I am about to make my first glow plane purchase. A lot of people seem to think the LT-40 is one of the better planes for beginners. However, bigedmustafa pointed me to the Thunder Tiger 60 plane at the following link:

http://ehobbies.com/ttr4503-f12.html

I kinda like the idea of a 60 size plane over a 40. I assume the 60 is a little heavier plane? I currently have the HobbyZone Super Cub electric plane. I have been trying to teach myself to fly and it has not gone well. I'm hoping by hooking up with an instructor and using a glow plane I will have better luck. The Super Cub just seems so light that I struggle with it.

What are the advantages/disadvantages in learning on a 60 size instead of a 40?

I am just learning to fly on a Thunder Tiger 60, and have been very happy with it. I should be able to solo after 1 or 2 flights.

I think a bigger plan flys better in wind and it is easier to see up high, where most instructors would like you to fly.

HTH

Jon

The LT-40 is within a couple of inches of most 60 size trainers. But, it's light enough to fly well with a 40 size (less expensive) engine.

When I decided to start flying, I wanted an ARF trainer. I went with a Hobbistar 60. If the LT-40 ARF had been available at the time I probably would have chosen it due to the fact that a Thunder Tiger 46 would be plenty of engine. I ended up with a Thunder Tiger 61 which cost almost twice as much as the 46 did at the time.

I do believe big trainers are easier to learn on than smaller ones. That's mostly based on being able to see them better.

My wife says so............

Go with the LT-40

It's as big as most 60-size planes but as Carrell said, it flys great on a 40 size engine - which will save you a lot in fuel alone.

But do yourself a favor and put a good 46 ball bearing engine in it. that way you'll have a good engine to put in your next plane.

Or even better....a .60 - .72 4 stroke.

Bill, AMA 4720
WACO Brotherhood #1

The only real disadvantages with a .60-sized trainer are:

1) Bigger engines use more fuel

2) The larger plane will be a little harder to pack for the field

The advantages that were previously stated (large size is easy to see, larger and heavier planes are more stable in the wind) more than make up for these considerations.

While I stand by my recommendation that the Tiger Trainer .60 Super Combo is an excellent plane and an outstanding value, I also think the Sig Kadet LT-40 is a wonderful airframe. Sig offers a ready-to-fly version with an Aviastar .46 ball-bearing engine and radio system direct from their website for $319.99 plus shipping and handling. I also believe that the Hangar 9 Alpha .60 RTF is an outstanding trainer package.

All three of these planes are well made and nice flying; you can't go wrong if you choose a plane from this short list.

The LT-40 also flys well with up to a .90 in the nose. Just because it's 40 sized doesn't equate to being to small for anything other than a 40

I have a Super Tigre .40 on my LT-40 and it has plenty of power, but I still needed some extra nose weight to balance it out. Knowing that I would recomed a .46 or even a .51-.55 sized engine for it.

It is a larger plane and I can only take it to the field in my truck as it won't fit in my Camry. It will fit in the back seat of my truck though, tight but it does fit.

A good saito would be right at home on the front of the LT-40 as you don't really need a bunch of RPMs but good power is nice.

Hmm, a saito .72. I might just have to change engines on it.

What year Camry?

That's another consideration of mine. We just bought my wife a 2007 Camry and it would be nice if I could get everything in it and not have to take my gas guzzling truck when we go see my daughter and son-in-law.

I'm able to pack my field box, radios, 2 glow planes (.40-sized), and a cooler all in the back of my Hyundai Elantra while leaving ample room for my flying photographer (the wife) up front. The Tiger Trainer .60 and Alpha .60 both boast a 73" wingspan, and you should be able to fit that beween the back of the front seat and the end of the trunk easily enough.

The real question is what will your wife do to you once she finds out you dripped castor oil exhaust in her new car?

Big Ed...I don't even want to THINK about that one! [sm=50_50.gif][sm=50_50.gif]

I have a Tiger Trainer 60. It flies great, lands great, But...... I had an unfortunate accident (Screw up) with it and Have attempted to find the replacement Plastic for the Fuselage.

My Recommendation would be to get a all balsa plane so repairs are easier (possible). A buddy of mine has the LT-40 and I have flown it. The plane is a better choice in my opinion. The only thing that is better with the Tiger trainer is flying in the wind. 15 mph isn't bad with the Tiger. But it is interesting with the LT-40.

My vote is for the LT-40.

Hope this helps.

Del

The wing on my LT40 wont fit in the back seat of the Cheby, but if I lay the back of the front seat back, it fit's.
Y'all talk more good stuff about the LT40, That's what I just bought.
BTW, This thread sure was'nt what I thought it was goin to be about..[8D]

My son and I fly an LT-40 and power it with a Thunder Tiger .46 Pro. With an 11-5 prop, the power is more than adequate without being radically overpowered. It also balances the LT-40 with no extra ballast needed.

We also just purchased a 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid (TCH). The TCH loses about 30% of useable trunk space over the non-hybrid Camry but comes loaded with high-end features such as smart key entry/start and VDIM. I seriously doubt the LT-40 would fit in any car easily but boy, what a high tech field charger the TCH makes.

I transport the LT-40 in my '91 Mazda 4 cylinder pickup. It's 70" wing barely fits lengthwise in the covered bed (I have the Cab Plus with the shorter bed) and no one cares if I leak fuel on the HD plastic bedliner.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_3477988/tm.htm

When I started looking I set my criteria this way:

1. Something with a high wing design for stability and easy flying.
2. Something that if I crash, and I will sooner or later, will not be a huge loss or keep me grounded.
3. Something that is repairable.
Then I said, "Let's see what's out there."

It just makes sense though when you're starting out to NOT buy a plane that if something happens, it will take time to get another. That can be so disheartening you give up all together, or decide you can't afford this hobby. Which comes to fourth on my list:

4. Something I enjoy flying.
Of course, if you're can't afford to replace the plane you lost, and can't repair it, you're not enjoying flying at all which is just as disheartening.

Just my thinking for the half-penny it's worth.

I just thought it would be good to point out that larger planes with similar design and wing loading of their smaller brothers will tend to require a greater recovery altitude. I'm not sure if that would be proportional to size or what. That would be an interesting formula for the aerodynamisists to figure out.