We just purchased an alpha 40 trainer for my son not too long ago, and after talking with one of the instructors, he suggested purchasing another trainer with the money I have saved rather than purchasing a transmitter.

Given that, I was looking to buy a DX7 but now am looking to see what suggestions and/or advice folks may have for another trainer plane. Tha alpha 40 came with a Dx5e spektrum radio.

Thanks for the advice,

Robert

Why whould you buy another trainer? Is he thinking you'll need a backup in case you crash?

One trainer is plenty. If you have a decent instructor, the odds of a crash are low. You will get some dings and bruises when you start landing, but they shouldn't take more than an hour to fix.

I'm curious to know what his reason is for suggesting this.

You won't be able to fly another plane with your dx5e without losing the settings for your alpha. It only has single model memory. Why would you want another trainer when you already got one? I would get a cheap second plane ready, and put some money into a transmitter that will handle multiple planes. The Skyraider Mach 2 is my favorite plane in my hangar and is an excellent second plane. It is only $70-80 for the arf too.

He may mean "the next step up" on the training scale...

thelopeztribe: Up from the Alpha the next "training" plane should be a low wing trainer.

Check out RCKen's list for suggested second trains.

Some great choices include Sportsters, Pulse XT, Four Stars, etc.

All good choices for low wing trainers, but there are a couple of dozen "Stik" varients that would make awfully good second planes as well! You could always get the best of both worlds by picking out a low wing stik.

Who makes that one?

I do not know how much model memory you are looking for or how many channels you were hoping to buy, but a plane straight from the second plane list that comes with the DX6i radio and will later make a great 3rd plane is the Hanger 9 P-51 PTS since the DX6i had the recall the price has fallen on this RTF package. The refurbished radio is perfectly fine. Of course you have to find one with the refurbished radio for the great deal. I just picked one up for myself because I wanted to get a decent 2.4 system I love the P-51 and it was a really good deal. I got mine cheaper then this because it had a "refurbished" radio but the price here has fallen 100 dollars in the last month.

A note to this and something to consider, a lot of people either hate or love the evolution engine and you will get a lot of different answers to any question about it. The best I can tell is some of them are great, and some of them are not. They have limiters on the needles at the carb that you may have to remove to tune the engine properly. I removed mine without even trying it with them.

Just an idea. Here is a link to the info for you. http://www.hangar-9.com/PTS/ here is one for 399 I found mine cheaper http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...ducts_id/33383

Buy an Escapade, it flies like a low wing trainer and everything from the Alpha 40 will work well in it.

Who makes the Escapade?

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXVXN8&P=0 the Escapade...

Great 2nd plane - Phoenix models Dolphin 40. You're equipment and engine from a 40 sized trainer will move right in. ARF retails for about $100.00. Perfect covering, Pre-pinned hinges, and a lot of other work already done when you open the box. I would look at a radio that can be used for multiple planes. The key to this whole hobby is having equipment that can be used on all your birds. Ask the electric guys. You don't want a different type of battery and radio for each plane you have. You want to be able to grab a couple of planes, your field box, and your radio and head to the field, not spend half the day sorting out what goes with what.

Just my .02
Mike

My vote is for the tiger by carl goldberg 40 or 60 size http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXH755&P=0

Don't buy another low end radio. Get something with 7 or more channels. You're already ready to replace the first one. You don't want to think about replacing another radio in the next couple of years. 6 channel radios have limited functions.

Dolphin was my second plane and was a lot of fun to fly. $99 from Tower Hobbies.

The Avistar was my second plane. I've had a few planes since but picked up and assembled my second Avistar recently because I liked it so much. Converted it to a tail dragger. I also have an Escapade in waiting, should be lots of fun. Do take a look at the Escapade forum thread, lots of good information. Don't rule out some of the electrics, they're fun too.

That is a VMar Xtreme Stik low-wing version (they make a shoulder-wing version too) available from Richmond RC for $89.99. It's reputed to be one of VMar's best ARFs with regard to quality:

http://www.richmondrc.com