In your opinion, what is the best electro trainer to get into RC planes, and why? This is going to be my first RC plane, but have had experience with control line planes. I have had experience with building balsa models, so they are not out of the question. My price range is >$200.

Thanks!

Horace,

I learned to fly on a Multiplex EasyStar. It is a three channel plane (rudder, elevator, throttle)
and it is extremely durable. I probably used upwards of a two ounce bottle of CA on the plane for repairs and it still flies great. I have snapped the fuse in two pieces on several occasions and both wing tips have been glued back on. This has much less to do with the flying qualities of the plane than with the pilot, who had to do things the hard way and suffered the consequences.
This can be a docile plane with the factory Speed 400 motor and a 7.2 or 8.4 volt nicad or nimh battery pack or a more aggressive plane with a little bit of hop-up work (the owner of my lhs built one with a Hacker brushless motor and used two lipo packs in parallel....he claims that is will climb out at a high angle of attack and also claims that he flew for roughly 45 minutes before landing....he says the only reason he landed is 'cause he got tired). Anyway, Tower Hobbies and Hobby-Lobby both carry this plane in kit form as well as a complete package and you should be able to get airborne under or right around your $200 limit. There may very well be better planes out there than the EasyStar, I don't know. I can only report on what I have experience with. Others may have something better in mind. Just something to think about.

Steve

READY TO FLY STARTER PLANES - Electric Parkflyers
No building - they practically fly right out of the box
These also glide well so you can thermal soar
with them under the right conditions.


Slow-V from Parkzone - $140 - Space CL2/3
Best flown in still to under 5 mph breeze. This is the best choice for people
who only have a small space to fly or who have an indoor place to fly, such as
a gym or
similar space.
http://h1071118.hobbyshopnow.com/pro...p?prod=PKZ1300
Discussion Thread
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_20...tm.htm#2089493
Video
http://users.cwnet.com/dhsc19/Slo_V_Aerobatics.wmv
Night fly module on a Slo-V
http://rc-galaxy.com/messageboard/mb...ViewMsg&num=-8


T-Hawk - RTF - Excellent Value - $170 - space CL1
Comes with extra wing, tail and battery
Flies well and stands up to hard landings
Can be flown on 27 MHz or 72 MHz
http://www.toytx.com/thawk3chrtf.html
T-Hawk - Without Radio - add your radio and receiver
http://www.readytoflyfun.com/wittran.html
T-Hawk Discussion Thread
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...ighlight=THawk
Videos
http://www.readytoflyfun.com/thawkvideos.html


Easy Star - RTF - $180 - Space CL1
Believe this goes easily back in the box to keep in the car
Super tough foam. Comes with 72 MHz radio in the US.
Good parkflyer and a good glider
Radio in RTF package can be used to fly other planes
http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/240025.asp
Easy Star - ARF - Add you own radio gear
http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/240009.asp
Discussion Thread on Easy Star
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=258656
Video - touch and gos
http://plawner.org/video/easygo.wmv
Video - Testing the plane's behavior
http://plawner.org/video/easystar.wmv


Aerobird Challenger - RTF Electric - $150 - Space CL1
Great keep in the car plane - take off the wing and it goes back in the box!
I started on an Aerobird RTF. I have over 350 flights on my Aerobirds. I
also thermal
and slope soar this plane. Flies well and stands up to hard landings. Their
add on fun accessories for night flying, air to air combat and drop module add
to the fun!
http://horizon.hobbyshopnow.com/prod...p?prod=HBZ3500
Review
http://www.hobbyzonesports.com/Disco...ID=1289#Page01
Discussion Thread
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147621
Video
http://www.parkflyers.com/html/aerobird_video.html




ALMOST READY TO FLY and EASY TO BUILD KITS - STARTER PLANES


Below are ARF and simple kit planes. You will need to buy a radio if you don't
have
one, so you might want to read these articles on radios. The
articles are written for sailplane beginners, but all the info applies to
electrics too.

Entry Level Radios - If you have to go cheap
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=44

Computer Radios - The recommended path for almost everyone
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=65


Below are ARFs wood and foam packages as well as some are very
easy to build all wood kits. In each case you must add your own radio,
receiver,
servos, speed control, batteries and battery charger. They all come with a
motor.

Slow stick - $35 - CL2/3
Best flown in still to under 5 mph breeze. This is an excellent choice for
people who have a smaller space to fly.
Can also be flown indoors in a gym or similar space.
http://www.gwsexpert.com/product_inf...&products_id=2
or
Slow stick Complete Package incl radio - $150
(need battery charger)
http://www.gwsexpert.com/product_inf...roducts_id=602
The Slow Stick Info Site
http://mattsrc.rchomepage.com/ssir/index.shtml
Discussion Thread
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...hreadid=122951
video
http://www.skrogg.com/sun.wmv

Tiger Moth - $50 CL 2/3
http://www.gwsexpert.com/product_inf...products_id=20
or
Tiger moth Complete Package incl. radio - $150
(need battery charger)
http://www.gwsexpert.com/product_inf...roducts_id=343
Best flown in still to under 5 mph breeze.
This is an excellent choice for people who have a smaller space to fly. Can
also be flown indoors in a gym or similar space. Cool looking little plane.
http://horizon.hobbyshopnow.com/prod...p?prod=GWS1020
Review
http://www.backyardflyer.com/BY/articles/tiger_moth.asp

Tipsey - $55 CL 1
Remove the wing and it goes back in the box for simple
protected transport or keep in the car fun!
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/tipsy.htm
Review
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/pdf/gr6232.pdf
http://rcgroups.com/links/index.php?...at=198&id=3871

Magpie - CL 2
I recommend the $55 package with two wings.
Has slow fly/trainer wing AND an aileron sport wing.
Master the first, then advance to the second.
They offer a complete package with both wings and all the electroncis for $160
Makes it so easy to get it right!
http://www.mountainmodels.com/magpie.php
discussion threads
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...51#post3502851
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...=SmoothE+build
Video - slow fly wing
http://www.mountainmodels.com/Magpie.wmv
Sport wing
http://www.mountainmodels.com/MagpieSP.wmv

SmoothE - E$50 CL2
Easy to build Balsa and foam kit. Build as 3 Channel Slow Flyer
Optional 4 channel aileron trainer when you are ready
http://www.mountainmodels.com/smoothe.php
Discussion Threads
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...=SmoothE+build
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...&page=19&pp=15
Funny video
http://www.mountainmodels.com/SmoothEsmall.WMV

Carbon Falcon ARF - $140 including servos
Almost nothing to build. This may be the ultimate take it with you plane
Folds up to almost nothing for travel or for keep in the car fun!
http://www.acesim.com/rc/p2/p2.html
Review
http://rcgroups.com/links/index.php?...at=198&id=4236
Video
http://www.acesim.com/rc/p2/videos.html

Frog - Foam kit CL2 - $39
http://www.foamfly.com/customer/prod...acfe94b8213f09
Instructions
http://www.foamfly.com/Plans/Frog_Instructions.PDF

Dandy - $42 - CL2
Wood kit
http://www.mountainmodels.com/dandy.php
Complete package - $122
Build thread
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=359035
Video
http://www.mountainmodels.com/dandy.wmv

Dusk Stik $40 CL2
Balsa Wood Kit
Similar to GWS Slow stick or ParkZone Slo-V in design
http://www.mountainmodels.com/duskstik.php
Complete package with all electroncis - $112
http://www.mountainmodels.com/duskstik.php



ELECTRIC PARK/GLIDERS

Have you considered an electric glider? Usually larger than the typical
parkflyer, they also tend to be quite stable and fly a bit slower, which makes
them easy to fly.

If you would like to try soaring with the birds, then an electric glider might
be a good choice. These planes are launched with an electric motor. They can
be flown around using the motor, like a parkflyer, or they can be flown to
height, then the motor is turned off and you hunt for thermals, just like the
birds.

They can do loops and simple aerobatics, but are really optimized for thermal
soaring. The Aerobird and the T-Hawk, which are often mentioned as first
parkflyers, glide and thermal pretty well, but they come with fixed props.
These planes include folding props which make the plane more streamlined and
so it can glide better than a fixed propeller plane.

Some are RTF which are fully built, include all the radio gear with everything
installed. Battery and charger are included with the RTF planes. Some are
ARFs where you assemble the simple package, then add your own radio equipment.
Some are available either way.

With these planes you get a good first plane, a good first electric and a good
electric glider. It may not have been what you were thinking, but it may be
exactly what you were looking for.

Easy Star - RTF - also listed above CL1
This is a Park Glider - can be flown as parkflyer or glider
Great keep in the car plane!
http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/240025.asp
Easy Star - ARF - Add you own radio gear
http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/240009.asp
Discussion Thread on Easy Star
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=258656
Video - touch and gos
http://plawner.org/video/easygo.wmv
Video - Testing the plane's behavior
http://plawner.org/video/easystar.wmv

Ventura RTF ParkFlyer/e-glider - $120 CL-1
I have not flown this one but have read many good reports
Includes one battery and a timed charger. Add a second battery pack and a
peak charger and you are set.
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXGFK0&P=ML
Review
http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...article_id=393
Video
http://67.18.81.100/rcuvideos/magazi...93/Ventura.wmv
http://www.hobbico.com/gallery/hcaa2010-large.mpg


Ascent - this is a park glider ARF - CL2
It can be flown as a parkflyer or a glider
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Shop/ByC...ProdID=EFL1075
Review
http://rcgroups.com/links/index.php?...at=237&id=4233


Easy Glider - This is probably too large to be considered a park flyer but the
combination of great flying ability, tough Elapor construction and great
thermal or slope soaring ability makes this an excellent first electric
sailplane. - CL2

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXKHS8&P=7
http://www.multiplexusa.com/models/P...asyGliderE.htm
http://www.modelspot.com/mpx/easyglider.htm
Video
http://www.multiplex-rc.de/cms/vorsc...r_electric.wmv
http://www.elflight.dk/video5/easy-gl-hang.wmv
Discussion Thread
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=347989

If you are not familiar with soaring, it is a lot of fun. Flights can be as
short as parkflyer flights, or can last for hours, if you find lift.

This article may be helpful in understanding lift and the fun that e-gliders
offer to the electric flyer.

Finding Lift
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=57