Can anyone tell me the difference in the avistar select....and the avistar monokote? I have the select and need a new wing.I can buy the wing from tower for 79.00 or the ARF for 99.00..man that is a no brainer.But I was wondering the difference in the two of them.

The only functional difference is in how the wing is joined. The Avistar Select RTF (with engine and radio) uses a metal rod with a couple of screws/bolts for quick wing assembly. The ARF version of the plane uses the more traditional wooden joiner and epoxy method.

The ARF design is actually considered the better of the two. The wooden joiner is lighter weight than the metal rod in the RTF, and using 30-minute epoxy to join the two wing halves as described in the ARF directions will provide a very solid, durable joint for the life of the plane.

The RTF method for joining the wings may not last as long. Vibrations from flying and/or just running the glow engine can slowly work open/expand the screw holes that are used to secure the wing halves together, thereby causing "play" or movement in the joint. This could eventually lead to wing failure over time if not caught and repaired.

WOW..you guys are great.So If I went out and bought the arf monokote and just used the wing I would be ok?I can't believe they want 79 for the wing and 99 for the whole kit.lol

I had a PT -40 trainer with a wing that I banged up a bit and really did not like. I went to the LHS, a wing kit was $70, a full kit was $95 - I bought the full kit, thinking, I will just build the wing and have the fuse as a spare. Then when I finished the wing, I thought, why not build the fuse, it all went together so well, I decided to cover the fuse and make it my primary flyer, so I moved everything over and the old one was my spare fuse.

A couple of weeks ago a guy at my club put his PT 40 into the ground, only the wing survived - he gave it to me. Now I have two full PT-40s, the new one has my OS 46 FX and is a trike set up, the older one has a OS .30 Max and is set up as a tail dragger so I can get some work with that type of gear. Both fly, the .30 is a bit underpowered but a good challege to fly and still fun.

It kills me that the wing kits are almost as much as the full plane, it tells you that most flyers smack up the wings rather than the fuse - just more of a market for that product.

good luck to you.

manks

I'd definitely get the ARF versus a replacement wing. Test fit the wing on your existing fuselage to be sure but I'm almost positive one of the guys in my club put a used ARF wing (gift from another member) on his Select with no issues at all.

It rarely makes sense to buy big replacement parts for an ARF.
Using the $99.99 Avistar as an example
fuselage 65.99
wing 74.99
tail 26.99
total 167.97
This doesn't include landing gear, wheels, fuel tank, spinner, or hardware.

The Tower Trainer 40 ARF is 64.99 and a replacement fuselage for it is also 64.99