Comming back after a three year hiatus and don't know which plane to re-learn on. I don't know if I should go "slow and stable" or "quicker and more aerobatic." Any recommendations? Wife needs a Christmas decision. Thanks!

Of the two?? Easy choice, LT-40. It's bigger but I still think it's the better of the two planes. And it's by no means not aerobatics. It's quite capable of doing aerobatics!!

Ken

My son and I both soloed on the LT-40 after 6 buddy box flight each a couple of years ago. It's a very forgiving airplane yet we've since bumped up the throws a bit and have moved the CG back another 3/8". Basic aerobatics is well within the abilities of an LT-40 with a 46 or better engine. We still fly the LT-40.

That said, I also came by an Avistar ARF in a bundled deal a few months ago. It's gonna get built er, assembled and rung out a bit more aggressively than the LT-40. To do that we're going to remove the dihedral in the Avistar. The LT-40 was built as per kit instructions.

If you end up with the worse of these two planes, you will still be very, very happy.

Your wife could make her shopping very, very easy by ordering you the Thunder Tiger Tiger Trainer .40 Mk II Super Combo from www.thundertiger4u.com and you'd get all of your basic field equipment as well:

http://www.thundertiger4u.com/thunde...k-p-13083.html

For $269.99, you get:

-Tiger Trainer .40 MKII airframe covered with Ultracote
-Thunder Tiger GP-42 engine pre-installed with glow plug and propeller
-Hitec Laser 4 radio system pre-installed
-Thunder Tiger Side Kick accessory kit including glow plug/prop wrench, glow ignitor and charger, fuel pump, fuel cap kit with fuel line, starting stick, and carrying caddy

The folks at www.thundertiger4u.com will provide free UPS Ground shipping on all orders over $150 as well, so your wife doesn't have to leave the house to order your plane.

This is a top quality airframe, top quality glow engine, and top-quality 4-channel sport radio combined with about $40 to $50 of free accessories. This particular package is, in my estimation, the single best value in a .40-sized glow trainer being offered today.

I like the LT-40 and the Avistar both very much, however, and I think you'll be happy with whichever your wife provides you.

i have to agree with what bigedmustafa said, they are both very good trainers, I myself learned on the avistar. If you learn things quickly and think your'll get bored easy then i would ge the avistar. But either way your going to get a very reputable (spelling?) trainer

Happy shopping and have a very Merry Christmas!
Austin

Since you/ve all ready been into r/c, I suggest the Avistar. I would still recommend the Avistar if you hadn't flown before.

Another Avistar vote. A good 46 up front and it`s quite a capable plane. Still fly mine regularly after solo with it four years ago. I fly other sport and semi-scale planes, but fly the Avistar when I just "want o relax and just fly". Since you`ve already flown before, the Avistar will also probably hold your interest better than a more stable, flat bottom winged trainer.

Having instructed since the early '70s when there was no buddy cord, and still doing so every so often, I will vote with Flak and TideFlyer.

You say that you are coming back to RC and want to "....re-learn..." May I suggest that will take you a very long time, like about 2-3 flights, if you were previously a sfae-for-solo-qualified flier.

Now that Avistar is one fine machine for having great fun with and getting the hang of things. I have soloed first time pilots with Avistars. With the Avistar with one of the better engines, ST 40-45, TT 40-46, OS 46, et. al. you can tear up the skies. It will serve you for years aftewards for club fun-flys, landing practice, engine and radio testing, and general sport.

Good luck and welcome back.

I don't know the Avistar, but my vote goes for the LT-40. You have a very good choice selection for that plane. Either the kit if you enjoy building yourself or in an ARF version, maybe even in an RTF version if you look around. Either way a very nice trainer.

I have the Avistar and really like it. Where do you go from the trainer? What is a good second plane that is a bit larger and provides more challenge.
New to the Hobby. But love it.

Easy Sport 40 from Great Planes would be the next step up from trainer, but not ready for advanced. http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXJ564&P=0

Do you intend to get help from someone? Just until you nock the rust off your thumbs? Either way both planes are excelent. I believe it will take you a little longer to outgrow the Avistar as it is one slick flying plane. I might also offer an alternative of the Hanger 9 Arrow as a similarly flying plane. The Avistar RTF package comes with the OS .40 LA engine and it can be difficult to get off the ground with it on medium grass. Equiped with a BB .46 engine the Avistar is great fun for beginners and veterans alike.

I agree with the majority here in that you won't regret either plane. They are both great trainers. I have the LT-40 and LOVE it! It is well built and VERY tough....I've had a few hard landings and other than replacing the nose wheel gear, it's done fine. However, I also agree with PipeMajor here...spend a little more to get a little larger engine (at least a .46). I have an OS .40 LA and that's my only regret, that I got a larger motor.

Yeah, I have to agree with that one. I bought a Hobbico Super Star trainer RTF and it came with an OS 40 LA engine. I bought the plane as a club trainer, but had a real good running OS 46 sitting around. So, I took the LA off and put the 46 on board. That plane has lots of power, great as a trainer because the student can throttle back and fly it real sedate as a trainer should be, but I can also push the throttle and make it do things that it "isn't supposed" to do. Flys just great. In fact, I enjoy taking this out and flying it myself at times. It is a real relaxing flyer.

CGr.

Wow, I never thought I'd get such a response over a "which plane" question. Thank you so much for your interest and response. I ended up providing the wife with two options of planes and engines and let her pick. I'm guessing that she picked the pretty LT-40 and the O.S. 46. You people are great!

PEACE

Make sure you come back and tell us what you end up with

And no matter what she picks out for you.. Remember to "just love it!"

Oh... and flowers might be good too....