hi just got a really good deal (i think) on e-bay.Got a nexstar that has only 3 flights on it and everything it comes with for 215.00 deliverd to my door,my question is that there is so much mixed reviews on this that i really dont know if its a good plane to learn on ,i amflying a supercub now and doing very well withit.Ive read a review by rc groups.com and they gave it a great review and said the training aids work very well.But ive read that they are no good and that they are good who to believe also rc universe gave it a very good review,but its confusing me with all the bad reviews and all the good reviews,seems to be a popular plane though that must be good right please help me thanks

300 flights on mine and still like new,

I learned on mine and now my son is starting to learn on it also. I disconneted the AFS or whatever it's called because it can make the plane head for the sun. With that removed, it is the best deal going with the simulator for a new pilot to get the feel of flying before going on the box with a good instructor. Let me say this, if you don't want it I'll buy it from you and donate it to our club for youngsters with parents that can't afford the $379.99 for a new one and it will make all the kids very happy.

Let me know if you want to sell it,

Gibbs

thanks gibbs but for 215.00 on a plane thats almost new i would like to give it a shot i hope ill like it as much as you do thanks

I solo'ed several years ago and sold mine a little bit after that and it is still flying. Yep, I like it and it is a great trainer.

Love mine havn't had any problems on it, have solo'd with it quite a few touch and go's NO COMPLAINTS here.

hi mpgohl do you use the afs and the speed brakes or do they really make it harder to fly thanks

I learned to fly on a Nexstar. I lost it shortly after soloing due to a weird "dead spot" at one of the fields I fly at. I wasn't on the sticks at the time, one of the instructors was helping me with touch-and-goes and it went down while he was flying. I still fly the flight pack and haven't had an issue with it since.

Anyway... I liked my Nexstar and I think it is a good plane to learn to fly with. The steep dihedral and longer-than-average wing length makes the Nexstar less aerobatic than other trainers, but it is very easy to learn landings on a Nexstar.

The big wing chord makes the Nexstar more difficult to fly in windy conditions than other trainers. It will tend to "balloon" and mush through upwind turns during breezy flying conditions.

Overall though, the Nexstar is a solid training package and it sounds like you found one for a really good price.

Good luck and good flying!

Edit: Saw your new post with the question about the ALS and the air brakes/wing pods.

ALS - the Auto Levelling System is best disconnected. It works by banking the top of the plane toward the sun, which works fine at noon, but very poorly in the evening when most folks fly. Disconnect the ALS before flying or you will only be able to fly with the sun directly overhead.

Wing Pods/Air Brakes - Neither of these features is detrimental to the flying characteristics of the aircraft. They're designed to allow the plane to fly very slowly without stalling. The Nexstar is a very stable slow flying airplane even without these features though. You can start training with them installed and then remove them to better prepare yourself for a "second airplane" later on.

If ur flying a supercub now ur gonna find the Nexstar boring lol.. DIsconnect the AFS system and u can leave on the speedbrake devices until u get used to it. It will b the best $215 u ever spent on a plane. I learned on the Nexstar 3 years ago and still love it. If u crash a Nexstar u meant to do it

Maybe i missed it, but did you say if you are getting an instructor, It is highly recomended. As far as the AFS goes just either disconnect it, or take it out, then put packaging tape over the holes


Happy flying

The NextStar is one of those planes that seems to be caught up in the Ford-Chevy debate. It seems guys either love or hate it. I've got one (around 3-1/2 years old) that I'm gutting out to put my .46 AX and PCM digital flight pack into a Venus. I got mine to teach my son how to fly, then he decided he didn't want to fly so I used it as a toy to play with flapperons. Like people have been saying, it's a very good, stable plane. Not the best when it comes to higher winds, especially crosswinds, but overall a very good trainer.

I agree on disconnecting the AFT, and don't bother putting on the other gimmicks. IMHO, the plane files better and glides a heck of a lot better with out any of the junk hanging off it. Dead stick flight was one of my favorites - just climb it about 1000' and when it runs out of fuel have fun for a few more minutes of relaxed flight.

Hogflyer

No i disconnected the AFS i left it there but everything is disconnected and i took off the Speed Brakes too, the only thing i left on was the wing extensions, i tried one flight after i had solo'd with the speed breaks on and it was just TOO slow. Best of LUCK.

I am self taught with the Nexstar, and moved on to a second plane. I am teaching my 11 year old son with it using a buddy box. There are no training aids on ours. He has been taking off, doing touch and goes, and landings. I think he is ready to solo, but he wants to wait, and I respect that. Last weekend near the end of the day, we were both getting tired, but flew one last time. My son was doing touch and goes when he made a little mistake. He had cut the throttle on the down wind leg (although there was no wind) and instead of turning towards us for the base, he turned the other direction. Now he was getting kind of far away. He was about 20' high and turned a little too sharp. The Nexstar turned on it's side and then the nose went straight down. At this point I decided to take over, and when I released the trainer switch, I was full throttle. I pulled full up, and at about 5' feet from the ground, the plane leveled out. I have to tell you it looked like someone had just reached out and grabed the plane before it hit the ground. In my opinion, the plane saved us from a couple of pilot errors. Have fun with yours. My son and I are having a blast with ours.

I too had one and still fly it but not as much as my 4*. It's more expensive (retail) than other trainers but the price you paid makes it a good deal.
Like the others said, disconnect the AFS. I started with the other training devices on, but took them off after just a few flights - when my instructor said to.
I bought mine because it came with everything (except field stuff) including the sim. I didn't want to buy a plane then go shopping for an engine, servos, TX and RX, etc. and the sim helped me learn a few tricks like how to control it when it's flying towards me.
Enjoy! and get an instructor if you don't already have one.

Yes, the NexStar is a great trainer. I had the brakes and wing tip spoilers on mine, but after working with the AFS for a few flights, I disconnected it. A short time later, I put my Airtronics RD6000 system in because I had it and wanted to use it. I didn't like the Futaba four channel system that was installed. The Airtronics radio was smoother.

Anyway, I used both the brakes and spoilers for a long time. After I solo'ed, I removed them, one at a time. It made a big difference, sort of like a new airplane (for me, a a new flyer, that is). I later moved up to a Tiger 60 and someone that wanted a trainer bought my Nexstar. It still flys, by the way, and I solo'ed several years ago.

thanks everyone for all your input it sure makes me feel alot better about it, just cant wait to get it in the air ,by the way i will have an instructer.

That's tlhe attitude! You will be solo'ing in no time, I'm sure.

I've heard so much about this plane that is good I ordered one monday for my son. He will be 10 on August 31st. I have heard that the AFS system wasnt that great and I am a thunder tiger fan (I like OS engines too) so I bought a Nextar ARF $99, a 4 channel Futaba computer radio $139, and a Thundertiger 46 pro $89. Better radio, better engine and no AFS for a lot cheaper !!!!
I spent $327
Nextar RTF $379
I saved $52 and got a better product. I will miss the training cd though.
Jeff

mesaflyer,

I too had the same situation but I wasn't training anyone. One minute I was headed for disaster and at about the same height I don't know what I did but the plane leveled off and I pulled back with full thottle. I flew for about 5 more minutes before I could relax enough to land. I am going to teach my son how to fly either yet this year or in the Spring. I think my Nexstar is BLESSED!!!

How is teaching your own Son?

Gibbs

I haven't done it yet. He is real smart at 9 years old and has soloed on the realflight simulator. Even though that helps it is not the same as the real thing!!! He spends alot of the time on it. He even flies the P-51. I had him flying my craft air drifter 2 (with an OS .10) on it and If I hadn't grabbed the radio from him when I did it would still be floating down the Columbia River !!!!!! LOL
He will be easy to teach I am kind of looking forward to it but I don't know if my nerves are!!! It will be fun - we do every thing together and this will not be any different.

Cheers,
Jeff