Been in the hobby for a year now thinking about growing up from electric to a nitro trainer. just wondering what some of you other guys recomend for brands of planes,engines, and radio gear. was thinking about getting a laneir with an os LA engine and i am still looking for a good kind of radio system, any comments and suggestions will be apreciated.

You can't go wrong with the Hobbico Super Star Select RTF trainer. It comes with all the stuff you need minus fuel and and support equipment. It comes with a Futaba four channel radio, an OS 40 LA, and everything else installed. All you need to assemble it is a pair of pliers and a phillips head screwdriver. All you need to complete is: glow fuel, phillips head screwdriver, glow starter and field equipment.

There are other trainers out there also. This just happens to be the one I'm used to seeing at the field and training with. Tower sells them for $279.99, but I'd suggest going to your local hobby shop to see what their opinion is. If you don't find the boxy looking trainer too attractive Hangar 9 has two additional options. Some flight instructors love them and some could care less about them. The two Hangar 9 trainers I listed come with high quality Evolution engines and High quality JR Sport radios which are 6-channel vs the Futaba's 4-channel.

Prices on the three trainers listed:
-Hobbico Superstar $279.99
-Hangar 9 P-51 PTS $399.99
-Hangar 9 F-22 Raptor $449.99

Here are the links to the aforementioned planes.

[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXEKF3**&P=0]Hobbico Superstar[/link]
[link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=HAN2825]Hangar 9 P51 PTS[/link]
[link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=HAN3825]Hangar 9 F-22 PTS[/link]


FWIW I'm biased towards JR radios since thats what I currently fly, but I do own Futaba also. I have a 7FG/K in my Sagitta 600. No problems out of either brand to date.

Tim

i have read about the hanger 9 trainer and the evolution engines some have told me they werent the best choice for a beginner, but its not entirley true with all things i have purchased plenty of things that i had been told were crap and they turned out to work fine so who knows. but i was also kinda looking for somthing cheap under 300 dollars if possible. i have considered the hobbico superstar my father owns a superstar 60 and he has flown it 3 times since the beginning of the summer but i was also kinda looking for somthing different from his.

This one isn't "just like his" but it's still a boxy trainer. This one is the Hangar 9 Alpha trainer RTF for $289.99 from Horizonhobby.com.

[link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=HAN2475]Hangar 9 Alpha Trainer[/link]

Or the Tower Trainer, which is almost dead on the Super Star with small differences. Comes with the same radio as the Super Star just relabeled with the Tower name.

[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCXF4**&P=0]Tower Trainer[/link]

There is no issue with the Evolution engines that I have experienced. Start easily, needle settings are preset from the factory to give the newcomer to glow a quicker learning curve. You can only adjust the needles so much until you hit the needle stops, which in turn helps prevent an over lean condition(too much air and not enough fuel) or too rich(too much fuel and not enough air). Great idea in my opinion.

Hope this helps out some.

Tim

You may have already looked through the sticky that's titled, "Looking for a trainer.....", but it's got a fairly complete list of what's available.

The trouble with asking this question on this site is ...everyone has an idea...everyone has their favorite this or that...they aren't wrong just differ...the only reccomendation I'll make is go to your local field and watch, since you've been flying awhile... if you ask this question at the local field you're gonna get the same result as you do on this site......
I would recommend for a radio a spread specktrum system.
Good Luck

I've put together a list of planes that make good trainers and second planes. All of them on the list are proven planes that are well suited for successfully letting students learn to fly, or advance to a second plane. Check out the list here
[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4537845/tm.htm] Looking for a trainer- what's available. (Updated 1-19-07) [/link]

Hope this helps

Ken

If you get a plane that requires mounting the engine inverted , you might want to get an engine that has a dual needle carb. The LAs run great but I`ve had problems with them inverted.
Check out Kens list , they are all good planes . You might want to pick your second plane based on where you interest lay . IMAC , 3D or just a fun throw around plane ? What your pleasure?

I acually have a SuperStar MKII with the .40 on it and all the futaba gear. I selling for 250

thanks much i'll look into the hanger 9 trainer's and find what i think will suit me best or whats cheapest that will operate fairly well and easily.

there isnt a local flying feild realy to close to my house that i can join. and the one that is here i have to be a member of that community to join and i am not. the next closes option is 80 miles away and i dont realy feel like driving that far to just talk. but ill look up the spektrums my father has one and his operates fairly well he uses it on his T-rex's.

Darneir,
The AMA club search shows 3 clubs within 25 miles of your location

BEAR MOUNTAIN FLYERS INC
Flying Site Details
0.00 miles 4563 43 RICHARD ADAMS PO BOX 983
TEHACHAPI CA 93581
Phone: 661-871-4875

BEAR VALLEY SPRINGS RC MODELRS
4.84 miles 2438 16 RONALD SAMUELS
Email Contact 23420 MASHIE CT
TEHACHAPI CA 93561-9800
Phone: 661/821-5828

CALIFORNIA CITY R/C CLUB
Flying Site Details
24.82 miles 4711 18 PERRY HUDSON
Email Contact 7030 1/2 MENDIBURU RD
CALIFORNIA CITY CA 93505
Phone: 760-373-4684

Remember to get a "full range" radio system and not a "Park Flyer" if you are flying anything with Nitro or a big electric.

yes i knew about those three areas and me and my father have previously tried to join the clubs but the dont welcome new commers to their feilds there is a flying feild 80 miles away at lake isabella but its to far of a drive with gas prices raising,


but thank you for taking the time to look up the flying feilds for me.

Wow, it's really weird to here that all three clubs are like that. What did they say when you contacted them?? Occasionally you'll find one club like that, but it's odd to see three in one area.

Ken

The first two we called were the bear valley community flight feilds and no one answered the phone, we left a message saying we are new to RC and would like to meet other fellow Modalists and hobbiests so if you get the chance call back my number is yadda yadda yadda. we never got a call back. i thought my dad had contacted California city flying club but turns out he didnt, but theirs a flight field in Lancaster CA, that excepts new commers with an AMA license, its just a little out of the way from were we live, we were thinking of visiting it somtimes within the next couple of weeks. just as spectators.

we also think that maybe the bear valley community flying clubs just might not be very active. but to get into bear valley community you have to be admitted into the housing establishment by a freind or family member who lives there or a realtor or you have to live there which totaly sucks if theirs a flying feild back there not getting used.

-- sorry if my spelling is bad

darnier

If you have already assembled one or two ARFs and are comfortable in doing so, take a look at the World Models Sky Raider Mach I. It costs $70 and is a wonderful plane. The instructions are minimal, and that is why I recommend some prior ARF assembly experience. I have one I use for instruction with the OS 40LA engine, ASP 11X5 prop, and it is a sweet combination. Putting a larger 45 ball bearing engine on this plane is a waste, doesn't need it, not worth the extra money.

On your Club search, by all means get out to the field and talk with people there. Clubs are not businesses: phone calls and emails are usually not the most effective ways to get information or meet people. Get face to face with the people. The fact that you have traveled to the field says a lot more about your level of interest and enthusiasm than a phone call or email. You may be pleasantly surprised.

Good luck to you.

I'd have to agree with Jim here. Don't just go off of phone calls. Go out to the field and talk to people there. You might find that they are a great bunch of people who welcome new people.

Ken

Go to the Club , more than likely you`ll meet a regular, like myself, that will have a trainer and buddy box and get you in the air.
Many time a new person has shown up to get info about the Club , by the time they left, they had joined the club , found an instructor , and flew for the first time. Went home with a big grin on their face , that is always still there the next time I see them.

Maybe you all are right, i will try and convince my dad into taking a drive out to the flight feilds and seeing if some are still active and who flys their etc, and too your other offer jim i have not flown a nitro or built any planes yet, other then the little assembly required for a couple of parkzone spitfires and some flyzone Sky flys and red hawks. which doesnt realy count toward modeling, perhaps using a fishing pole to connect two halves of a fiberglass tail boom might count but unlikley.

anyway thanks for your information.

sorry that last post was done with the wrong account