Hi Guys my name is Scott and I’m from Pittsburgh PA I looking to get into nitro gas planes. However the more posts/threads I read the more I get confused. First off I thought a durable plane such as an Air Core would be great for a beginner. But from what I read the experts say they are bricks. Secondly the "indestructible" planes seem to be inexpensive. From my life experience & work experience (I’m a tech. at a testing lab) the cheap stuff rarely works well. Hence I need your help I realize wrecks will happen I just need to know what the best to middle range nitro gas trainer is and your opinions. You guys are the experts.

Thank-You
Scott

Scott,

I like the tower hobbies 40 trainer arf. Or the rtf ready to fly comes with about everything needed to get started. Besides field equipment. Get help from a local club.

I don't know what experts you've talked to, but the Air Core trainer is a nice flying plane and fairly tough. Any of the Hobbico series of trainers, along with the Tower trainer and the Great Planes PT series, are also excellent trainers. As you probably know from your work, you can't build to crash. You must build to fly.

Crashes will happen, and planes will break. When they do, assess and repair the damage and get back in the air.

Welcome to fuel-powered R/C.

Dr.1

Get the biggest trainer you can carry. The Sig Kadets are very good trainers, (Big and Slow). There are a ton of trainers out there try and stay with a slow flying trainer not too overly powered. Also get a radio with trainer cord plug and find a brand that some one with the same mfg of radio has that can help you out using a trainer cord.

My vote goes to the Sig Kadet Senior. Because that is what I am flying and it does fly great.
More important than what plane is how will you train.
By far the best way is with an instructor from a local club. Going this route you are virtually gauranteed success with almost any mainstream trainer aircraft.

I suggest going to the local flying field and talk to an instructor for a local club. Granted, each instructor has their own favorites as far as trainers go, however, a trainer suggested by an instructor that will be teaching you is a safe bet.

While you are talking to people at the field and the instructor, ask if anyone has a used trainer setup for sale. If they do, you can most likely get it for about 1/2 - 2/3 of what it would cost new.

FWIW - MOST trainers fly pretty much the same. I highly suggest getting a USER FRIENDLY ball bearing 46 engine for the trainer as it will be highly useable in a second (or later ) plane, where a bushed bearing engine (OS LA series, Thunder Tiger GP series ) MAY have adequate power for a trainer, but rarely has adequate power for a second plane. Three user friendly engines I can recommend are (no particular order ): OS 46 AX or FX; Thunder Tiger Pro 46 and Evolution 46NT By user friendly, I mean that 99%+ of the engines are going to run great right out of the box, require minimal break in and will not require constant "fiddeling" to get to run right and keep running right.

Hope this helps.