Ok...So I think I read enough to confuse myself completely but......I have a Blade CX2 heli right now for in the house but I want to build a plane over this winter so that I can start going to my local club when spring breaks. I have looked and looked at threads and suggestions on here and I have narrowed my choice down to one model but I am unsure of the kit itself. I really want to build something that I can grow with as I learn to fly. I do not plan on doing any kind of aerobatics/3d flying. I just want to fly. This kit from Great Planes [link]http://www.advantagehobby.com/product.php?productid=33303&cat=166&page=1[/link] shows that you can set this up to run as a 3 or 4 channel plane. My question is can it be first setup to run as a 3 channel so that I can get the experience and then change it to a 4 channel so I can start to use ailerons? I am hoping someone on here has done this or knows if it can be done. Right now I want to try to build one plane that will make it through some training and then some more just fun flying. Thanks for any advice you have.

Great choice for a first plane.

Stable, self-correcting flight characteristics
Precision-cut, interlocking parts naturally assemble straight
and strong
Detailed, easy-to-follow instruction manual features step-by-step
photos, expert tips, and helpful hints on building surfaces,
flying, and covering
Interlocking "I-beam" construction builds the wing straight & strong
All balsa & ply construction and comes w/extensive hardware package
Wing is built w/ailerons, but they may be locked for 3-Channel use.
May be built with a rubber band-to-wing or a bolt-on wing
(bolts included, rubber bands are not)

What you will want to do is this:

First of all, build the "Sport" wing. The "Beginner" wing has too much dihedral.

Second, build the ailerons into it. Add a servo to them, but if you want to learn with 3 channels, just don't plug that ailerons in and plug the rudder servo into the aileron channel - this way, you get used to turning with the right hand - that will come in handy when you plug in the ailerons.

The PT-60 is a really good trainer and is a good first kit to build.

Take Minnflyer's advice about building the sport wing rather than the trainer wing.

If you will be working with an instructor at the club, talk to him (or her) before you get the plane ready to go. My guess is that the instructor will prefer to teach you to fly using ailerons and rudder.

Yeah.....I started with the PT-40 and would definetly recommend the sport wing too. I built the sport wing and STILL think it has too much dehidral. It really is a fabulous first build as well as a first plane. The instruction manual is really designed to get new builders started the right way. And I also built mine with ailerons and am GLAD I did. I honestly wouldnt want to have learned by using a rudder to turn. In my opinion the best possible favor you could do yourself is to get a decent flight sim to master while your building your PT-60. Then once your ready to fly your new plane,make sure you get the help of an instructor on a "buddy cord". All this is the best possible way to get into the hobby.

If you do all this and your plane stays in one piece(and it should if you take the proper steps) as you solo.......then go out and get yourself another job to support you new addiction!

Thanks for all the great advice. I was really hoping that after all the reading I made a good choice. As for the extra money my wife has already hinted about how much overtime I would have to work to keep this going and I basically told her I am not sure when I will get to build and fly with overtime I'll be putting in. (LOL).

I've taught with this airplane....it's a great trainer....put in the ailerons....instructors usually teach aileron turns first...then teach rudder..no sense in learning 3 channel then having to learn all over again with ailerons

I personally would recommend using ailerons from the start, but if you really don't want to, then at least plug the rudder into the aileron channel on the receiver, that way, your "aileron thumb" is learning it's job, and it'll make it completely painless to switch back to using ailerons later on, as you'll be using the same stick.

I built a PT40 as my first plane. It's a nice plane but be careful, the directions "strongly encourage" you to build the "A" wing. So I took their advise and built the "A" wing. I was sorry I did... It has way too much dihedral. The ailerons would not even work. It turns fine with the rudder though. I ended up plugging the rudder into the aileron channel and it flew fine after that. In my opinion the "A" wing is fine for 3 channel, but if you want ailerons build the "B" wing. It's no big deal, you just use different joiners that Are labelled "B" instead of "A".

That plane is built like a tank... Very strong, very thick, plywood and balsa. It has VERY strong landing gear and can absorb some incredibly bad landings. Get some bigger wheels for it if you are going to run it in grass.

I ordered a new wing kit for it and was in the process of building a wing with less dihedral when I crashed it into a tree. The plane was undamaged but I accidentally broke the tail off trying to get it out of the tree.

It would have been easily repairable, but I haven't fixed it yet. I took the engine and radio out and bought a Tower trainer 40. I was ready to fly and it will take me awhile to finish that wing. I put the PT40 landing gear on the tower trainer too because it's landing gear really sucks.

The Tower trainer flies really nice and the ailerons actually work!! But is built nowhere near as strong as the PT-40

A PT40 with the B wing should be fine. Oh and by the way, put a 46 size engine in it. I had a OS40LA in mine and it was a bit underpowered. My tower trainer's even a bit underpowered and it is a much lighter plane.

Kudos to you for building your first airplane rather than buying an ARF. There is absolutely nothing wrong with ARFs and I understand that some of them are built really well now. But, building your first plane will allow you to know what is inside that beautiful covering and enable you to repair the airplane if/when it becomes necessary. Someone who buys an ARF for the first airplane would probably be a bit reluctant to rip that covering off and tackle the structure underneath if a mishap happened. Also sounds like you have settled on a good choice of plane and are planning to do things right as far as learning to fly is concerned. You should have no problems in the RC airplane endeavor. Just bear in mind that Jester ain't jesting about a second job just to support your new addiction.[>:][]

The next big question your gonna have is wether or not to build it with rubber band mounted wings or the bolt mounted method. I built mine with the rubber band method. I'm still not sure which way I would go if I was to do over again. I hate the rubber bands now and wish I had the bolt on wing,but I will say the rubber bands have saved my wing a time or two I think. So,I guess I'd have to recommend the rubber band method.....but would tell you to try and build it so that you could use both methods after you become an experienced pilot because messing with rubber bands sucks.

Now lets see what the others recommend......

As far as motors I had narrowed down my choices to an OC .55AX ABL or and EVO .52NX. Looking at the specs these should be plenty big enough for me to grow with them.

Also since I have never built a RC airplane what are the benefits/drawbacks to building the wing with bands vs. bolts?

You will not regret getting the OS. You can research and compare engines at the top of this page under 'user reviews'. Unfortunately there is only one review of the Evolution .52, but there are many of the Evolution 46, [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/product_guide/EngineProfile.cfm?engine_id=618]here[/link]. So the engine got 3.5 stars. Doesn't sound that bad, but when you read through the 52 reviews and see the people that gave it a one and a two, and complain about dead sticks, tuning problems, removing parts, etc. I can't imagine what is appealing. Poke around and read up on the 55AX, or ANY OS engine for that matter. I'm about to assemble my 6th plane, and every one has had an AX engine for power.

Of course you need to make your own decisions, but I just want to offer all the resources I can so that you make a good decision and are happy with it.
I have no personal experience with evolution engines, other than seeing one guy at my field with a few of them struggle; he has replaced two or three of them with other engines. I have also read a lot of crap that, in combination with what I've seen at my field, makes me never want one in any one of my planes. I have experience with OS, and strongly recommend OS engines. (and no, don't work for them, just very satisfied with products, service, and support).

Now this IS a beginner forum, and I am a beginner, so listen to what other people have to say about it. I can say that I've spent a lot of days at the field, have burned through 14-16 gallons of fuel this season, am about to build my 6th plane (5 of those planes are/will be still flying =) and have worked with some of the best precision aerobatic pilots in the country, so I am not just speaking jibberish here.

Bolt on wings are easier and take a little less time, and they look better (no rubber bands). Rubber bands will stretch and break saving you some damage in a crash, but the nylon bolts work OK too. 6 of one, half dozen of the other. I like bolts; no need to worry about strapping on 16 rubber bands, having them break, corrode, etc.

+1 and good advice!

i have a os 55ax and the low end is 3 turns out what is going on, i cant get it to start by factory 1.5 turns is there anyone that can help

Welcome into the world of fixed wing.

You have made a great choice in the PT Trainer. I built my first plane (a PT40) last winter and have been flying it for about 6 weeks. I will agree with everyone here and say build it as a 4 channel and fly with ailerons. One thing to note, as mentioned above, build the B (sport) wing version. I built the A wing version and I am sorry about it. If I did it over again, I would build the B wing.

Other than that, it's an awesome kit. Once I had mine built exactly to plans, the plane balanced laterally and the CG was spot on - nothing needed to be added/moved. Pick it up on the CG points and the plane does not move.

Good luck. It's a fun plane to build and a fun plane to fly.

On the bands vs. bolts question, the bands will save you some repair time if a tree jumps out in front of you or you cartwheel a landing. Recommended on trainers exactly for that reason.

On the Evolution engines, I have a .46 and it ran horribly at first. I took it apart and figured out that the rear bearing wasn't pressed on the crank far enough, creating an air leak. Fixed that, and now I am truly amazed at how well it runs!

Try posting this question in the "Glow Engines" forum.
Click here: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/forumid_114/tt.htm
Then click the gray "New Post" button.

Guys this is a 2 year old thread that was dug up from the archives.

Sandlinmike,
I would recommend you start a complete new thread with your question here in the beginners forum. Title it "OS 55 problem". It will get a lot more attention, and I am sure you will get the help you need. I personnally do not know anything about that engine.