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Hobbico Trainers
I am looking to help a friend get a trainer What is the difference between a Nextstar, Superstar and Avistarapart from the names. Looking at a Hangar 9 Alpha trainer or a Goldburg Eagle2. We were gonna put a OS 55AX, mainly thinking about the next plane and not having to buy another engine. Any thoughts, concerns or comments??
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RE: Hobbico Trainers
I had a eagle 2 and a nexstar, my eagle flew with a 40 la, a 46 would loads of power, the nexstar had a 46fx which also was perfect, the two flew nothing alike, the eagle is the better flyer, the nexstar was a better built plane and cost more and was more advanced for flying later after solo.
I think the 55ax is to much engine, but thats just my opinion you know that and a buck will get you a cup of coffee. |
RE: Hobbico Trainers
The Avistar makes a nice trainer if someone with expereince helps him get started. The nice thing about the Avistar is that it is more of a advanced trainer because it has a semi simetrical wing. It was my first glow engine plane after learning on a electric trainer. I have a OS 46 AX on mine and it can move pretty quick. One of the guys at our club has one with a 55 AX and it really cranks. If you think he will be a quick learner then the Avistar would be a good choice, only because he wont get board with it right away. If he has never flown before and you are not sure of his skills, then the Avistar may be to much to learn on.
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RE: Hobbico Trainers
If you can find a Butterfly Arising Star triner, it is good. Close to the other "stars" with a very smooth flgight envelope.
Also excellent ARF kit. The even filed the flat on the nosewheel axle. I got the 46 size for 70 bucks. Downside is sides and wing skins are made fom some sort of thin and a bit brittle veneer. May not last forever but it is a trainer. Tom |
RE: Hobbico Trainers
I couldn't tell you how a Nexstar and Superstar are different, but the Avistar is a step between the classic trainer and sport plane. I really think it's the perfect trainer if the new flyer is working with an instructor. It handles wind better and doesn't fight you in rolls and loops like a classic style trainer does. But it also won't recover itself as quickly from a weird attitude or side slip.
On the engine choice, the .55 is overkill. He'll wind up with a nose heavy plane, and the torque is likely to make takeoffs a little tougher. Put a ball bearing .46 on it and it will have good power that will transfer to any .40 size sport model he wants to try next. |
RE: Hobbico Trainers
ORIGINAL: spadeng I am looking to help a friend get a trainer What is the difference between a Nextstar, Superstar and Avistarapart from the names. Looking at a Hangar 9 Alpha trainer or a Goldburg Eagle2. We were gonna put a OS 55AX, mainly thinking about the next plane and not having to buy another engine. Any thoughts, concerns or comments?? I like the Nextstar...it was my trainer with an O/S .46AX and the DS821 servos that came with my DX7.....it is a good setup. I think the 55 is too much for it.....but I have a guy named Alex who flies one at my field, will 3D hover the thing with a .55 in it....and he put lights all over it and won some award at least years night fly-in with that thing..... I think the nextstar is a better built trainer....more options with the flaps and droops, etc......but I would stay with the tried and true O/S .46.....he can still move that .46 into pleanty of planes later on....and with the nextstar there are NO RUBBER BANDS! :D it may stall easier with the heavier engine and added weight to balance.....best to be lighter......just my 2 Cents..... |
RE: Hobbico Trainers
Of the three you mentioned, the Nexstar is the nicest looking, the Superstar is the better flying trainer, and the Aviastar is the most aerobatic. Pick your poision, but they are all grossly overpowered for training with the 55AX. A better fit for the 55AX would be a light weight 60 size trainer such as the Tower Trainer 60 ARF. If you want to stick build a kit then a Sig Kaydet Senior would be very nice with the 55AX. I fly a Kaydet Senior with a 46FX and it has plenty of power for the intended mission. The Hobbico Hobbistar 60 ARF would also fly well with the 55AX. I guess my point is the 55AX will fly a larger airframe than the 40 size planes you are looking at and bigger is better if you can transport a larger model. They will all work as you don't have to push the throttle all the way all the time.
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RE: Hobbico Trainers
Just my 2 cents, but another trainer to consider for the cost is the Tower Trainer 40. It is also a good, solid trainer that would last for quite sometime and is adventerous enough to keep the student entertained and yet stable enough to be comfortable with even learning to fly in some windy conditions. With a 46 size engine, this would be slow enough to learn the basics, yet when cranked up to full throttle, be sporty enough to learn some basic aerobatics with. Here's the link for the tower trainer to consider, and also with a magnum 46 on it, quite an affordable combo to learn with.
Tower trainer: $80.49 http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXCAS2&P=ML Magnum 46 engine: $79.99 http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXBUX6&P=ML But thats just my 2 cents worth on trainers. But to each their own...... |
RE: Hobbico Trainers
How about a Hobbistar 60?
http://www3.omnimodels.com/cgi-bin/w...I=HCAA2125&P=0 It's sort of like a "bigger" Avistar. |
RE: Hobbico Trainers
ORIGINAL: carrellh et How about a Hobbistar 60? http://www3.omnimodels.com/cgi-bin/w...I=HCAA2125&P=0 It's sort of like a ''bigger'' Avistar. I love my hobbistar, It is a great trainer, mine is fast with a O.S.65 LA, with a 55AX it would really move. It is a bit more of an advanced trainer. It has a semi symmetrical wing, and less dihedral then most of the trainers named. I have trained several with it, some have gone and purchased one themselves. You can make several easy modifications to it and it quickly becomes a great second plane. I have 2 wings for mine, one with no dihedral and one less bay,also has dual servos. It flies like a stick. We have used it for towing, trainer races, wingless drag races, and just training new guys. I want to build floats for it but have not gotten to yet. Whatever you choose for your buddy, good luck and have fun. |
RE: Hobbico Trainers
Superstar 40 with a 46AX or a Hobbistar 60 with a LA65 or 55AX
Superstar is a flat bottom wing, I think the nextstar is a semi symmetrical wing like the Hobbistar. I would say Hobbistar. YouTube the hobbistar, it flys great. |
RE: Hobbico Trainers
If you are going to get the Tower Trainer, might as will get the Superstar. These airplanes look almost identical, except for the cheap covering on the Tower Trainer. Rather an the Tower Trainer how about the Horizon Alpha 40. Flat wing, assemblies easier and ultracote covered.
I have flown both the Tower Trainer and Avistar. If it wasn't for my dumb thumb I would still have the avistar. The avistar didn't balloon too much against the wind. Flew nice on slow speeds. Jim ORIGINAL: dakoris73 Just my 2 cents, but another trainer to consider for the cost is the Tower Trainer 40. It is also a good, solid trainer that would last for quite sometime and is adventerous enough to keep the student entertained and yet stable enough to be comfortable with even learning to fly in some windy conditions. With a 46 size engine, this would be slow enough to learn the basics, yet when cranked up to full throttle, be sporty enough to learn some basic aerobatics with. Here's the link for the tower trainer to consider, and also with a magnum 46 on it, quite an affordable combo to learn with. Tower trainer: $80.49 http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...XCAS2&P=ML Magnum 46 engine: $79.99 http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...XBUX6&P=ML But thats just my 2 cents worth on trainers. But to each their own...... |
RE: Hobbico Trainers
My Avistar is one of my favorite planes. I always warm up on it at the field before I fly my less forgiving stuff and also try things with it that I wouldn't dare with other irreplaceable aircraft.
The 40LA makes a nice paper weight, use a 46 FX/AX with a 12x4 The semi symmetrical wing means inverted flight is no problem. |
RE: Hobbico Trainers
ORIGINAL: Jim_Purcha Rather an the Tower Trainer how about the Horizon Alpha 40. Flat wing, assemblies easier and ultracote covered. This is another plane that has been talked about. I really like my Ultrastick and I like Ultracote alot better. one problem is they are out of stock on alot of places I have looked. Actually alot of traners are out of stock on alot of sitesthat and the DX7 he has been looking at. |
RE: Hobbico Trainers
I wouldn't be swayed too much by the covering brand on an ARF trainer. Trainers 'often' take a beating and end up with a lot of covering patches. Most ARF trainers are built alike and fly pretty much alike. I'd get something that is in stock and looks like it might be fairly easy to see in the air.
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RE: Hobbico Trainers
All the Hobbico planes are instock at Tower. Then I wouldselect the Avistar. Visible in the air and covered in monokote. Sorry but the Tower planes covering peels off after a few flights.
Jim |
RE: Hobbico Trainers
ORIGINAL: Jim_Purcha If you are going to get the Tower Trainer, might as will get the Superstar. These airplanes look almost identical, except for the cheap covering on the Tower Trainer. Rather an the Tower Trainer how about the Horizon Alpha 40. Flat wing, assemblies easier and ultracote covered. I have flown both the Tower Trainer and Avistar. If it wasn't for my dumb thumb I would still have the avistar. The avistar didn't balloon too much against the wind. Flew nice on slow speeds. Jim ORIGINAL: dakoris73 Just my 2 cents, but another trainer to consider for the cost is the Tower Trainer 40. It is also a good, solid trainer that would last for quite sometime and is adventerous enough to keep the student entertained and yet stable enough to be comfortable with even learning to fly in some windy conditions. With a 46 size engine, this would be slow enough to learn the basics, yet when cranked up to full throttle, be sporty enough to learn some basic aerobatics with. Here's the link for the tower trainer to consider, and also with a magnum 46 on it, quite an affordable combo to learn with. Tower trainer: $80.49 http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXCAS2&P=ML Magnum 46 engine: $79.99 http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXBUX6&P=ML But thats just my 2 cents worth on trainers. But to each their own...... Are you sure the Alpha 40 still has Ultracote covering? The Horizon Hobby website does not list this. |
RE: Hobbico Trainers
I think all the Hanger 9 planes is covered with Ultracote.
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RE: Hobbico Trainers
Just Update
He got a Nexstar, 55AX and controls it with a dx7. It flies really good with a 12x7. I flew with him using my JR7202 as a trainer box, using a stereo patch cable. His first day flying was really calm, I took off and let him fly arround and I landed it, the next time was a little gusty and he felt pretty good so started doing low approaches then touch and gos and he landed it. The next flight he took off and handled the plane pretty good and landed. After that he has been flying touch and gos by himself and does really good. Now he is building a Sig Somethin Extra from a kit and is addicted to the hobby. I think I will have him fly my Ultra Stick before he Maidens his first sport plane. I have a hard time having someone else maiden my planes I built, I think that is part of the fun. |
RE: Hobbico Trainers
Hi,
No bad choices in there. However As an instucter for a long time now I find teh nexstar has TO MANY bells and whistles. We always toss out the droops and baffles and ground sensing equip before the first flight. This leaves the new guy with a rather expensive plane that is hard to repair. The hard to repair is my main objection as the plane flys OK. I would by a Cheap 40 size trainer plane and the best motor and radio you can swing. The 60 size plane is equally as good of a first choice but a bit more $. The 60 size IS easier to see and has that advantage. And the gear from either swaps out to the next plane (60 size stick???[8D]) Trainers get beat up so getting to fancy has a down side of causing more frustration. My favorite trainer is the SIG LT 40, it used to be the Goldberg Eagle II. The LT 40 is a bit more floaty and slower than the Eagle II. IMHO both are very good. |
RE: Hobbico Trainers
ORIGINAL: spadeng Just Update He got a Nexstar, 55AX and controls it with a dx7. It flies really good with a 12x7. I flew with him using my JR7202 as a trainer box, using a stereo patch cable. His first day flying was really calm, I took off and let him fly arround and I landed it, the next time was a little gusty and he felt pretty good so started doing low approaches then touch and gos and he landed it. The next flight he took off and handled the plane pretty good and landed. After that he has been flying touch and gos by himself and does really good. Now he is building a Sig Somethin Extra from a kit and is addicted to the hobby. I think I will have him fly my Ultra Stick before he Maidens his first sport plane. I have a hard time having someone else maiden my planes I built, I think that is part of the fun. I've trained several pilots on NexStars. Never had a problem with them. When my 8 year old grandson wanted to learn to fly, I bought a NexStar, a 6EXA 2.4, and a TT .46Pro. When my high school students wanted to learn, we got a NexStar, a 7CA 2.4, and a Magnum 52 four stroke, and two students soloed it their first day at the field. I don't get why so many folks bash the NexStar - if it is set up according to the instructions, it flies great. It allows you to learn on a platform that will grow with your skills, and is as durable as any trainer I've ever flown - and I started in 1973. |
RE: Hobbico Trainers
ORIGINAL: OzMo Hi, No bad choices in there. However As an instucter for a long time now I find teh nexstar has TO MANY bells and whistles. We always toss out the droops and baffles and ground sensing equip before the first flight. This leaves the new guy with a rather expensive plane that is hard to repair. The hard to repair is my main objection as the plane flys OK. I would by a Cheap 40 size trainer plane and the best motor and radio you can swing. The 60 size plane is equally as good of a first choice but a bit more $. The 60 size IS easier to see and has that advantage. And the gear from either swaps out to the next plane (60 size stick???[8D]) Trainers get beat up so getting to fancy has a down side of causing more frustration. My favorite trainer is the SIG LT 40, it used to be the Goldberg Eagle II. The LT 40 is a bit more floaty and slower than the Eagle II. IMHO both are very good. |
RE: Hobbico Trainers
ORIGINAL: carrellh How about a Hobbistar 60? http://www3.omnimodels.com/cgi-bin/w...AA2125&P=0 It's sort of like a "bigger" Avistar. |
RE: Hobbico Trainers
You'll love your hobbistar. This was my 1st plane and I converted it to a tail dragger with bolt on wings and made a bomb bay.I'm presently recovering it and painting it.
I still enjoy to fly it around, especially on windy days. |
RE: Hobbico Trainers
It arrived today... and in the box, to my surprise, was a Futaba T6EXAP digital radio instead of the 6YG analog Iwas expecting. Yeehaw!
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