The best results I ever had came training a guy who showed up with an RCM Trainer 40. Hobby People still sells that ARF. Very forgiving for training, and good for aerobatics too.

The trainer I chose for instruction of new students is my Tower 40, because of the cost. Does fine for the training function.

The others mentioned here are all good trainers, and the Avistar is a quite capable aerobat, after the instruction period is complete.

Good luck,
Dave Olson

I voted for the Sig LT-40 since that was the trainer I selected to earn my son and I our wings. After a half-dozen instructor-led flights on the buddy box we were pronounced ready to solo. We each now have about 18 solo fights and are gradually easing into mild aerobatics. The LT-40 can loop, roll, fly inverted (well, it does take a LOT of down elevator) and do hammerheads, split S and other mild stuff. A Thunder Tiger 46 Pro and 11-5 prop gives tons of thrust without excess speed (the LT-40 was not meant to be a streamlined hotrod).

Our favorite maneuver is just to chop the throttle and glide over the runway at 3' then punch the throttle and climb back up to altitude.

The LT-40 (kit) is very easy to build, Sig's building and setup instructions are very thorough and well illustrated. It's so docile we've never come close to crashing it. Only damage is a bit of hangar rash (it's a big airplane and requires care getting it in/out of the house/vehicle).

The LT-40 has the size, simplicity, ruggedness and flying qualities to ensure success. It's the trainer I'd certainly recommend to other students.

Any trainer that does NOT have those stupid rubberbands holding the wing on. [sm=rolleyes.gif]

My alltime favorite was the PT 40 MK I not the new one(MKII), I have no experience with the new kit but have been interested in getting it to see the difference. I started with the PT40 when I was 12 and built it my self and the plane came out straight with little effort and I flew it for about 5 years and enjoyed every minuet of it.

Thanks