I am thinking about purchasing a cheap trainer. This one from towers looks like a good deal. I just want something to warm my thumbs up before flying my other planes. What do you guys think?

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXEDN6&P=7

It's a good one

I don't have any experience with Phoenix Models. It looks like a decent trainer. I have heard a lot of good things about the Tower Trainer, and it's only a few bucks more.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXCAS2&P=0

Personally, I'd go with the Tower trainer. It'll give you a bigger plane to look at in the sky. If you don't already have an engine and/or radio, just get the RTF package:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...I=LXCXF4**&P=0

You'd be hard pressed to put together a trainer for less money, even the smaller, Phoenix trainer.

Good luck

mclina,
I already have an engine and radio system. I will be running a .31 four stroke magnum. That is why I was looking for a smaller trainer. My original trainer expired a couple of weeks ago (the elevator came off while pulling out of a dive). Well so anyways I plan on using this plane just for warm up.

I don't have a Sonic 25 but speaking for the overall quality of Phoenix ARF's, I say thumbs up. My first ARF was a Phoenix Strega to be used as a throw together sport plane and have in the air quickly. It has served me quite well for the purpose, and the quality is outstanding, and lightweight. I have given it a beating or two and it has yet to break anything. Considering, I used all stock hardware and didn't beef up anything (I did put on better wheels - foam --> [:'(]). The finish is immaculate as well.

So overall, if your question was concerning the quality of Phoenix models, don't be worried. [sm=thumbup.gif]

Well then, if you already have the gear and a .31 engine, it looks like the Phoenix trainer is a perfect fit.

Good luck

I learnt on the pheonix classic. was a great plane and would recommend another to anyone

Pheonix make excellent ARFs. I've got the low wing version of this plane and it flies great however it's got a higher wing load then say a tower trainer so it won't be as "floaty". It is also tail heavy so you would need a .40-.46 to stick in the nose to keep it balanced (unless you just add weight). If you already know how to fly then this is an excellent warm up (the low wing would be even better )

I have the Pheonix Extra 300s and would recommend them to anyone looking for a value ARF. I flew with a guy this weekend that has the Pheonix Funstar and was very impressed with the quality.

Our club has 2 Tower Trainers and they are excellent flyers as well. I'd say you can't go wrong with either selection.

-MA

Thank you for all of your post. I will order the trainer shortly. Hopefully by next week. I have to wait on funding.[:@]

hard to beat this price http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MESE:IT&ih=018

I fly Phoenix almost exclusively though for about a year. The dolphin was a good substitute for the Four Star, saving $50, my longest lasting Phoenix and most versatile plane is the Funstar. It floats, lands like a trainer, and can be very aerobatic. the Sea Bee flies like it's on rails, and I've flown the Sonic, but found it a little twitchy with the elevator. You'll want low rates/short throws on that channel.
All Phoenix models tend to set slightly nose heavy on the CG recommendations too, and I find them, for the type of flying I do, to go 1/4 ounce more on the tail. Phoenix comes with pinned hinges, painted firewall, engine mount already installed with secure blind nuts behind the firewall. The covering is so so, when you tighten it up, use a very low heat setting on all of them. The pushrods are fragile, you can't use a Z bender on them at all, and I've always added more epoxy to the wing bolts, firewall, and servo tray, like on most ARFs to extend the service life and make it more forgiving on rough landings.

If you want my recommendation on getting back your wings, skip the Tower pages completely, and fly something I really respect head and shoulders above any Great Planes / Hobbico / Tower thing. Try Airborne_models, and look at the trainer category. Anything and everything from that category in my opinion, has fantastic response, slow flying characteristics, and predictability. My favorite is the Sky Raider Mach ll. It builts in half the time of the Tower site trainers and has far less tendency to tip stall, yet you can bank your turns precisely. for $79, you can't go wrong.

The Phoenix Extra 330 is a great model. I miss mine. The Extra 300 was ok, about the expected quality for the price. I would recommend the Extra 330 to anyone looking for that size aerobatic model.

That's one model, including the pretty ugly Spitfire that just came out, that I haven't tried. I've had other Extras and didn't like the tip stall tendencies it had on too slow a turn on the final approach for landing. Aren't Giles, Extras, Sukhoi, Caps, Yaks, etc. all similar to these unexpected aerobatics?

I just recently purchased a Phoenix Extra 300S. Havent flown it yet but it seems to be of good quality. One major plus for me is that the control surfaces are already installed with pinned hinges and it comes with a pilot and canopy already installed. The covering was pretty good just a quick run with and iron and its perfect.

Thank you for all of your help.

As with any ARTF PLEASE double check hinges for glue- it has been known for them to slise out . Add more cyno if needs be. And beef up the landing gear. If you're anything like me it's "Australia here I come!" most times.

Cymaz

UPDATE:

The Sonic trainer (top / shoulder wing) flies great from what I hear, but I have mixed feelings about the low wing version of the Sonic. It's fine with a .25 but many power it up to a .46, and the plane doesn't seem to track well with that power on it. A friend flew recently with his with only a Enya .35 on it and we both handed the radio back and forth and just couldn't believe how erratic it was. I can't imagine every plane being like this, sometimes a fluke happens, but thought I'd give you fair warning.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/product_gu...fm?kit_id=2746

Chalk me up as another happy Phoenix Models ARF owner. I've owned to SeaBee pattern ARFs and a Dolphin 40 sport plane. The airframes are well made, easy to assemble, and the hardware and manuals are high quality. I'm sure I'll own more Phoenix ARFs in the future.

I am always impressed by what I get in a Phoenix ARF package.

I have the phoenix tucano and super decathlon. Love them both. OS 55 Ax in the Super decathlon and Fox 45BB in the tucano. No issues during either ARF build. Only problem I've had with the Decathlon was my fault. I warped the canopy while using a heat gun to smooth out some wrinkles nn the fuse. I found out the Phoenix doesn't stock just the canopy. You have to order the entire fuselage! Which IMHO doesn't make much sense, as you can buy the side windows seperate, but go figure. Anyway, you might want to check the tower parts express section, to see what is available in case you ever need it, for the model you're thinking of getting. I leared a good lesson on the use of heat guns, and it forced be to take up vaccum forming to make my own canopies. Should have the vaccum table ready for testing later today. I do like the phoenix model line. well built I think.

I agree. Some design disappointments in some do exist however, the Funstar isn't an easy 3D plane to hover, but it floats and flips well.
The tail wheel assemblies have little to be desired. The engine mounts lately are blue and fail to be wide enough for even the ever popular AX 46, so it's splayed outward and doesn't give a good thrust angle. I generally replace the stock mount for a Great Planes adjustable mount, and while I'm at it I change the orientation of the engine to 45 degrees upright or just upright, depending on low or high wing style.
For even a better prepped and flying model, I've never gone wrong with airborne-models.com. The Racer 40, Zen 50, and Rambler 45 are among my favorites there. The Sky Raider Mach ll is a big hit on other threads here on RCU for club racing.

I'm just finishing up a Strega today, just have the cowl to cut and I'll go search for Strega threads on what they think about installing the fairings or not. I powered the Strega with a Dub Jett 50 with Ultra Thrust muffler. I hope it holds together!

I bought the Phoenix Sea Bee because I was looking for an inexpensive pattern ship to fly while I build my Ultra 60. The plane went together in a day and flies great!

I have had a couple of Sonic 25 low wing models. One I built as electric with an Atlas .46 motor from Hobby-Lobby and 12x8 prop. Conversion was easy by usong standoff's instead of the motor mount. The battery was placed where the fuel tank would go, by installing a flat piece of ply acrossed the fuselage and ribs. It was real easy to handle, although it floated like a butterfly, but had enough giddyup to do anything I felt I was big enough to try.

The ARFis extremely well built, and an easy build. I am still flying one with a GMS 32.

Larry Boyd