I recently read an article in the Backyard Flyer magazine about there 9 picks for best beginner planes. I was really curious as to what your 9 best beginner planes would be. They can be any plane that is in the beginner range. If you feel necessary, tell why you picked it.
My Nine: 1. GWS Slow Stick
2. GWS Pico Slow Stick Park Flyer
3. Hobbyzone Firebird XL ARF Electric
4. HobbyZone Aerobird Challenger
5. Super Flying Models Soarstar
6. Parkzone J-3 Cub (RTF)
7. Parkzone Decathlon (RTF)
8. Alpha 40 Trainer
9. Thunder Tiger Scooter

Here they are, lets see yours!

The first 10 trainers you can think of that are GLOW powered with 4 channels. Any of those would be better than that PZ J-3 Cub.

Going to have to agree, 3 channels are harder to learn on then a 4 channel glow anything..

that being said..

Nexstar
alpha
kadet

again basicly any 40 Size glow 4 channel trainer is a good plane it seems

I see what you guys are saying, I'm still pretty new to the hobby, and trying to seperate the bad from the good.

The electrics are not all that easy to fly especially 3 channel. Most (stock) are underpowered and unresponsive. The ones that do fly good are not really beginner planes.
Beginner glow planes my choices would be
1. Sig Kadet Senior or LT40. Both fly excellent
2. Alpha 40 or 60. They fly great and the RTF version is a good value.
I've trained new pilots on all these planes and can say from experience they are fine beginner planes.

I can't comment on the Nexstar. I've seen them but never flown one.

In the long run you are going to learn better and spend less money investing in the glow trainer first, in my opinion. The Nexstar or Super Star Select are good trainers. Although the nitro trainer is around ~$250, the cost will add up to that buying replacement wings and other parts for a Firebird or foam electric!

Garret H

I just started flying last year. At the recommendation of a hobby store employee, I bought the Aerobird Challenger by Hobbyzone as my first plane. I spent the next couple of months pounding it into the ground over and over. A friend mentioned a local flying field, and I happened to go up there to check things out. They invited me to try out the club trainer with the help of a flight instructor, and I was hooked. After struggling with the Aerobird, it was a thrill to actually have a plane turn for me when I moved the sticks!

At the club's recommendation, I put the Aerobird away and bought a Nexstar RTF w/ included flight sim. After I learned to fly the Nexstar, I found out I had developed the skills to fly the Aerobird as well. I needed a heavier, more powerful aircraft to train on in order to fly regularly. We just don't have enough calm days here to learn to fly on light-weight electric aircraft.

I'd consider planes like the Aerobird Challenger or the Parkzone J3 Cub to be a fun convenience plane for experienced R/C pilots, not a starter plane.