How about a permanent thread on "What's the best trainer/first airplane", maybe like the one on the Park flyers forum?
I know that there are several good websites out there with a lot of good information on the subject. Might be good to post a link to the AMA site as well?
I'd be happy to share the links I've found, but I'm just a newbie myself, so I imagine someone a little longer in the proverbial tooth would have better info.
Might save a lot of bandwidth...

Good thought. Most recommendations go for the high wing with a flat bottom in a .40 or .60 size. Then some go for the "stick" or coroplast and even the "dura" types. I have even seen a hignly aerobatic model recommended (not the best choice). Most hobby distibutor sites have "trainer" packages available. Some a little better than others but all seem to work well. Brand names aside the .60 sizes are easier for most students however .40 size is the one most students show up with (most likely from a cost standpoint). Even with this the new user will still post a question.

EXCAP232

Hey !, I think it's a good idea, I'm slowly working my way into flying again and I need all the help I can get, allthough this site is very informative, it's nice to know right off the bat what is the latest and greatest on trainers and equipment.

Another suggestion would be to put at the bottom of this post a whole bunch of good links with alot of good beginner info.

Latest and greatest or good general information. In either case plese post your ideas and thoughts.

EXCAP232

Another thought if this post is written it should include the questions that are asked hundreds of times on this site like: Plane cost, what to buy, tools, etc.. It will just save a hell of alot of space in this forum.

Great idea. I'll start work on it now. I've kind of forgot about the one i started in the beginners section over at the eflight side. I'll update that, why i'm working on this glow 1. Should see it up tomorrow.

ok, here's the start of it. I still have content and more to add.
I'm just waiting for a MOD of this Forum to Stick it to the top of this Forum.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/showthread...171&forumid=22]

I don't have the link on this computer, but Bob(?) Sullivan has done a great job with his website, with a plethora of newbie data and links. Wish I remembered the name of his site.

ExCap, I understand that there will never be a consensus on the "very best first airplane". That's a good thing in my book. As a beginner, I have enjoyed hearing differing opinions along with the reasoning behind them, and I believe I may be better educated at this point than if a single recommendation had been dominant. In fact, that approach was the cause of my hasty u-turn out of one LHS.

If I might add my bit of very recently acquired wisdom, the number one factor in my newly minted success and pleasure in this sport has been the people at the local club. If not for them, my plane would likely be ashes left over from a bonfire lit in anger and frustration and my engine an unstarted target for rifle practice. The value of the support of experienced folks can not be overemphasized, IMHO.

One thing more... Maybe some simple instructions on how to do a search on the forum archives? There's a wealth of info there if one knows how to look.

Great start, Daren! Thanks!

darenm great start keep it up.
Are you going to get into more stuff than just the plane selection. You could maybe lock 3 posts up there so its more organized.
Anyway I wish that post was made when i first started. lol.

Papa

How about a sticky for a second plane too. I can set my watch to the constant flow of threads with the same question - "What's a good second plane?" Apparently the search function doesn't get much of a workout in this forum.

It's not that the search function doesn't get used, it's that the search function STINKS I tried searching on "second AND plane" and was rewarded with 9600+ posts. Very useful

Kerry

Maybe you're doing it wrong. I just typed in good second plane and got 979 threads. Why so many? Some of the topics aren't related to the search but many of them contain the exact topic you are looking for. Now why are there so many threads on the topic you are searching for? Because no one uses the search function......

See, here's one that just popped up..

Garbage in, garbage out. Any search engine is only as smart as the parameters you input........