RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

Whenever the question is asked here on RCU about what the "best" trainer is we always get dozens of different answers about what trainer is the "best". But the definition of "best" usually boils down to what each pilot learned to fly on. Everybody always thinks that the plane they trained on is "the best". Of course it is, it's just human nature to think that way. Anyway, I have been thinking about doing this for a while now. Let's find out exactly what is the most popular gear for learning to fly.

I'm going to put down a few rules here on how I'm going to work this.
1. I'll keep a running total of the results both here in this post at the head of the thread and also I'll post running totals as we go along.
2. Please post ONLY the plane, engine, and radio that you used to learn to fly on. Let us know if it was a Kit, ARF, or RTF plane.
3. If you used more than one type please post the plane that you consider to be your primary trainer.
4. No commentaries about any type of plane at all. Please don't put down the trainer that anybody else has used. I'm trying track what is used the most out there, not which one flies better than the other.
5. While commentaries aren't allowed, please feel free to make a short statement about your equipment. Things like "great flying plane", "still flying 10 years later", "wrapped it around a tree", etc... will make this fun.
6. Everybody gets only one vote.
7. Please post even if your equipment isn't made any longer.

On a recommendation from Marc (RCAdmin) I have tried to post a link to the items mentioned. Of course for the older items that have been discontinued there is nothing to link to


Trainers
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXEXK2**&P=ML]Hobbico Nexstar, ARF/RTF[/link] - 9
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXBDF0&P=ML]Sig Kadet Senior, ARF[/link] -3
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFG19&P=7]Sig LT-40, ARF[/link] - 3
[link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=HAN2475]Hanger 9 Alpha 40, RTF[/link] - 3
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCAS2&P=ML]Tower Hobbies Trainer 40, ARF[/link] - 3
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFG11&P=7]Sig LT-40, Kit[/link] - 3
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXDJB9&P=7]Goldberg Eagle 2, ARF[/link] - 2
Goldberg Falcon 56 MK II,kit - 2
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFF91&P=7]Sig Kadet MK II, kit[/link] - 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJ558&P=7]Great Planes PT-60, Kit[/link] - 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXPY56&P=ML]Hobbico Avistar, ARF[/link]- 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCSY9&P=ML]Hobbistar 60, ARF[/link] - 1
[link=http://www.hobby-lobby.com/tel40gas.htm]Hobby Lobby Telemaster 40, kit[/link] - 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXAP71&P=0]Midwest Aero-star 40[/link] - 1
[link=http://www.kyoshoamerica.com/airplanes/gp/11211R.asp]Kyosho Calmato, ARF[/link] - 1
Sig Kadet Jr, Kit (discontinued product) -1
RCM Trainer 40, kit - 1
Apprentice, 6' wingspan, plans built - 1
Balsa USA Easy 100, Kit - 1
Thunder Tiger Right Flyer 40 T - 1
Berkely Smog Hog - 1


Engines
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXEXK2**&P=ML]OS 46 FXi[/link] - 10
[link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=EVOE0460]Evolution 46[/link] - 3
OS 40 FP (discontinued product)- 3
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXKF99&P=]Thunder Tiger 61 Pro[/link] - 2
[link=http://www.mecoa.com/kb/aero/aircraft.htm]K&B 40[/link] - 2
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXBY17&P=]OS 40 LA[/link] - 2
[link=http://manuals.hobbico.com/osm/50sx-40-46-61-91fx-manual.pdf]OS 46 FX (discontinued product)[/link] - 2
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXBY59&P=]OS 52 Surpass[/link] - 2
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJA86&P=7]Tower Hobbies 46[/link] - 2
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFV69&P=ML]SuperTigre GS-40, ringed[/link] - 2
[link=http://manuals.hobbico.com/osm/50sx-40-46-61-91fx-manual.pdf]OS 40 FX (discontinued product)[/link] -1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFMD5&P=ML]OS 46 AX[/link] - 1
[link=http://www.megatech.com/product_detail_engines.php?ID=4709]Mega Tech 46[/link] - 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXKF97&P=ML]Thunder Tiger 46 Pro[/link] - 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXXA42&P=ML]OS 70 Surpass[/link] - 1
OS 25 FSR (discontinued product) - 1
Magnum 25 (discontinued product) - 1
Como 40 - 1
Fox 40 BB - 1
OS 30 - 1
Fox 35 - 1


Radio
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXEFJ4**&P=ML]Futaba 4YF, 4 channel[/link] - 10
JR Quattro, 4 channel - 3
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXHYK7**&P=]Futaba 6XAS, 6 channel[/link] - 3
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXGAF2**&P=ML]Futaba 7CAP, 7 channel[/link] - 2
Kraft Radio (I'm counting all Krafts here, regardless of how many channels)- 2
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCJG8**&P=]Hitec Laser, 4 channel[/link] - 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXLDP9**&P=0]Tower Hobbies 6XM, 6 channel[/link] - 1
[link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=JRP6654**]JR 6102, 6 channel[/link] - 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCUM2**&P=0]Tower Hobbies 4 channel[/link] - 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXVW08**&P]Futaba Skysport, 6 channel[/link] - 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXHYK7**&P=ML]Futaba 6EXAS[/link] - 1
MRC 5 channel (discontinued product) - 1
Futaba digital proportional (discontinued product)- 1
Hobby-Lobby, 6 channel (discontinued product) - 1
Kraft, 5 channel (discontinued product) - 1
JR, 4 channel (discontinued product)- 1
Airtronics Vanguard, 4 channel (discontinued product) - 1
JR S400, 4 channel - 1
JR Max, 4 channel - 1
Futaba Conquest, 4 channel - 1
Futaba FX-18 - 1
Futaba 5UAP, 5 channel - 1
JR SX600, 6 channel - 1
Futaba Attack, 4 channel (discontinued product) - 1


Keep the results coming folks!!

Ken

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

I'll get things started off here. I learned on a Tower Tranier 40 ARF, OS 40 FP engine, and an old MRC 5 channel radio.

The radio has been mothballed, but the engine and plane are still flying 10 years later

Ken

overbored77

My Feedback: (11)

Sig Kadet Senior arf, Os .46 fx, Futaba Skysport 4,

Very stable, easy to fly, made learning fun.

papermache

My Feedback: (35)

Plane - Sig Kadet Jr. kit

Engine - Magnum .25

Radio - Futaba Attack 4

papermache

Fastsky

Plane: Sig LT40 from kit

Engine: OS 40 FX

Radio: Futaba Skysport 4

I still have the radio and engine. The LT40 survived my training as well as my sons and several of his friends. I sold it when I realized how poor it flew in windy conditions.
[8D]

carrellh

Great Planes PT-60, Kit
Thunder Tiger 61 Pro
Futaba 6XAS

Flew great. .Crashed (dumb thumbs). Has been replaced with a new PT-60.

bigedmustafa

My Feedback: (2)

I learned on my Nexstar Select RTF:

Nexstar airframe
Futaba 4YF radio system
O.S. Max .46FXi engine
Real Flight G2 Nexstar edition simulator

The Nexstar got busted up at the field when an instructor was showing me how to do touch-and-goes and the radio went dead (field interference).

I still use the radio and engine in other planes. I bought the full version of G3.

Having the simulator made me a lot less pouty when it rained on "Training Night" and I'm sure the extra practice helped me.

One of these days I may repair or replace that old Nexstar fuselage and fly it again, I still have the whole thing in pieces.

LT-40

My Feedback: (2)

Sig LT-40 ARF = $139.99
Hitec Laser 4 = $117.99
O.S. .40 LA = $59.99

Total:$317.99

This combo can't be beat for the price!

LT-40

Kaos1964

My Feedback: (12)

Uhhh...

At the risk of dating myself (that sounds wrong [X(]):

RCM Trainer 40
K&B .40
Futaba digital proportional (way cool) mode 1 radio

Circa 1982

bruce88123

Goldberg Falcon 56 Mk II
K&B .40
Hobby-Lobby 6 radio (Mfg by EK)

Back in the late 70's and long gone.[]

ABELL

Hobbistar 60 ARF

Tunder Tiger Pro .61

Tower Hobbies 6XM

90 degrees nose down in the dirt[sm=cry_smile.gif] Rebuilt and flies better then ever

pumbadog

Sig Kadet Mk II Kit

Como .40

Kraft 5ch (swap meet find)

Aircraft flew great. I learned the importance of a good battery charger. Aircraft died of bad receiver nicads. Engine was tempermental. Only have the engine now.

brooke

Nex Star RTF
Futaba 4 Channel radio
O.S. 46Fxi

After 4 years of use it crashed, i'm sure I was not at fault for that Liked it so much I bought another one.

alan0899

G'day Ken,
I learnt to fly on a plane called an Apprentice, 6ft wing span, built from plans, that are still available through Model Airplane News, Powered by an OS 25FSR, rudder elevator & throttle & controlled by a 4 channel JR, radio, that was in 1981, & the plane is still flyable, but the motor is worn out, low compression.
When trimmed properly, it is inherently stable, ie will right itself & keep flying, if the sticks are released.

RAGII

NextStar RTF
Futaba 4YF
OS .46 FXi

Hope to use it to teach others.

TimC

[ul]
[*Hobbico Avistar]
[*Airtronics 4 Channel]
[*O.S. .52 Surpass]
[/ul]

bhady

Plane: SIG LT40
Engine: Tower .46
Radio: JR 652

I used this to teach myself to fly (after practicing on a GP G-2 Simulator at home). Excellen combination.

bhady

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

Hey guys, thanks for the feedback so far. I do apologize for not responding before this. I was in Charlotte, NC on an emergency (work emergency, had a network down) and I was posting this thread before I checked out of the hotel and headed for the airport. I then spent most of the day traveling back home, and in all honesty I was too tired last night to look at this thread. Anyway, after one day here are the results


Trainers
Hobbico Nexstar, ARF/RTF - 3
Tower Trainer 40, ARF - 1
Sig Kadet Senior, ARF -1
Sig Kadet Jr, Kit -1
Sig Kadet MK II, kit - 1
Sig LT-40, Kit - 1
Sig LT-40, ARF - 1
Great Planes PT-60, Kit - 1
Hobbico Avistar, ARF - 1
RCM Trainer 40, kit - 1
Goldberg Falcon 56 MK II. kit - 1
Hobbister 60, ARF - 1
Apprentice, 6' wingspan, plans built - 1


Engines
OS 46 FXi - 3
Thunder Tiger 61 Pro - 2
K&B 40 - 2
OS 40 FP - 1
OS 40 LA - 1
OS 46 FX - 1
OS 40 FX -1
OS 25 FSR - 1
OS 52 Surpass - 1
Magnum 25 - 1
Como 40 - 1


Radio
Futaba 4YF, 4 channel - 3
Futaba Skysport, 4 channel - 2
Futaba Attack, 4 channel - 1
Futaba 6XAS, 6 channel - 1
Hitec Laser, 4 channel - 1
MRC 5 channel - 1
Futaba digital proportional - 1
Hobby-Lobby, 6 channel - 1
Tower Hobbies 6XM, 6 channel - 1
Kraft, 5 channel - 1
JR, 4 channel - 1
Airtronics Vanguard, 4 channel - 1

Keep them coming in.

Ken

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

On a recommendation from Marc (RCAdmin) I have tried to post a link to the items mentioned. Of course for the older items that have been discontinued there is nothing to link to.

So here is the list updated with links.


Trainers
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXEXK2**&P=ML]Hobbico Nexstar, ARF/RTF[/link] - 3
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCAS2&P=ML]Tower Trainer 40, ARF[/link] - 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXBDF0&P=ML]Sig Kadet Senior, ARF[/link] -1
Sig Kadet Jr, Kit (discontinued product) -1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFF91&P=7]Sig Kadet MK II, kit[/link] - 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFG11&P=7]Sig LT-40, Kit[/link] - 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFG19&P=7]Sig LT-40, ARF[/link] - 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJ558&P=7]Great Planes PT-60, Kit[/link] - 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXPY56&P=ML]Hobbico Avistar, ARF[/link]- 1
RCM Trainer 40, kit - 1
Goldberg Falcon 56 MK II. kit - 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCSY9&P=ML]Hobbistar 60, ARF[/link] - 1
Apprentice, 6' wingspan, plans built - 1


Engines
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXEXK2**&P=ML]OS 46 FXi[/link] - 3
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXKF99&P=]Thunder Tiger 61 Pro[/link] - 2
[link=http://www.mecoa.com/kb/aero/aircraft.htm]K&B 40[/link] - 2
OS 40 FP (discontinued product)- 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXBY17&P=]OS 40 LA[/link] - 1
[link=http://manuals.hobbico.com/osm/50sx-40-46-61-91fx-manual.pdf]OS 46 FX (discontinued product)[/link] - 1
[link=http://manuals.hobbico.com/osm/50sx-40-46-61-91fx-manual.pdf]OS 40 FX (discontinued product)[/link] -1
OS 25 FSR (discontinued product) - 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXBY59&P=]OS 52 Surpass[/link] - 1
Magnum 25 (discontinued product) - 1
Como 40 - 1


Radio
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXEFJ4**&P=ML]Futaba 4YF, 4 channel[/link] - 3
Futaba Skysport, 4 channel (discontinued product) - 2
Futaba Attack, 4 channel (discontinued product) - 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXHYK7**&P=]Futaba 6XAS, 6 channel[/link] - 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCJG8**&P=]Hitec Laser, 4 channel[/link] - 1
MRC 5 channel (discontinued product) - 1
Futaba digital proportional (discontinued product)- 1
Hobby-Lobby, 6 channel (discontinued product) - 1
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXLDP9**&P=0]Tower Hobbies 6XM, 6 channel[/link] - 1
Kraft, 5 channel (discontinued product) - 1
JR, 4 channel (discontinued product)- 1
Airtronics Vanguard, 4 channel (discontinued product) - 1

Keep the results coming folks!!

Ken

rwright142

Plane: Hobbico NexSTAR 46 Select
Engine: O.S. Max .46FXi
Radio: Futaba 4YBF 4-channel FM radio
Type: RTF
Website: http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...=LXEXK2**&P=ML
What I liked most: The package came with everything needed to fly except fuel. All of the servos, receiver, battery, engine, etc were preinstalled. All I had to do was assemble the wings, landing gear, and tail and go fly.

Comments:
The NexSTAR also carries the Success Flight Guarantee which states" "You will successfully learn how to fly with the NexSTAR or we will replace it with your choice of any Hobbico trainer of up to equal value."
The terms are as follows:
- Must fly at an AMA chartered field
- Must fly with a qualified AMA club instructor
- Must be within 60 days of purchase date
- Must provide a statement about the crash with signatures from the pilot and instructor

The Success Flight information is covered on pg 27 of manual.

TopThumbs

Favorite trainer plane - Goldgerg Eagle II, kit
Favorite motor - OS .70 Surpass
my vote on radio's is anything futaba/JR that's comfortable on your hand with at least 6 channels and a trainer option.

pkevinb

Plane - Goldberg Eagle II
Engine - OS .40 LA
Radio - Futaba 4YF

I love the Goldberg Eagle II

YellowHawk

Not sure if it counts becuase I have not flown it yet...However, I bought the Hobbico NexSTAR Select RTF to learn on.

mimhoff

My Feedback: (3)

Plane: Sig Kadet Senior (ARF)

Engine: O.S. 46 AX

Radio: JR 6102

rc-plane

Plane: Hangar 9 Alpha .40

Engine: Evolution.46

Radio: Jr sport S400

Type: RTF

Its a great flyer. I soloed with it and my Dad is about to solo with it.