Hello,

I'm looking to buy my first ARf or RTF trainer. I'm in Australia and there doesn't seem to be that great a range of model aircraft available. I am looking at these 4 aircraft and would like some advice and ideas on which plane people consider the best.

I would like to use a JR MAX 66 and OS46

Thanks for your help!!

Cheers,

Craig.

G'day Craig,
The Skyraider Mk 1 with an OS 46AX, is one of the best, another very good one is a Boomerang 40, with the same motor. Stay away from the Boomerang 60, it is bigger, BUT it has a flat bottom wing, & is not as easy to fly in wind.
I was instructing a fella today with the Boomerang 40, & my girl is learning with a Skyraider.
Both are very good & both are less than $100.00, you can't go wrong with either of them.
PM me if you need any further info.

I started with the nexstar so of course I would pick that as a great trainer since it did the trick for me. I also have the PTS P-51 and that is a real fun and great flying plane. However you can learn with the P-51, but IMO not as easy as the nexstar. I never had any of the other two you have listed so I can not say anything about them.

I have just started on my second plane after my trainer. I used a World Models Super Frontier 40. It has a flat bottom wing so it may not be as advanced as the semi-symmetrical wing of the mach I and the Boomerang. However according to the "theory" the flat bottomed wing should allow you to progress to Solo faster than the semi-symmetrical wing. Again according to the same "theory" you will need a second plane sooner since you can not do advanced training with a flat bottom wing . I do not know personally if this is true since I can do all the basic aerobatics that have been mentioned previously in the beginner forum. (Loops, rolls, inverted flight etc)

According to my instructor at my field the Super Frontier 40 is much better quality than the mach I and the Boomerang, however I have seen then both at the field and I do not think, that especially if one takes into account that a trainer will be bashed about, that there is truly much difference in quality.

From my experience I would say the best thing to do is to go to your local field and ask one of the guys that will be instructing you which aircraft they recommend. Using a trainer that your instructor(s) is familiar and happy with will make them a lot happier to train you and hopefully mean that you progress faster.

I hope this helps

Cheers
Pups

I learned on a Nexstar and quite frankly you do not need to spend that much on a trainer. Go with the SkyRaider and spend the extra money that you would have on the Nextar on feild equipment and tools.

none of the above....the Sig LT-40 is now an ARF thats the trainer you want
No matter what you choose I wish many happy landings good luck

-

I voted for the World Models Sky Raider Mach I. It's very straightforward to assemble and comes with high quality hardware. The Nexstar ARF would be similar in these respects, but the big difference is wing design. The Nexstar wing is very large and it tends to "balloon" into upwind turns, making it difficult for new student pilots to control when wind conditions are above 10mph or so. The World Models Sky Raider Mach I, on the other hand, has a semisymmetrical airfoil with less dihedral. It will fly good in calm conditions, but will be more easily controlled in windy conditions. It will also perform aerobatics better after you're comfortable with basic flight and you want to learn how to fly inverted, do Cuban Eights, and practice Immelmann and Split-S turns.

I learned to fly on a Nexstar, and I liked the plane, but when the wind was howling here in Nebraska I was envious of the Avistar pilots.

P.S. - for everybody who suggested Sig ARFs and Kits, please provide contact information for Sig's Australian distribution office so brumbie flyer can contact them... [/waits for response while listening to crickets chirp]

BigEd, since you brought it up, could you or someone define Cuban Eights, Immelmanns, and Split-S turns for those of us newbiews who are learning?

I can do better than that, mbilar1, I can point you to a wealth of information:

http://www.masportaviator.com/defs.asp

http://www.masportaviator.com/fh_advancedtraining.asp

For example:

Immelmann Turn - Definition: The aircraft flies in a strait line at full speed. Up elevator is added to do ½ inside loop. At the top of this half loop, up elevator is released and the aircraft is half-rolled to the upright and level flight in the opposite direction as was the entry. This maneuver was perfected by Maxx Immelmann as a combat turn early in the First World War.

The AMA's Sport Avaitor website is specifically designed for student and recently solo'd pilots who are continuing to learn and develop their skills. The flight definitions section has basic descriptions of many common manuevers while the Advanced Training section is a terrific introduction to basic aerobatics.

Dig through this website at your convenience, and feel free to post any questions that you might have.

Thanks for the advices guys! I think I'll go for the Skyraider. I like the look of the Nexstar, but not the radio gear that comes with it. In Adelaide there seems not to be a great range of aircraft. The Skyraider is about $150 AUD and the Nexstar is $695 AUD.

I want to match it with a JR Max 66 and an OS 46AX. A couple of the model stores I've spoken with suggested the Hanger 9 P-51 mustang as a good trainer and second aircraft in one I've always been more iterested in light civil aircraft.

Cheers,

Craig.

Craig,

I've just learnt on the Boomerang 40 with a 46AX and JR Max 66. It's a great plane and to date I've done around 80 flights and she still looks as good as new. I've also been using it to learn some basic aerobatics such as cuban 8, immelman and stall turns and it handles them no worries (good enough for a newbie anyway...). You should be able to pick one up for around a $100. Try Col Taylors, they're very reliable and probably as cheap as anyone in Australia.

cheers

Shane

try the boomerang 40 or the classic trainer they both fly great if can't get in adelade try perth r/c model and hobbies they are around the $100.00 mark he can send one of them to you pretty cheap. his phone number is 08 -93288986

Thanks for the info Dave! & everyone else!!

The more I look around the more confused I get about what I want... Looks like there's a much better range interstate!

I'm chatted with the closest local RC club. They like JR radio gear and suggest the sky Raider or Thunder Tiger..

Cheers,

Craig

World Models and Thunder Tiger both make a full line of high quality trainers, you'll be happy with either brand.