I have been looking for the plane I thouht would be a great trainer and I found the ARF Hobbico Nexstar select. I comes w/everything and it's big to for better stability. Has anyone flown this one before? What do you think about it as a first ARF plane?

The website is [link]http://www.hobbiconexstar.com/[/link]

I can hear the hornets buzzing already, you will find alot of ya's and na's about the NEXTAR I found it to be a easy to fly plane with good components for future planes many will argue that its too expensive etc... but for what you get in a starter plane you will have a hard time loosing with this plane.
a good place to buy the plane at a fairly good price would be www.towerhobbies.com there always running specials and discounts to save some$$ .if you have a instructor and fly at a AMA field there is a no crash garentee that they have also

I agree with bigtim, I learned to fly on the nexstar and was very happy with it. If you take into account that the motor that comes withg it is a top of the line two stroke and is more than enough engine for your next 40 size plane the extra money makes sense. A lot of other trainers come with .40LA's or other .40 engines and they're not strong enough for some other planes that will run well with a .46 like the u-can-do or the funtana series.

I own the nexstar and IMO its a great plane. I did remove the gizmos (afs, speedbrakes) but i left the airfoil extentions on and it flies great
it is a little more expensive but it does come with a basic flight sim

According to a recent poll by RC Ken here in the beginners' forum, the Nexstar was far and away the primary trainer for posters here in this forum. The Nexstar was mentioned three times more than the next closest airframe.

Love the Nexstar or not, an awful lot of recent converts to this hobby have learned to fly on them.

If I am just starting flying, would it be better to start with a 3 or 4 channel electric or do you guys reccomend going straight to gas?

Bry, I would reccomend Nitro (fuel powered).,Planes are larger and easier to see and fly, and the initial investment is cheaper. Also
go with a 4 -channel if you learn to fly with ailerons you will be more prepared when it's time to advance. I haven't read it here yet but I won't be the only one to say Check out your local flying club and hook up with an instructor to learn, this will increase learning speed and decrease the investment. Ken or Bruce will probably give you links to clubs in your area very soon. Meet with some of the guys and ask them what they reccomend as a trainer and radio equipment. hey someone might even have and old trainer for sale cheap.

Oh, ya want local clubs? OK
http://www.modelaircraft.org/ClubZip...s=WA&c=spokane
There ya go.

By the way, the Nexstar Select is an RTF and not an ARF. On an ARF the buyer has to provide and install the radio and electronics and perform more assembly than on the RTF.

Also, if you get an instructor, disable the AFS system. It's more of a nuisance than a help. The wing gadgets you can keep if you insist but I don't really care for them either.

the gagets take em or leave em but for sure unplug the AFS (active flight stablization) feature, it does more harm than good when you are learning IMNSHO.
the flaps and droops do slow the plane down a bit but the plane flys great with out them with that large wing it floats around nicely.

Hi bryflyer,

As you have seen, the NexStar is a great trainer, and has the ability to grow with you as your skills progress. I learned on a NexStar and still fly it occasionally. It is fast and can do some aerobatics just fine. It is more expensive than a lot of the other trainers, but as others have noted, the engine is great. I also liked it because it was slow like a trainer should be, but then with some changes to the control surfaces, it is fast and nimble.

Above all else, heed this advice: Get an instructor first, because they will teach you a lot more than just how to fly.

Good luck, and welcome to RCU!