plato

Hey guys. I am just starting out in R/C planes and i am looking for a good trainer to build. So show me what you got and the prices with pics. Thanks

AirCAD

Tower Hobbies has a Kyosho EP Cessna, $79, I have crashed mine at least 5 times, and still flies like new! Add radio eqpt, servos and ESC, RTF!

wingspan99

My Feedback: (2)

Take a look at the Avistar trainer that Tower Hobbies has available. They're $99, precovered in Monokote. They're also available with the radio and engine installed for $299. The wing is semi-symmetrical which makes it a bit faster than the standard flat-bottomed airfoil trainers, and more responsive, but if you're going to have an instructor (and you should) then you'll get a lot more out of this plane as it will allow you to progress much higher before needing a second plane. I recommend you get a Futaba 6XAs radio instead of these cheap 4-channel units because it has a low battery alarm for the transmitter battery. Just this weekend a fella lost his trainer because the TX battery went dead while flying. The OS 40LA engine will pull the Avistar just fine, and you may have to throttle back initially. I know a lot of guys are already thinking of a response that says "this is a beginner, he don't need no computa radio or fast plane" but this combination will save you money in the long run, and in any kind of wind it is FAR easier to fly than the sluggish Superstar plane. Get the FMS RC simulator available free on the internet and by the time you get this plane together you'll be way past a basic trainer. If you want to fly a lot during each session then you need a gas plane, the small electrics do not make a good trainer although they are fun to play with.
-Tom

Nathan

My Feedback: (12)

Sig Kadet LT-40
KIT or ARF versions are available.

I really think this is the best trainer for the money - kit or arf.
I would have liked to learn on this one, but went with the one
in the hobby shop due to ignorance.

BTW: Where in Michigan are you?

brc007

My Feedback: (1)

I have a Sig Kadet LT-40 that I learned to fly on I really liked it a lot It flys very nice. I would highly recommend it.

Mike Bell

My Feedback: (6)

DITTO on the LT40!
Nice planes.

Mike

Fastsky

The above is good advise. Go with the LT40! I have moved up the ranks to instructor and found that the LT40 has a lot of great characteristics that really do make a difference. The plane is as big as a 60 sized trainer but will fly nice with a 46 engine. Ground handling is also much better than other trainers. I have noticed that other trainers bounce up and down on a grass runway while taxiing to the runway. The LT40 is solid and the wheels stay on the ground. The airframe is very solid and takes a lot of abuse. If the engine quits the plane turns into a big glider and is very easy to get back to the runway. Lots of good reasons to go with this one. Fast!

maverick

My Feedback: (12)

I also agree on the LT-40. I started out with one of these as an ARF and mounted an OS .46FX engine in it. Best choices I ever made. My eldest son who is 7 is now starting to learn on it and being new to instructing it is very easy for both of us.

I say don't bother looking nay further, just get an LT-40 and be done with it.

T28pilot

My Feedback: (2)

Yes the Kadet .40 is a great plane!!!

But just to be different i really liked the HOBBICO superstar .60
as my trainer of choice.......Maybe it is just a power thing .......but then again it flies damn good and you can see it well too.......and quite durable........Supertiger .61 in it and you got a wonderful trainer that will do more if you pour the coals to it........

But The Kadet .40 is a good plane

Snaggs

I would have to advise AGAINST the Avistar as a first trainer. I learned on the Avistar, but let me tell you a little about it.

First, the airplane has a semi-semtrical wing instead of a flat bottom wing. The flat bottom wings slow way down for landing and can be flown moderatly fast once you get the hang of it.

The way that Hobbico tells you to set the throws on it is way too hot for a beginner, however, it's nice for the instructor to have all that throw. More throw, means you can get into trouble faster. You can dial in any airplane to have more or less throw on the control surfaces, but this one is setup too hot.

The semi-symetrical wing means higher speed take off's and higher speed landings. When you're learning you don't want this kind of speed. You want to take it nice and gentle.

Now to address the issue that always comes up... What about when I want to do tricks with it and fly aerobatics with it?

Good question. Here's my good answer... You don't want to do aerobatics with your trainer. It wasn't meant to do that nor is it that good at performing them. This is what your second airplane is for.

The trainer is for learning the basics of flight, take off and landing. Flat bottom wings will fly inverted and they can be put throught a nice loop or a roll. They just don't do it as pretty as something that isn't a trainer. When you stop to think about it, you don't REALLY want to do aerobatics with a trainer anyway.

Having said that, my Avistar was setup per the instructions as was too hot. When you get something that's too hot it doesn't build your confidence as fast as something you feel more comfortable with. After 7 flights on it, I totalled it out.

Then I bought a flat bottom wing trainer like the Superstar 40 mentioned above and it was so much easier to fly. Since my confidence had been shaken, I needed as much of it as I could get. Stick with the flat bottom wing to learn on. The LT 40 or the Superstar 40 are excellent to learn on.

If you look on the box of the Avistar it says "An ideal second airplane".

Don't get me wrong, the Avistar is an excellent airplane all around, but it's a little much to start with when training.

Just my $.02 worth,

-Snaggs

Cadet

Excuse me? You have got to be kidding? I fly only electric. And my Dad will learn on an electric. These are not "toys" to "play" with. They are just as real as a gas plane, and in many cases perform just as well. Both types have their place. The reason I didn't discover this hobby sooner was because I though large, gas planes were the only way to go. I would have loved to fly gas, but the expense was too much, as was the drive. Now I don't want to step on anyones toes too hard but...You need to realize that there are alternatives to conventional gas trainers. This person could do just as well with an electric or glider, indeed a glider would probably be better than ANY powered model. Just an opinion, NOT a flame. What ever you do, finding an instructor is the first step, getting what they recommend is the second.

Cheers,
Grant

magnum

Cadet,

I agree with you 100 percent. And you said the first thing I usually say to anyone wanting to learn to fly. That is, talk to an instructor and see what they recommend.

Plato,

There have been a lot of good suggestions made. And all are excellent kits. However, they may not be right for you.

Let me explain. When you say you want a kit to build, are you wanting to build from an actual kit, or just build an ARF? Also, what is your building experience? Do you have someone who can help you build the kit? The reason I ask, is someone came to the field recently with a kit built Mark II It looked very nicely done. On the first flight there were problems, and it was real bear for the instructor to bring it down in one piece. On further examination it was found the wings were warped, and the vert stab was not quite on center. The plane was fixed, but needed a lot of aileron and rudder trim to make it fly.

Are there any hobby shops in your area? Where to plan on flying the plane? Is there a club field nearby? If so, have you dropped by and talked with them?


To give you an idea on the planes, there were 2 new pilots at our field this past week. One had the Mark II, the other the Avistar. The one with the Avisar has already soloed, and using his trainer now to learn basic aerobatics. Not pretty, but he is having fun. The other should solo within the week. So both planes are good for beginners, but you have to have a good instructor to make sure you are able to have 2 flights

Also, are you interested in nitro, gas or electric? Large or small?


From your profile I can tell you are into R/C racing. I am currently teaching a friend of mine to fly who used to race R/C cars. I am using a World Models Super Frontier with a OS46FX on it. I can slow this plane down to a crawl for him to fly. But, when I want to, I can unload it, and it's hard to tell its a trainer Sine he is used to turning cars, he only has to learn the ups and downs (sorry)

But do find an instructor and talk with him. You might be able to save some money.

Randy

AirCAD

First plane, no balsa wood...first plane, no gas, why?

Balsa (wood) wing in the ground....crumbs!

Foam, epoxy and tape, fast field fix!

Bend a gas shaft, trash the $40 minimum cheap motor (reality says about $60 to $80)

Bend an electric shaft, an easy $10 to $20 anywhere!

Just an opinion, all depends on your wallet

Jaguar-RCU

Hi Plato,
You asked for suggestions on trainers to BUILD and I,for one, applaud that. I take it to mean stick built balsa construction-not ARF and not smacking foam subcomponents together. Don't let the drum beat of LT40 LT40 LT40 drown out the other choices. The reality of it is that people suggest what THEY did. Now its my turn.....the GP PT40 is a great kit with clear instruction and valuable beginners advise. I would advise building the wing variant with less dihedral of the two outlined in the kit.....the Midwest Aerostar 40 is an excellent plane-nice kit, even better flyer. There are many more I'm sure, some from smaller outfits like Northeast Aerodynamics....As far as electric, I myself am intrigued but ignorant but think there is something more visceral, more cool, more manlike(flame suit on!) in internal combustion. my opinions only of course, I respect the opinions of the foamy and/or electric crowd . In fact my next kit may be one of the SR Batteries offerings.

Cadet

Sure gas planes might seem more manly, but how cool is it to have to tinker with the mixture in sub zero weather, or clean off slime after the days flying. That and full power run-ups in the house can get you in serious trouble
Each to his own,
Grant

Lightfoot

My Feedback: (1)

I agree with the other comments about the Sig LT-40. It is a great trainer and is relatively easy to build but I have a different opinion on the best trainer for a beginning builder and flyer. I almost always recommend the Balsa USA Stick 40+ to beginner's. It is inexpensive, easy to build, easy to fly, and tough as nails. Several years ago, I recommended it to a young man who had never built a model. He built his by asking questions by email when he did not understand the plans or instructions. When he took it to the field, the instructor only had to do minor adjustments and he flew it the first time out. In my opinion, you can't beat the Stick 40+ as a trainer.

Howard

shoom

If you were in Australia I'd say try the aeroflyte hustler... at $100 aus including wheels, tank and motor mount - they are a bargain
have a look at : www.kellettshobbies.com (in the specials section)
I am putting a GMS 47 in mine which should provide more than ample power

btw I have purchased a somethin extra as my second plane, as more than a few pages on the web suggest it as such... is this a good choice? I plan to do some of the recommended modifications such as lengthening of control surfaces etc.. I am told I will need to trim it down substantially for the first flights... how can this be effected? from the radio or the servos themselves? It shall be powered by either a webra speed 50 or an irvine .53 ... whichever I can get cheaper!

look forward to any replies

Deet

Get the LT-40 i have one with a O.S. .40 LA and learned to fly by myself with it is a very easy to fly plane .

fastlash

My Feedback: (7)

Don't listen to any of these guys go buy a heli and beat your Wallet to Death!! or jet and crash your gold card!! the reality is get the best radio gear your wallet is comfortable with, most trainers on the market are fairly good some a little better, look at them at your local hobby store, if his stock is good and prices close to mail order. Look at the glue job and joints, covering, and is it straight, buy it and then buy a good BB motor that you can use in a sport plane later as well as the radio, the savings is in these two departments later on!!! buy a trainer cord!!!! support your local hobby store if he has fair pricing check against adds in the mags. remember if it is mail order you wait and if UPS does its crush and deliver thing you pay to return or hassle with claims, and if he closes you are stuck with mail order even for small things, OK guy's flame me on this one???? electrics are ok and I have seen a 120mph racer but they tend to be smaller than a gas forty for the same buck and some don't like the wind very well Ok guy's let me have it!!!!!!

stevta

My Feedback: (1)

I flew yesterday first time.
All my mistakes and successes are recent.
I put together a US Aircore trainer.
Definitely made some mistakes putting it together but fixed them as I went. Joined a club and got help trimming the plane before maiden voyage. Instructor took off and landed otherwise it was mine the rest of the time :-)

Things of note I have learned
Putting together the plane taught me alot about what each piece does and how it works.
Bought a OS 52 FS new. Probably a bad idea. This size engine won't last you long. A cheaper 2 stoke alternative will work just as well. Even cheaper to buy here instead of new.
Buy a decent radio. I bought a Futaba 6xa. Several used ones running around. There is a market for them if you want to get out and they are flexible enough to take you a couple of levels up.
Computer simulator software good
Instructor a must have
Club adds value to the whole experience

There are alot of people giving free advice out there. Listen to them. Don't settle for the standard answers, tell people what you want and what your goals are and they can point you in the right direction.

gpmikemorse-RCU

Congratulations! I learned on a US Aircore, and I loved that plane. I got shot down once, and the guy who did it (and probably thought he was going to have to buy me a new plane)couldn't believe how little damage to the plane there was. I had an OS .46 FX in mine, and it flew great.

scalebuilder

My Feedback: (1)

FastLash,
Well put my friend.

Get an idea of what you want. Deal with your local hobby shop If financially possible and support the guy/gal, and they will do the same for you.