What is the general opinion of the Hangar9 P 51 trainer? I am about to buy my first trainer and I am very interested in the P 51 trainer by Hangar 9. Is this a good choice? Do you guys recommend a beginner to build a kit or is that something that should be done later and if so what kit would you recommend?
Thanks Mark

The PTS P-51 is an EXCELLENT first plane/trainer.

I soloed with mine on the first day out and certified on my third day out.

The included sim is junk.

I spent a good five months practicing on G3 before my first time at the field. Needless to say this helped a lot. Spend the money on a good sim, it will pay off many times over.

It is advisable (if you haven't already done so) to join a local club and of course get your memberships in order.

Most clubs provide training and certification.

Don't think about this, DO IT!

You'll be able to keep you nice new plane intact this way.

Head over to the LONG PTS thread on the ARF forums. There are several things you need to do to it before your first flight.
Note that you'll also see many things there that are not urgent, but are optional.

If it is available see if the club has a trainer and take that up with the instructor for the first flight or two, to get orientation, etc down.

Don't be in a hurry to fly your PTS, do it only when you are ready for it.

If I may offer a different opinion, I don't think the Hanger 9 P-51 makes a good first plane, and here's why. Being a tail-dragger, it's a lot more difficult to learn take-offs than a tricycle gear plane. A new student doesn't need the extra challenge. With all the training stuff on the P-51, it flies OK, but kind of mushy like. Then when the power is reduced, it slows down rapidly and sinks a lot faster than most high-wing trainers. Once again, a little more tricky than an ordinary trainer to land.

If you remove the training equipment, the P-51 flies pretty good, but then it's a bit too fast and agile for a new pilot to handle.

I think it's much better as a second plane. Compared to other warbirds, it's quite easy to fly, but compared to your standard trainer it's quite a bit more difficult. Just a little too much challenge for a first plane.

Now if you're familiar with planes, or (maybe) like the previous post spent a lot of time on a good simulator, it might be a good way to go.

Before you all go and flame on me, I have been instructing for 15 years, and worked with three students with the P-51 this past summer. One has done OK, one is still working on landings (banged it up a bit), and another sold his and bought a high-wing trainer.

And I was just about to light a match[:@]... Not really

Good to see both viewpoints. Keep in mind that everyones favorite trainer is the first one they were successful on. Me... it was the Nexstar. Many people say it's to much money on training gimmics. I agree with them now as I removed the gimmics quickly... AFS never got off the ground.

I would recomend you buy the least expensive trainer you can get and if after you learn to fly you still want a P-51 then go get a Sig 4-Star. And after you have mastered that if you still want a P-51 then get one.

You will get both opinions on the P-51.
I personally think the Hanger 9 P-51 PTS trainer is not a good beginner airplane and yes I do have one and have been flying it.
Take almost any high wing trainer and you will get almost unanimous approval, not so with the P-51.
Bottom line, some people learn with the P-51 and some people find it too hard to handle and move on to a conventional high wing trainer where they have better success.
The good news? If you do buy the P-51 and find you can't handle it you can transfer the engine and electronics to a high wing ARF trainer at a fairly low cost and still have the P-51 (if it is still in one piece) for future use.
My opinion? The H9 P-51 is a good second plane.

guys im in the uk and im looking to get the dvd that comes with the plane can anyone help me pls , idelike to see my plane in action ;-)