thing.

Anyway,

My LT-40 will glide forever. In fact, all the guys at the field agree that it doesn't want to land.

I've managed two deadstick landings, as long as you have some altitude the gliding characteristics make it pretty easy. Though, I wouldn't intentionally kill the engine to land. I have a FX .46 on it, and it will spin up and climb out from idle pretty quick (not as fast as an electric though), I'm not sure why an instructor would kill your engine, unless you kept waiving yourself off :-).

Ailerons were not as big a challenge as I thought they would be. However, you will be suprised at how fast you can roll from level to 90 degrees. The biggest challenge is trying to use the rudder with your left hand. Most people don't use much rudder on a high wing trainer though.

My biggest flaw (and its a carry over from flying electrics) is that I try and land it like a bird, rather than landing and rolling out. The LT-40 will slow down a lot, but it still lands a lot faster than an electric and with its greater weight has a lot more kinetic energy than you might expect.

As to simulators, I have both Cockpit Master (BE) and Realflight G2. They are a great help, but I find the LT-40 glides A LOT easier than the trainers in the sim. Also, I find it easier in real life to set up landings due to the ability to use peripheral vision.



GB