Hi all. Besides the help of a good instructor (to train me on my Avistar), would an electric trainer be a good plane practice on? I would use this to practice on my own at a park and such. The other day I purchased a [link=http://www.flyzoneplanes.com/airplanes/hcaa1960-index.html]Red Hawk[/link] from Flyzone to play around with. Now, I never soloed with my new Avistar trainer, but I did decide to take the much slower Red Hawk to the park and give it a whirl. With a safe distance between myself and any obstruction, I throttled up and threw her to the wind. As I climbed out I realized how quick even an inexpensive electric could be. I didn't loose the plane, but I did get disoriented for a few seconds. I then was able to appreciate the need for instruction before trying out my gas (and much more expensive) model. I was able to solo and keep acceptable control of this very light model, with out crashing or buzzing myself.
Because this airplane has a 3 channel radio (throttle, elevons), will this help me with basic orientation while in flight? I know it will respond differently from faster models, but is this a good training tool?

Personally, I think a 3- or 4-channel park flier can help you when it comes to flying the larger glow planes. But it depends a lot on the model and how you fly it.

But there is also a lot you won't really learn very well with the park flier, as you know.

Sounds to me like you have a good plan there.

Successfully flying anything will give you confidence and help you with away/toward orientation and getting used to having right and left flipping around on you. Interestingly enough, your flight training on your Avistar will also help you fly your Red Hawk better. If you're having fun with the Red Hawk and getting a chance to fly when you can't fly the Avistar for one reason or another, then it's a good learning tool.

I find that 4-channel 3D foamies are GREAT practice AFTER you solo and are a competent flyer. I highly recommend planes from the web link below. These planes have helped me learn to hover, KE and Harrier.....I still cannot do slow rolls, rolling circles or rolling harriers...I need MANY MANY MORE HOURS of PRACTICE (Hundreds).

They are the first place I try anything new and they are very easy to repair and cheap to replace....AND I fly them every single day at a park on the way to work. just pull up, fly and leave..no setup or fuel to carry.

http://www.chargerrc.com

I just love these plane. They are stable, crisp and VERY easy and quick to build. They fly better than any shock-flyer or kit costing much more and they are DURABLE too.

OH...and NO, I don't work for them. I just really like these planes and I think many others will like them too.

I'm not addicted, I CAN STOP ANYTIME I WANT!! ...Hey dude, can I borrow your foamie?