I don't like the Durabrick as a first plane either but if thats what you are going to get I suggest that you at least get someone that knows how to fly to put the first flights on it and get it trimed ( if they can ). At least that way you have a fighting chance, MAYBE. ENJOY !!! RED

Would it help at all if I pit the futtaba auto pilot in it. And how fast are the landings would you say.

<sigh>
No. All the Otto pilot will do is fight any control you input to turn the plane from straight and level, making it even harder to control. It doesn't work on the Nextstar, and won't work on the lead sled Duracrap.

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

Dr.1

So how much faster are the landings compared to my trainer and does any one know how much punishment the tower trainer can take. Thanks for all the help I really apreciate it!!!

In my estimate landing speed is 25 to 30 percent faster over a balsa plane. around 10 mph. the best balsa trainer I ever saw for taking punishment is an lt40 it takes the most over all the other balsa trainers I have seen but they still break. repairs are fairly easy on it. if you are an experienced modeler

How fast does it land? How durable is it?

It sounds like you've made up your mind anyway. Just get one and find out.

It flies at least 25% faster. Landings? It's hard to estimate, but it lands much faster than a balsa trainer.

Dr.1

First off let me make it perfectly clear, that I am learning on a Tower Trainer at a club with insturctor & buddy cord, more of a life support system for the Tainer in my case. My question is this, how would the Duracrap Aerobat be as a # 2 plane to practice on. I want to get a 4*60, but that requires about $100 and alot of work, or about $200 and alot less work, IE: Kit, or ARF. After looking at the link put up, I'm wondering if I should save the 4*60 for # 3 plane. Hopefully by then I should be just about all crashed out. Giving the 4* a much better life expectancy. So what do we think? Duraplane Aerobat for # 2??? Dr1, I just realized ya got me calling me it the duracrap, shame on ya, lol


Mark

if you can master the tower trainer then there is no reason to buy another trainer which is faster and heavier. the four star will land at similar to slightly slower then the duraplane and you will have more enjoyment from it. I see no need to relearn the skills you have just mastered on the tower trainer. No matter what plane you buy you will crash when you start to think you know what you are doing because the planes have a tendency to remind you of what you do not know.

Here is my two cents worth. AMA -- useless if you fly in a big enough field where there is nothing to hit. I suggest you read the policy for the specifics, for example, you are supposed to have your name and phone number in the plane.

A simulator will save you money in the long run by reducing crashes.

Two channel experience - good if the transmitter stick movements are the same as standard 4 channel operation. Bad if you have to relearn stick movements. Relearning transmitter stick movements is one of the most difficult things new pilots must do. This really prevents some guys from getting good with the rudder, because they never learned with it.

I taught myself to fly with a two channel trainer glider with a Cox .049 which I just ran until the gas ran out. Then I would just land the plane on top of 4 foot high grass that would not even let the plane hit the ground. So it is possible to teach yourself. A trainer glider is so slow you will have time to make corrections to your control input to avoid a crash. That is not true on faster trainers. Expect to crash and destroy several glow powered trainers, so the question becomes how much you can afford in cost and time to repair or replace the plane. In addition to learning how to fly, you have to learn how to build, set up, and trim it out. You might be able to use some of your existing equipment in a small foamie to build experience and reduce costs. Make the Duratrainer your third plane.

SPADs WILL get you farther for the least amount of money. There are electrics, glow, foamies, 3D, gassers. I once taught a guy to build a SPAD and gave him a few flights on the buddy box. From then on he flew by himself. He couldn't land on the runway, so he would crash land in the bushes, gassed it up and flew it again. The SPAD trainers fly plenty good enough to learn to fly. Consider you can build 10 SPADs for the cost of ONE balsa trainer. AND SPADS will usually survive 10 times the number of crashes.

Balsa trainers are the best looking, but they are the most expensive and least durable. Trying to teach yourself how to fly means you want the most durable plane available.

Last word of advice - don't listen to anyone's advice.

where can i buy spads and where did you get your glider?

check out the site spadtothebone. Spads are built from materials bought from home depot stores. the plans to build one are on the website spadtothebone.com It might start with a www. I can't remeber at this moment but you can try it either way.

The glider was over 20 years ago, but I would guess they still make a TRAINER glider that you can put the 049 in, it will be the slowest flying plane available which is great for learning.

SPADs are made from a plastic sheet called coroplast. It is used for advertising signs. Look in the yellow pages for stores that make and sell signs. The fuselage is made from a certain type of square plastic gutter pipe. You can buy all the stuff online. The plans are on the internet, google Simple Plastic Airplane Design. You'll should print out the 20 to 30 pages of the specific plane you want, and then spend enough time to read up on all the other threads related to building. Once you get the first one figured out, the next ones can be built in one day. The Debonair is an excellent trainer, but it ain't as pretty as the store bought stuff.

I forgot --- there is a whole category for SPADs on RCU.

Hi grumpy,

I'm glad I could have some influence on someone here. Our job here is finished, Tonto.

As for your selection of a second plane. I think the 4* series make good second planes. Skip the Duracrap and get yourself a GOOD plane!

Dr.1