Hi all,
I wanna buy a good trainer to begin. I searched a bit on the internet and found this plane, I call some places and they said it's good. I have it for 350$ and I read that I just have to buy an electric starter, glow plug battery and fueling equipement.
Do you know how much it is for those 3 things
Is the alpha 40 a good trainer ??
Thaks a lot
Pap

Yes, the Alpha 40 is a good trainer. I worked with a fellow flier last year who has one. I found it to be a very good flying plane, good enough that I've just picked up an Alpha 60 that I'm going to use as to train other pilots on. The one I picked up had damage to both wings and I did a [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_6260724/tm.htm]repair thread [/link] on it.

At the minimum you'll want a glow plug igniter, electric start, fuel, fuel filler like a Du-Bro Kwik-Fill or similar. They'll run you somewhere around $50 - $75 depending on where you can pick them up. Just don't skimp when you buy this equipment as it'll be with you for quite a while.

Before you make the plunge and get your plane, get with an instructor at a local club and see what they may prefer. They may also be able to point you to a good used trainer for a lot less than a new setup. And what ever you do, find an instructor to teach you how to fly - your trainer should last a long time that way. Go it alone and you'll probably get 20 seconds out of your plane.

Hogflyer

hogflyer is correct go to your local field and ask lots of questions

The H9 Alpha .40 RTF trainer package is good trainer package overall, but it is expensive for what it offers and it does have a couple of minor weak points.

Consider also the Thunder Tiger Tiger Trainer .40 MkII Super Combo package with free Side Kick package:

[link=http://www.thundertiger4u.com/thunder-tiger-tiger-trainer-mkii-super-combo-wfree-side-kick-p-13083.html?osCsid=a6707e1d78047df33ff30a858df61ce7]Tiger Trainer .40 MkII w/ Side Kick[/link]

Both of these RTF glow trainer packages include a high-quality trainer airframe with Ultracote covering. Both include a high quality glow engine and radio system pre-installed. Both would be ideal training systems to learn to fly with. Why is the Tiger Trainer .40 Mk II Super Combo the better value?

The radio system is one thing to consider. The JR Sport SX400 that comes with Alpha .40 is a nice piece of hardware, but the included receiver is a 6-channel single conversion FM receiver. The Thunder Tiger Super Combo comes with a Hitec Laser 4 radio system that includes an 8-channel dual conversion FM receiver. The transmitter also features adjustable end-point adjustments for rudder and elevator as well as v-tail/elevon mixing capabilities, features not found with the JR Sport SX400.

The engines are another interesting point of difference. The Evolution TPS is a powerful .45 ball-bearing engine, but many owners find them finicky to tune. The Thunder Tiger GP-42 glow engine that comes with the TT Super Combo is a plain bearing engine with slightly less power, but it has plenty of power for the trainer that it comes with and is regarded as one of the easiest-to-tune glow engines on the market today. Simply put, the Thunder Tiger GP-42 is the perfect engine to start with if you've never tuned a glow engine before.

The free Thunder Tiger Side Kick package that comes with the TT Super Combo is another nice bonus. You get a glow ignitor w/ charger, 4-way prop/glow wrench, fuel pump, fuel cap kit, extra fuel line, a starter stick, and even a handy carrying box all inclued with the plane at no extra charge. All of these items are extra with the Hangar 9 Alpha .40. You'll probably want to get an electric starter and battery sooner or later, but you can fly your trainer with the included accessories right away without having to spend a dime on anything else except fuel.

The last point of consideration is price. The Thunder Tiger Tiger Trainer .40 Mk II Super Combo is priced at $269.99 including delivery to your front door. That's almost $100 cheaper than the H9 Alpha .40 RTF. If the two planes were the exact same price, the TT Super Combo would still have a competitive edge versus the Alpha .40. With an $80 price advantage plus $40 worth of free flight line accessories thrown in, this is no contest.

The Thunder Tiger Super Combo is a better plane and a much smarter buy.

Also check out [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4537845/tm.htm]this[/link] list of good trainer's RCKen put together, A good place to look for field equiptment is on ebay (used)

Actually stay off e-bay unless you really know what you're looking at. While there are some good deals out there, there are also a lot of bad deals and its easy to get burned. Talk to an instructor at your local field before you do anything else and you'll be money a head in the game.

Hogflyer

I won't argue that the Alpha 40 may not be the best value, but in fairness, they typically sell for $289.99. I have one, and I find the engine to be very reliable, and have had no tuning issues. I can't speak to the added features of the TT radio, it does sound like a better deal.

I am really happy with my Alpha 40, but there are a few gripes that I have had with it. First and foremost is weak glue joints. I have had the firewall pop out on a not-too-hard landing, and I had the top rear of the fuselage pop out. Both were easy fixes, which I reinforced on repair.

My other gripe is that the included simulator is pretty crappy. I flew on the "Cockpit Master - Hangar 9 Edition" software a lot, right up until the day I flew my maiden flight. That was when I realized that it is very unrealistic, and I don't think that practicing on it did me much good. I think that even FMS is more realistic. I solo'd my Alpha on my third lesson, and I attribute most of my success to all of the time I spent flying my Slow Stick in the local park.

All of the instructors at my field rave about the LT-40 trainer, and a bunch of guys are training on Tower Trainers, which seem like a great value. I haven't personally seen the Thunder Tiger Trainer, but it looks like a good value as well.

There are a lot of good choices out there, and I think that if you end up with any of the top brand trainers, you will be happy. I would recommend one of the RTF packages, as they will get you in the air much quicker than even an ARF. Just be sure to thoroughly check out the major glue joints, and control setup before you fly (which your instructor should do as well).

Good Luck

make sure the radio will be compatable with your instructer's radio.

i was given an alpha wing after a tree ate the fuselage. i put it on a plastic bat fuse with a boom tail and coro tail feathers (still a basic trainer in set up, use old trainer plans) everyone called it the "ALPHABAT". it was ugly but it flew darn well. i was fearless with it but i think it scared other people[>:]

I have flown the snot out of my alpha .40 at this point. the evo engine is like a swiss watch. almost never have to adjust it unless there is a 30* change in temperature. it has only deadsticked on me when i was dumb enough to run it out of gas. the plane flies wonderfully. if you get confident and bored, you can increase the throws and put a 2 bladed prop on it and go nuts. still a fun plane to fly once you get some experience in. the sim that comes with the package deal ain't great, but better than nuthin. if you do go with it though, be sure to go beyond the assembly instructions and epoxy the wing halves together. cheap insurance there.

enjoy