Hey, everyone!

To give a little background, I started out with a telemaster 40 about 10 years ago, got somewhere between 5 and 10 flights on it, and lost interest(whaddaya want, I was 15 at the time). Anyway, I re-entered the hobby over the past year by way of a JR xf 421 and a GWS pico cub and tiger moth. Currently, I have about 3 to 4 dozen flights on those planes and have become comfortable (for the most part) with them. I have found these planes are great for self teaching in calm conditions, but I'm looking to advance my skills a little.
To get to the point, I'm looking to join the local club again and I am looking for a small trainer, preferably with ailerons, that would be suitable for a .15 to .25 glow engine or a cobalt 400 or similar electric setup. I really have no preferences as to power type, just looking for something of this approximate size that flies slowly, is durable, and can handle a little wind.
Any suggestions, folks?

thanx in advance for your input.

Carl Goldberg Eaglet 50

loved that little plane... To bad a tree loved it more

My favorite is the Sig LT 25,some of the other members are adding floats and a few have OS 46 FX on the front end.

i'll keep that in mind--when I had the telemaster, one of the guys in the club had one of those eaglets--flew into the ground cranked at full throttle at about a 45 degree angle. Bent the nosegear back into shape, and took off again.

No doubt about it you want a LT25! .

With a .25 in an absolutly stock LT25 i've won our club fun fly. The same plane with the throws set back to normal I've used to teach people from 8 to 74 years old. It flys better than 40 size trainers. Read my review at www.rcflightunlimited.com

Tom

Thanks for the info, guys. I figured no one would actually read this post since this question has been asked so many times before, or that i'd get steered toward a bigger plane. I just happen to like the small stuff for its ease of transport and econcomy.

Two more questions:

What about something like a duraplane? Do they fly like aerial bricks, like I imagine?

Overall, what' the best .15 to .30 glow engine, in your opinion. I was thinking of a norvel or an OS, but it's been a long time since I played with glow motors.

Again, thanx in advance for any answers/opinions I get.

you answered your own question about the duraplane.I have two Norvel's,they are so tempermental that I,m going to carry them to the lhs to sell,I don't plan on buying another Norvel.Most of my small engines are TT or OS,I like the OS best,I break them in by the instructions,then fly,maybe once or twice a year I change glow plugs,or twek the needle valve,have eight of the .15 to .25 engines,most are on combat or small scale planes.

I wouldn't recommend "self-transitioning" from a Tiger Moth to a glow plane.

You may not be as good as you think you are.

Even if you only need an instructor for 1 flight, you're better off than smashing up your glow plane on your first try.

Just a thought

OS FP-25 if you can find one otherwise OS LA-.25 or FX-.25
Thunder Tiger .25

My FP-.25's are close to 20 years old and still going strong

http://www.carlgoldbergproducts.com/...ic_trainer.htm

Here is a link to the Eaglet 50 also look at the Freedom 20

Ghostbear,

I have absolutely no intention of going it alone moving up to larger faster planes, I was just hoping to get an opinion of someone outside of my local club--they tend to be of the "back when men were men, I soloed on a pattern plane, because that's all we had" mindset.

As for the thoughts submitted by Terrellflyer, Crashem, and tomr, thanks. So far I'm thinking the Sig lt-25 looks good. I followed up the link on the eaglet 50, but I don't know if the kit is still readily available--a friend at the local hobby shop tells me CG has been sold to another company and isn't currently supplying dealer, though I don't know for sure if this is true.

Also, does anybody have a positive impression of the norvels, or any experience with magnums? I've heard some local guys raving about then norvels, and others cursing the break in procedure, but they and OS are the only smaller engines I hear about.

Goldgerg was sold to Lanier,the Eaglet is a nice trainer,but I still like the LT 25 the best,either is a good plane,AND I,ve voiced my opion on Norvel eariler.Good luck with your search.

The Norvels are great screeming little engines that put out more power for the money than any engine I've ever had...however...they suck. From broken prop shafts, to sealing problems, to head button coming loose, to carbs getting stuck, to the front bushings going out. You name it...I own 4 of them and I'll NEVER buy another one. The Mags are awesome. Run great out of the box and take a licking. The Mag .28 is a powerhouse. The Mag .25 is solid but not near the power of the .28. The mag .15 is just simply the sweetest little engine I've got and we have two of them. Just use a little sillicon sealer on the threads of the carb hardware, because it likes to vibrate loose.

Terrell Flyer, There are a bunch of combat fliers that would probably be very interested in those Norvels on the combat forum or at the RCCA forum.

It's abundanctly clear to me now that I should avoid the norvel unless I want to fix stuff all the time, eh? I suppose I'll probably be doing that anyway, once I get something in the air. Anyhow, thanks, guys for answering my questions, even though I'm sure those questions have been asked a thousand times. The info has helped me narrow down my search.

One other thing to point out when it comes to trainers all are very similar when it comes to flight characteristics so pick the one you like best and go have some fun