Hi,

Question... I have some experience flying the HobbyZone Fighterbird and I am currently looking on buying the LT-40 trainer which is about $369.00 including everything.

Since this is a gas airplane and it is a 4 channel, should I join a club before I fly on my own? I got my self the G2 RealFlight simulator and I can land perfectly the trainer they have.

Could anyone recommend a club in Orlando FL.?

Thanks,
Luis

Join a club and get an instructor!

1. Get your AMA membership - this will be required to join any club.
2. Join a club - they will supply an instructor.

There is no "reset" button with a real trainer. If you make a mistake and crash you cannot just try again......

AMA's website: modelaircraft.org

They have a list of clubs in your area.

Great!!!

Would yall still recommend the LT-40? I saw it in my Local hobby shop and it is huge big!!!

Yes! The LT-40 is excellent.

The LT-40 is an excellent trainer.

another good trainer is the Hobbico Avistar. Everyone has their own opinions....do a search on this website on both planes and you will get tons of information.

You might want to visit a club to see what they are using - but you can't go wrong with the LT-40 or the Avistar.

Perfect trainer!
Ask @ LHS about local clubs.
You can fly on a buddy cord with a certified trainer pilot while you wait for your AMA card to arrive.
You can also get a confirmation letter faxed to you from the AMA after they recieve your payment, so, if you pay with a card in the morning, you should be able to get verification of AMA ins. by the same afternoon.

Yep, go with the LT-40. I have trimmed one out for a guy and it flies very nicely.

From what i've read the LT is a good tainer but at that price it's toooo much money, have a look at www.spadtothebone.com for about $20 you can build a trainer that flys great and will take a few knocks. Have a look at the Debonair and BUHOR plans, also come and post your Q's at the SPAD world forum for some help

I agree with Woodsy. Learn on a SPAD, then maybe fly a more delicate balsa plane if you want. SPADs give you confidence and worry free learning. You still need an instructor and AMA insurance with what ever you get.

nukes

The LT-40 is about $400.00 which comes with everything:

Aircraft (Offcourse), Servos, Engine and Radio.

The $20 bucks you are talking about, what does this include. And physically what is the differance between this and the LT-40.

I've just heard great things on the LT-40 and I have never heard anything on this SPAD thing.

By the way, their website looks like my kid made it. sorry, I am like that; if I don't like a website, I wont waste my time on checking it out.

get the LT40,it's a great trainer and plane,I've used it to train many people,join the ama and also a club with instructors and people you'll enjoy being a member of. Some clubs are a joy to fly with,other clubs are a pain in the a-- due to the members rules and attitudes.

(whisper, you know you can't bash the Spad guys, they'll go nuts on you ;-) )

My understanding is that Spads are made out of the same stuff as stop signs. (Coroplast?) Many people think they are ugly, many people love them. A lot of people defend balsa and plywood as if it were the US Constitution.

Anyway,

I transitioned from a Merlin parkflyer to an LT-40 last May. While the experience with the electric did a lot to ready me for flying, it DID NOT prepare me for the speed of the gas trainer. Especially the landing. I had a lot of G2 time and that helped a bit as well.

In the end, however, I soloed after about four sessions (16 flights) (2 on the buddy box, 2 with an instructor beside me).

My thoughts...

I "upgraded" to an OS FX 46. I have never regretted it, not for the extra power, but for the ease of operation and reliability. My friend bought an Eagle 2 and run (or tried to run) an MDS 40, he had nothing but problems.

You should also be aware that if you "catch the bug" you'll probably be looking for a sport plane in the fall or over the winter, so I wouldn't get overly hung up on what type of trainer to get. Most of them are really good.

The LT-40 won't let you down though.

GB

I would stick with the LT-40. You won't be disappointed. It's a great plane. As far as the price you quoted, a good deal depends on the individual components you will be getting. If I were you I would take a trip to your hobby shop, pick up a current magazine, and compare prices to the adds you see in the mag. It will help you decide if you're getting a good deal or not. Good luck!

If you think their website looks like your kids built it, wait till you see a Spad.

You know those plastic signs on everyones lawns that say "VOTE for Klanstankcwitze for City Council"?

Well one day one of them blew off it's wire stake and flew across some R/Cer's yard, so he got the bright idea to stick an engine on it. And Voila! The Spad was born. (I don't mind bashing the Spadders I deal with psychotics all day long).

But seriously, Spads ARE very durable. So if you don't mind flying something that reminds you of an Election Year, go ahead and build... or, uh FOLD one together and have a ball.

Ummm.

I think I will stick with the LT-40. As I said, my only flying experience is with a HobbyZone FighterBird and my G2 RealFlight Simulator.

The only think that scares me is the size of this plane (LT-40). It is as tall as me wingspan wise. I already submitted my AMA application by fax, so I should be receiving my AMA# in the next 1-2 days.

After some weeks from now I am planing to join a club which by the way has a great website- http://www.rcacf.com/
They are charging me $200.00 to sign up, $100 for initiation and $100 per year. I am planing to join the club first before I buy the LT-40; this makes sense right?

Buy the plane and start building, the prints and directions are very good,nothing needs to be changed on the plane,builds and flies great as is,big flies better,in the air you'll be glad of the large size. On the club,go a couple of times,meet and talk to some of the people,see what kind of training they have for you,check to see if you're looking into the sun and if so what time of day,that might be a problem. Cost wise that is about double from most of the clubs I've flown at,check to see if they furnish the buddy box or do you have to furnish your own. For that kind of money I would expect Hooter girls and coffee at the entrance.

HOLY MACKERAL !! Boy, those are some mighty high charges !!
Who flys at this club......The Blue Angels ??
And we wonder where all the younger flyers are ? What do you get for $ 400.00 ? GEEZE !!

Thank God for my club and field.... No initiation fee, Annual Dues only $15.00 ! What was that $200.00 for again ?

Ugo

I was thinking the same thing. $100 initiation fee + $100 per year seems pretty steep to me. You may want to look around for other clubs in the area. In my parts, most clubs charge about 1/2 of what you were quoted. I pay $50 per year and had a $35 initiation fee. Good luck.

I Think i know why they charge so much look at there web site and the pictures of their field some expensive upkeep on those two item's but they do both look great ie web site & their air field

Build the LT-40, great experience and a great flying airplane. There used to be a lot of them flying around here. The hanger9's have recently started to take over though in our area as store bought trainers. The really cool part is that with these planes you have your engine mount, landing gear and hardware already. If you don't wipe it out awesome. If you do wipe it out, that would suck, and you'll either have to repair, buy another one, or start another kit. If that's your thing great. But seeing how you already have the gear and hardware...if you want to get back in the air in a day or so with a comparibly flying airplane for about $10 Check out Spad. That is if you can handle the first grade simplicity of the web site and the functionality over beauty of the Spad original airplanes...thanks for the compliments...I love you guys

Right on!!! You guys are getting it! ...and you don't know how close you are to the truth (it actually started because of a Pepsi sign from Wal-Mart) You're darn right if an election sign blew into my front yard...a couple hours later it would have an engine bolted to it and I'd be having a BLAST!!! Oh yeah...and it would also end up on this amaturish web page
http://members.cox.net/deantuinstra/Signs/Signs.html

Again, thank you for the compliment Mr. Imcruz. You see, when I fly model airplanes, I feel like a kid. All the stresses of adult life and work fade away when I see something I envisioned while trying the sleep the night before...take to the skys the next afternoon. It's an excitment and pleasure that I cannot explain in words. It's hard to remember what it was like being a kid in a candy store...but model airplanes have a magical way of giving me that feeling again. I am truley honored that this feeling comes through in our website! If we made money at it, maybe we would hire a professional to make it better...but we don't make a dime. All Spad is, is a few people who found a cheap way to enjoy R/C...and put how they do it on personal web space. It grew from there. We foot the bill, and charge nothing for free information. That's it.

But, there is something to it...as it's popularity is unquestionable...and that's with absolutely no advertising. Thousands of passionate Spadders...and growing...way beyond our wildest imagination. If they were really the heavy ugly pigs that some go out of their way to bash...we wouldn't have gotten 3,800,000 page hits from 84 countries last month.

In this circumstance I think the PT 40 will be perfect for you. Have fun and be careful.

Tattoo,
Love your website and thank you for giving me the opertunity to enjoy the sport again.

Thanks nukes

The LT-40 has a 71" wingspan.

I put some international orange stripes on the under side of the wing, its great on blue sky days, but the white wing is hard to see with any clouds.

As to the field fees, I wouldn't be put off by high fees, sometimes you get what you pay for. My club charges $10 per year, but now they lost their landing strip and don't have any money to build a new one.

I wouldn't pay first, go hang out there for a few days. You don't need to bring a plane. You might be able to bum a few flights off some of the guys. See if you like them, find out when the active flying days are...

Oh, and as a recent newbie, I recommend an ARF for your first plane. Unless you have building experience... I'm 39, fairly handy around the house, but had no experience building models. I'm slowly working my way through a 4*60 kit after a year of flying and doing minor construction and repairs. I still find it somewhat intimidating.

Finally, as I sit in the middle of our seventh major snowstorm, I hate you. :-)

I gotta ask. Do you like to work with wood? And how often would you like to work with it? How much money do you want to spend on this hobby? Do you like spending money to fix things?
Do you think that you'll like to fly more than build?
Or build more than fly?

Simple scenario.
You drive to field 15 - 30 minutes
You set up your field box and plane 5 - 10 minutes.
You secure a channel and get ready to fly. 5 - 10 minutes
Yada yada yada

You take off (usuming you have some experiance) And possibly fly for 10 - 15 minutes.
Come around for landing and bounce. Prop strikes BROKEN PROP.

Ok this would not be a big deal. happens to all.

Replace prop 5 minutes

Take off
fly. Do loop and lose some altitude. Butt clenches but it pulls out.
fly more and enjoy the next 5 minutes.
Time to land. you bring the plane around and out of fuel.
DEADSTICK! No big deal just grease her in. Small cross wind.
Plane handles funny for beginner... And you miss the run way. Plane flips smacks tail on ground.
BROKEN prop (maybe) Broken Vertical Stab Probibly.

Pack up go home.
Cut away covering and glue back pieces. Recover tail.
This assumes you have bought the $30 worth of equipment to recover it.
Wait till tomorrow to fly again. Or maybe next weekend.
Tomorrow comes wind is at 15MPH too much to risk your newly repaired plane Maybe next time.
Maybe you decide to risk it like I did once. and Take off!
Wind catches wing and flips plane sideways. plane gets away from you and hits ground wing tip first.

Odds of wing living through this 1,000,000 : 1
Ok busted wing. Feeling of doubt and loss sets in.
Take it home may have the plans and easily take off covering. and make repairs. First time I did this it took 4 days and the wing was built back with a little twist in it. Now plane not so pretty.

That is a tale of a BALSA plane. YOu may like it I did not. I have built one plane from a laser cut kit and covered it. Took me close to a month of afternoons after work and looked really nice when I was done. I actually felt like I had accomplished something. Installed the engine and gear. Looked good felt good. but never saw fuel. It still hangs in my work room. looks real pretty there. Lot better looking than in a trash sack making toothpicks.

To all his own oppinion and this was mine. This is a true tail of my experiances. I built more than I flew. I didn't like that and almost sold all my gear from this. I love to fly I love to question flight characteristics. I love to design but I hate to build with wood. I like spads Maybe you would too. If you happen to live in Cleburne TX or near or would like to drive there. I would love to show you spads. I would even GIVE YOU ONE! Or even show you how to build them. Give you enough supplies to build you first 2 planes. Or more. That's the spad way.

So buy a balsa plane if you can afford it. If not build a spad. Fly that balsa plane and when it crashes cause it will one day and you try to fix it and it looks like crap or takes too long to fix. Ask yourself if you'd rather be flying.

Imagine this. With spads some call open combat. Last plane standing.! They are that cheap. WOuld you ever buzz the runway to knock over milk jugs with your wings with a balsa plane?

lmcruz This is basically the same as the LT-40 FLies the same looks the same just a lot tougher and easier to repair.



But that's ok SPADS look like kids built them.








Sorry this is so long winded just telling my oppinion.

It all in what you like. Don't let people tell you that these planes fly any different. They do not. It's all in the way they are built.
Time all it adds up to.

Maybe all these Balsa flyers are in denial. They just can't believe they spent over $1,000 on all the stuff that they use to build their planes. when a couple pieces of sandpaper, vinyl razors, straight razors, , saws, Screwdrivers, Stickers and glue is all we need.

Hmm $100 for one plane $20 for 5 planes hmm hard choice.

These are SPAD planes,they look like election signs??