As I mentioned in a previous thread, I'm building my first plane - a PT40. I can and will get an instructor, but in the meantime, I'm wondering if I should throw together a SPAD, and beat the snot out of it until my trainer is complete. If so, which SPAD, and are the instructions as difficult as they appear to be?

A SPAD is a great way to start out!! In fact, you might decide to skip the PT-40. You will still need the instructor.

SPADs aren't for everyone but they are durable, inexpensive and fly as well as trainers and sport planes built from more conventional materials.

I would recommend the Debonair built according to plans on www.spadtothebone.com . Building SPADs is not more difficult or complex than balsa but quite different. Much faster build time.

Try it!!

Ross

I built the Spadet for my first spad. It was a great trainer. I say was because it is no more. I gave it to my brother and he flew it for a while. It survived what seems countless crashes and hard landings. He retired it even though it could still be flown. I can't say the same for the first balsa I crashed.

May I ask what is it about the instructions that seems difficult?

My opinion is that the more recent instructions are really good, and the trainers (Deb and Spadet) both fall in that category. Gluing coro can be hard, and finding the materials can be tough, but following the instructions shouldn't be hard.

And I agree with Ross Kean that you'll still need an instructor.

Just my 2 cents.

they are not hard to do. i did my first in about 8 hours during a weeks time(when my wife let me,lol). now ia can do it in about 4-5 hours. if you have any questions just go to the spad forum or spadtothebone.com. you will love building it and it wont be the last one you build. the debonair is a good trainer to start with.

The Debonair or Buhor are probably the easiest trainers to build and fly, after that the SPADet or an FNS with ailerons.

the Deb was my first ever plane and it took me about 2 weeks including having to find and modify the design for local materials.