I'm trying to provide some info for our local High School Air Force ROTC. I've been flying for years and have lost touch with the latest in trainers. The head of the ROTC is interested in trying to introduce the student to R/C flight and ask for my help. I'm open for recommendations on an ARF Combo and any help on how to introduce a large number of students to flying. Thanks for any help!

tower trainer mk2, for a complete ready to fly unit its like 250 bux which is about the cheapest for a good quality trainer. they are kinda high speed on the tower .46 purple top.
any ways thats what I say to get them.

Tower also allmost allways has some kind of promotion going on, usaully up to $30 off any orders of $300 or more, my Tower Trainer RTF came with a $20 rebate at the time. Regular price is $259. By the time you add a flight box & accessories you'll qualify for one discount or another. They have a couple different choices in pre-built flight boxes with complete combo for around $119 I believe. Good luck & have fun with them!


Mark

[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCXF4**&P=0]Tower Hobbies Tower Trainer RTF[/link] <--One recommended above

--or--

ARF Trainer with building supplies (epoxy, basic tools etc)

Engine

Radio

That is going to be more expensive, because of the different components, but they will be higher quality.

With either, you'll need something like this or most of the parts in the set, as mentioned above.

[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXL419&P=0]Hobbico Field Box Combo[/link]

Most important, HAVE FUN WITH IT!!!

Dmax64,
The Avistar 40 trainer has a semisymetrical wing and flies better that flat bottom wing trainers. It also comes as a combo with OS LA 40 engine and a 4 Channel radio for about $279.00. I recommend this trainer to my students. Good luck.

By the Way, my oldest son flies F-16's in the USAF. He still flies his R/C's too.

"Keep 'Em Flying!"
Flak

Sig's Kadet LT-40 with O.S. 46 AX. Nice sized plane and great engine combo. Should last for a good number of new students. Good luck, sounds like a fun project.

The Avistar is a good one in my book. Actually, any of the Hobbico trainers are good, EXCEPT the Nextstar. It's an overpriced, poorly engineered POS, IMO. The Tower Trainer combos are a good choice, too.

Dr.1

As a recently retired NJROTC instructor, I was always hitting up the local businesses for contributions to the program, like gun shops donating pellets and targets for the marksmanship team. Why not hit up the local flying club and/or hobby store to pony up? Try a raffle-purchase (or have donated) a kit, engine, radio, arf, whatever to the unit and then have it raffled off at the flying club meeting? Take the proceeds and buy your complete trainer system.

Is it possible to learn to fligh an rc plane without an instuctor, if I practice with a sim or should I try to learn with an instructor and a sim?[]

Dave, you're in Hamilton. The Model Airplane Association of Canada is based in Burlington, only a few miles away. You should have no problem finding a club to join in your area. The simulator helps, but an instructor is better. Contact your LHS to find the closest club and instructor.

What about the Hobbico Nexstar RTF package?