AirforceRcks

Hi im kinda new to flight but have some expeirince with helis.
would this be a good plane for me?
towerhobbies has a great price.
thanks

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

This is actually a really good plane for beginners. I've trained more students than I can count on this plane. You'll do fine with it, and it's got a great price.

Hope this helps

Ken

bruce88123

Great trainer.

The Toolman

Make a taildragger out of it and you'll like it even better


Ronnie

bkdavy

My Feedback: (1)

Disclaimer: I haven't flown this specific plane. Comments based on product descriptions and experience with similar planes.

It looks like any of the other trainer clones (Hanger 9 Alpha, Tower Hobbies Trainer), so I suspect its VERY similar in its flight characteristics. For the weight of 5.5 lbs, the 40 LA might be a bit underpowered, particularly if you're flying off grass. On the other hand, this will have the advantage of forcing you to learn to fly the plane on the wing, not the prop. If you can get an ARF version, and upgrade to the 46 AX, you might be happier in the long run, and you'll get to use more of the left stick.

Good Luck and keep us posted!

Brad

dmanson

My Feedback: (1)

My son and I trained on this plane. We did learn to fly.

However, the airplane is a bit underpowered if you are flying off of a grass field that is not perfectly manicured. We found that long runs were sometimes required to get to airspeed. For a beginner, steering on the ground for a long distance can be a challenge. If you go with this plane, be sure to minimize the throw on the nose wheel as it has a tendency to over control on the ground. Also, be sure that the nose wheel and rudder are both straight ahead with the left stick at neutral. The longer the takeoff run the greater the challenge to control.

bruce88123

Excessive nosewheel steering seems to plague a great number of planes. It appears that people think they are building cone racers and not airplanes. IMO the plane should be able to barely turn around in the full width of the available runway. Anything more than that is unnecessary for a trainer. Some radios (like mine) have dual rate available for the rudder/nose wheel and this handy. I must admit to using this feature for "cone racing" mode. Actually rudder is set high for flight/taxi and low for actual takeoff/landing.

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

I totally agree with Bruce here. I was guilty of doing the same thing when I was first staring out. The nose wheel should turn no more than 5°-10° at the most. One good rule of thumb I have found when setting up a nose wheel is to put the pushrod connection on the inner most hole of the servo arm at the servo, and the farthest out hole on the control arm of the nose wheel. Yes, the plane may take a bit more room to turn around when you are taxing the plane. But it will make the plane smoother and easier to control on your takeoff run and your landing roll out.

Hope the helps

Ken

AirforceRcks

this might sound like a stupid question but does the superstar have a controllable nosewheel?

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

Not a stupid question. The only dumb question is the one that doesn't get asked!!!!

Anyway. Yes, the nose wheel is steerable.


Ken

AirforceRcks

also what are the essential accesories. i.e. fuel.
i really dont know what kinda of field stuff i need so.
thanks

AirforceRcks

oh and what sim should i get, aerofly pro deluxe or realflight g3?
i know im gonna need one.
check out my old plane

snapped the wing off going through a tree.
my only experience. cant wait till my superstar gets here!

FlyI Bus Driver

My Feedback: (8)

The superstar is a great trainer. I taught myself to fly with one, actually. Having said that, get an instructor! I am a full-scale pilot and know how planes work in theory (which doesn't make you a good rc pilot, but it helps to know what the controls actually do and what their side effects are) and have done rc cars for years and years (so I'm familiar with the whole "reversal when flying toward you" thing) and it was still a challenge.

Superstar is a great, honest trainer that is a great bang for the buck. I've since lost mine (severe hanger rash), but am thinking about buying another one just to have, it's that much fun...

Missileman

this is the field equipment combo I bought. This along with fuel, something to wipe down the plane and a few basic tools (glow plug wrench, screw drivers, allen wrenches, needle nose ect...) is for me plenty.
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXL419&P=7

carrellh

In addition to the items missleman pointed out, you’ll probably want to pick up a couple of extra props and a spare glow plug or two; plus a gallon of fuel.

The plane comes with a 10x6 wood prop. New pilots tend to have the prop blades hit the ground, and wood props break when that happens.

A somewhat flexible prop can handle the abuse a little better. A couple of possibilities:
Master Airscrew 11x5 G/F Nylon Propeller (OS recommends the 11x5 size for the engine)
Master Airscrew 10x6 G/F Nylon Propeller

The engine comes with an A3 glow plug. Your spares can be the same thing. OS also recommends the #8 for the 40LA.

Almost everyone has very strong opinions about fuel, props, glow plugs. Some are almost rabid in their love, or hate, of certain products.

AirforceRcks

with a full tank of gas, about how much flight time will i get.

oh and i think im just barely under my budget.
i only got like $400 to spend total.
i got a club here in ABQ that im joining soon.

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

Depending on how much you run the engine at full throttle this plane should be able to fly somewhere in the range of 15-25 minutes. Longer than a new student will want to fly at a time. Anymore than 10-12 minutes per flight and new students start getting tired and should rest for a bit.

Ken

AirforceRcks

oh and how do the electronics get power?

is it a battery i have to charge?

LonestarMan

AFR, charge your batts 24 hrs for da 1st charge, then 14 - 16 hrs after dat if you have fully ran dem down flyin'. what I like to w/ a new batts is do this 3 times B-4 puttin' into service. Since you prolly don't have a cycler, just charge dem w/ da included wall wart chgr and unplug from plane and tx , extend the antennae fully on tx, turn on tx and plane and leave on overnite . this is the po man's way of cycling yo batts. do 3 times and you should be ready. Always do a good pre-flyte and start establishing you're secret account for yo next planes H.T.H. Rob

AirforceRcks

oh and wats the diff. between the avistar and the superstar?
the seem the same.

carrellh

Superstar has a flat bottom wing for maximum lift and stability. Avistar has semi-symmetrical wing which is not totally flat on the bottom. Avistar has to fly and land slightly faster than Superstar because the wing produces slightly less lift. I have seen Avistar referred to as an 'advanced' trainer or even as a 'second plane.'

With an instructor you can learn on either plane. Just watching students who have come through our club (I am a 'lifetime' student), I think the guys who use a trainer with a flat bottom wing seem to learn faster than the ones who start with an 'advanced' trainer with semi-symmetrical wing. This is a subjective observation on my part since every student is different.

AirforceRcks

ok thanks im still gonna stay with the superstar.
does amyone have a video i can see just to look at wats it is and just an idea of wat im gettin into.

carrellh

http://www.radiocontrolzone.com/plane/video.asp
They do not have the Superstar but they do have the NexStar

AirforceRcks

the superstar is somewhat like the Nexstar right?

bruce88123

They're both trainers.