*something like this has probably already been posted, but I didn't find what I was looking for using the search button*

I would like to get a good trainer for as cheap as possible as I have hardly any money and am currently without a job; I'm looking at either an ARF or a kit with around a 60" wingspan, a .40 size, nothing huge. If it's an ARF, I'm looking for one $120 or less, and if it's a kit $100 or less.

I was looking at the [link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXK971&P=0#accneeded]Hobbico SuperStar 40 Monokote ARF for $100[/link], [link=http://h1071909.hobbyshopnow.com/products/description.asp?prod=HAN2450]Alpha Trainer 40 ARF for $115[/link], or the [link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXWH71&P=0]Global RCM Trainer 40 ARF for $120[/link], but please suggest some others in that price range. Also, which 4-channel radio with 4 servos (or 6-channel for use in future planes) does everyone suggest that's $150 or less?

Thanks for any help and suggestions in advance

It's going to be hard to find a good ARF in the $120.00 range you are talking about. By the time you add the servos, a decent radio, purchased piece by piece it would be much cheaper in the long run to get a complete package.

There are several offered. I purchased the Hangar 9 Alpha 60. It included everything, flight simulator software, a excellent JR 4 channel radio, all the servos, etc. The package cost me $374.00 and with in 1 1/2 hours I was ready to fly. I like the plane because it is a 60 size (73" wingspan) handles the wind well, does most basic aerobatics, is very stable and comes with an excellent .61 Evolution engine, which in my case, has performed flawlessly.

IMO, you may find them cheaper, but you won't find a better trainer. A very attractive plane.

The superstar flies nice.. and since money is tight, the combo did
not look to bad with the futaba 4 channel/LA 40 at 271.96 less
(if it's still good and can be used) $25 with "ad number" 010WT
Saw a club member flying this setup, and it was not bad..

The 6 channel Futaba would be better for future use and still in
you price range.. But then again a bearing 46 would be the way
to go too if you could... I've never seen the other two planes at
my field so I can't say.... But then you have to add some field
and building equipment to the total plus the shipping... Hope this
helped some in your decision...

Another good thing is...... ask around at your club.... You can not
only learn lot at a club, But you can also find some great deals
also Great People......:-) Have fun and be safe!!

Get the World Models Mach 1 Trainer, 40/50 two stroke plane.
It has features that many $129.00 trainers do not have and is only $69.95...
I know other stores have them but you can get one from one of Airborn's distributors www.sheldonshobbies.com
I instruct and I own one, you can't go wrong with this plane, there are only 4 things to glue on it.

Don't forget to check out the "attic" at Hangar 9. They have goods in damaged boxes, they sell for a good discount, the ones I have purchased have been top quality, the Alpha I last bought with a damaged box, the box damage was so slight, stuff in stores have come with more damaged packaging. I only paid $89 for it, complete.


http://www.horizonhobby.com/Shop/Attic/

Im in your position right now. Im also looking for a cheap set, and this is what i have come up with. Im a kid so i have a dad, but he told me it cant be that expensive. So firt thing first, im now saving up money for a radio with servos. Once you get that, a complete package goes much lower in costs. And if your getting the plane im getting, the only high wing 40 gas trainer tower hobbies has to offer, which also costs only 70 bucks, engines and building equipment dont go over 200. Its just a different way of looking at it, first buy a piece forget about it and it becomes much cheaper.

Good Luck and i really suggest you buy the plane from the tower, those guys have sold enough planes to see what one has to offer.

Numbers rounded to the nearest $.

For the plane, get the Tower trainer, it's only $70.

For your radio, get the Futaba 4YF, it's $130, but there's a $20 gift certificate. Since you're on a budget, I'd suggest not bothering with a 6 channel right now. The 4 channel will work for the first plane, and also for a second, third, etc. When you have more money available, you can buy a 6 channel, or 7, or 9. Stick with compatible brands and the flight pack from the 4YF will work with the new radio.

For the engine, get a Tower .46 ($70), Thunder Tiger Pro-46 ($80), SuperTigre GS-45 ($70) or OS 46LA ($65), your choice, they are all decent economy engines. Note that I suggested engines in the .45 range instead of .40. The .46 will give you more options when you move it to another plane.

You'll also need to spend money on a bunch of other stuff such as building tools, field equipment, props, glow plugs, fuel pump, etc. I'll budget $150 for that.

Tower is offering a $25 discount on each order over $150 (Basically a 16.7% discount). Fill your wish list with every piece you need, plane, engine, radio, foam, fuel line, etc. Once that's done, fill your shopping cart until it's just over $150 and hit order. Repeat until finished. Note, since the radio comes with a gift certificate, put it in the first order so you can use the $20 on the next order.

Here's the total for the major pieces:
Plane 70
Radio 130
Engine 70
Misc 150
Gift cert -20
Discount -50 (based on splitting this into 2 orders, if you add $30 more stuff, you can do 3 orders and get another $25 off.)
Net $350

WOW! I wasn't expecting that many responses in just one day at school!

Anyways, yeah, I kinda am on a budget, but what I was thinking I may be able to do is to buy the plane, then the radio, then the engine, then the things like extra props, glow plugs, gas, and a fuel pump. This way, it's not just one big amount of money at one time; this is also why I said that I wouldn't mind doing a kit so that while I'm building the plane I can be saving up at the same time so that by the time I have finished building the plane I'll have more money to buy the other stuff.

Also, since I am already into off-road gas trucks, I already have some stuff like tools (LOTS of em), glow plug wrench, glow igniter and charger, ect..., so I don't have to buy all that stuff. Mainly, apart from the plane, engine, and radio, all I have to get (if it's an ARF) is gas, fuel pump, spare glow plugs, spare props, and specific glues.

Thanks everyone for all of the suggestions, I haven't made any final decisions or anything yet, so keep em coming! Right now, for the plane I'm thinking of the Tower Trainer, for the engine it will definitely be the OS 46LA, but not sure on the radio, I'd like something compatible with JR stuff cause that's my favorite brand of radios for anything RC. Also, I realize that there's just really no reason to get a 6-channel, so I will be sticking with a 4-channel, preferably a JR or at least JR compatible.

Thanks for all of the quick responses, but, since I am not set on anything for sure right now, except for an OS engine, keep the suggestions coming!

Check out your local flying club, guy's that have moved on to other planes may have a trainer to sell along with other stuff, real cheap. Ask club members and your LHS if there will be an auction sometime, there are great deals to be had at auctions but you must know the value of things so if your not sure, find someone to go with or to go with you.
Some people take along a Tower catalog or ad's from magazine's.
Good luck.

www.quantummodels.com

the super combo scooter is a 3 ch tx ARF plane, thunder tiger .07 engine with radio installed ...in last years catalog its was $210 for everything..or JKAerotech has cheap foam easy to build planes for different size engines.....Rog

No, I definitely want a .40 size, wood trainer, but thanks for the suggestion.

Also, Carlos Murphy, that's another problem: I can't seem to find a flying field nearby. I thought I found one that was literally about 5 minutes away, but then I found somewhere on their website (that for some reason is still up) that their last day open would be on July 11, 2001. So, there is one field that one of my friend's dad runs, but I don't remember where it is, what their website is, or anything, and I don't see him too often. I've tried all kinds of Google and Yahoo searches but can't seem to come up with anything.

If someone out there lives in Georgia, I would like to know where at and what field you go to or are apart of. I live in Cumming, Georgia, which is in north Forsyth County.

THANKS!

Have you tried the AMA club locator: http://modelaircraft.org/clubsearch.aspx

There is also a club locator on the www.towerhobbies.com home page.

I saw my friend today and he told me what the name of the field was and, by doing a Yahoo search of the specific field name, I found their website and they're only about 20 minutes away, but it's actually pretty close by it's just that the road you have to take to get there is around a 45mph speed limit and is a windy road so it takes 20 minutes to get there.

There is? I was curious to see what it said about clubs in my area, so I searched for the word club on that page and the only hits I found were for their super saver club. I did however find that the getting started in r/c page directed readers to the AMA site for finding an instructor and club. Do you know where the link is?

Wholesaletrains.com has a Hobbico Avistar ARF for 79.99 with free shipping.They charge a $2 handling fee so it was $81 bucks total.
Only drawback it takes 10-14 days to recieve order.Also saw a Futaba 4yf on their site for 109.99 with free shipping also.