Best Trainer
 

What is the best trainer for the beginner flyer?

RE: Best Trainer
 

There are many choices, all good ones. The LT-40 ( ARF or kit ) is an all time classic and has trained many, many in the basics. The Hanger 9 Alpha is a good one, as is the Hobbico Superstar and my personal favorite, the Hobbico Avistar, another classic IMHO.

RE: Best Trainer
 

Prangster. It is unbreakable and a good flyer. I learnt to fly on one in 2 days having never flown before.

RE: Best Trainer
 

I'm looking for my first trainer too having built a couple of static scale models in the past and have done a lot of research recently trying to make the "right" decision. BAMAFLY's suggestion of the SIG Kadet LT-40 is probably the way i'm going to go, all the reviews and comments i've seen on this plane have been good, its available both as a kit or as an ARF (personally i'm going with the kit to gain some knowledge of building an R/C aircraft which will help for future projects i'm sure and the plans for the LT-40 are apparently very good). Some comments i've seen suggest a .46 engine too to give the plane better balane (seems to be a little tail heavy with a .40) plus the extra power available should be good to learn basic aerobatics too :)

RE: Best Trainer
 

Welcome to both Science and Pilgrim. RCU is a great place and you'll get soem terrific advice.

The LT 40 is one of the best trainers on the market. There are others that are equally good, and most trainers fly pretty much the same, so you'll get a LOT of different opinions. (People will usually recommed the trainer they learned on. ;) )

I'm a club instructor and have flown many of the "generic" or Off Brand trainers, and they all fly pretty well. I've also flown the PT 40, the LT 40, the Nexstar, the Superstar, and a few of the other "Name" brands, and I like the LT 40 a lot.

A 46 is a good choice because it does provide enough power for aerobatics when you're ready, and enough power for that second "sport" plane. I'd recommend the OS 46FX, the Thunder Tiger 46 PRO, or the Evolution 46 (45?).

I also highly recommend finding a local club and an instructor. It will make learning a much better experience, you'll learn more quickly in the long run, and it will very likely save you money because you won't crash. (Or it's MUCH less likely at least.)

Good luck and have fun.
Dennis-

RE: Best Trainer
 

I am a new to the hobby myself but my brother and i went with different planes. he went with a hanga9 extra easy 2 which was up in the air right out of the box in like 30 minutes not counting charge time :)

i have a nexstar and without the autopilot and the flaps screwed on the plane is awesome. its faster than my brothers and handles fine for me, his floated alot nicer its impossible to crash unless you steer it the wrong way.


but he got into the extra easy 2 for like 250.00 and it cost me a hundred more but i was anxious.

good luck!

RE: Best Trainer
 

Get your self a Tower Hobbies 40 and save your self $60.00. I started with the high dollar Nexstar and destroyed it on one hard touch down. Have close to 100 flights on my tower 40 and is still in great shape even with a few less that perfect landings.

RE: Best Trainer
 

Thanks everyone for the input... i can't wait to get up and flying!

by chance, does anyone know if the real flight g2 software is worth the money?

RE: Best Trainer
 

Yep, sim is priceless. Get G2 Lite or AFP. You'll be rockin!

RE: Best Trainer
 

I have flown several different trainers, Alpha, Arrow and Lt 40. They all fly nice but my fav is the LT 40. I learned on an Alpha. As for engines I like OS .46 FX or AX or Evolution .45 or .46 for a trainer. No preference on radios.

RE: Best Trainer
 

The sims are the way to go. You'll arrive at the field with your thumbs already trained. I went this route and took one flight with an instructor and after that I was out on my own. Landed perfectly on the first try, did the figure 8's, all of it. There is now way I could have without the sim. Their worth the money. I have G2 by the way.

RE: Best Trainer
 

I agree with the LT-40 Kadet. Also the Realflight G2 sim is well worth it. I use it to practice maneuvers before I attempt them on the plane.

As far as the LT-40 I used the following setup. (It was an ARF)

OS46AX
JR FM700 6 channel receiver
RN600 flight battery
JR537 standard servos
Changed the main gear to Dubro's Fiberglass model
Changed the nose gear to Fult's twin strut model
The gear changes added about 2 inches of ground clearence and since the provided nylon control rods tend to change your trim settings based on temp and humidity, I used the carbon fiber rods to eliminate this.

I put the battery right against the fuel tank and the receiver right behind the battery and needed no weight. I did over 50 flights with this setup then changed it to a taildragger, sealed the control surfaces and added the max throws and it turned into an even better plane and did another 25 flights in this config until I sold it to a student who has flown it around 20 flights.

RE: Best Trainer
 

so next question... should i get an ARF for my first build or go straight for the kind you have to monokote? i was thinking ARF for the first and monokote for the second.

RE: Best Trainer
 

That would depend on how fast you want to get flying. A kit could take a few weeks or more depending on the amount of free time you have. I did the LT-40 ARF in about 10 hours.

RE: Best Trainer
 

For someone that doesn't have a lot of mechanical skill I usually suggest that they expect about 4 hours for an RTF, 20 to 30 hours for an ARF, and at least 200 hours for a kit.

Sims are a great learning tool, BUT they only teach you how to work the controls. The better the Sim, the better prepared you'll be for the first flight.

Top of the line are the AeroFly Pro (at about $140) and the Great Planes Real Flight G2 (at about $200).
Next on the list would be Real Flight Lite.
Bottom of the list are the rest. (FMS falls into this category, but it's free.)

Some of the things the Sim won't teach you are;
how to trim your plane so it isn't always trying to crash;
how to set up your engine and fuel system;
start the engine, break in the engine, tune the engine;
safety procedures to keep the prop from chewing off fingers;
how to actually fly; (Do a loop, or a roll, or a stall turn, or an Immelman, or a Cuban Eight, or a Spin, AND do them right.)
a hundred other little things that you can really only learn from otherr live human beings (and future friends).

Good luck,
Dennis-

RE: Best Trainer
 

so if i plan on getting the ultimate combo for the avistar 40, would the .40 engine be ok and what else will i need to fly? (fuel, of course) does it need batteries for the electronics or anything?

RE: Best Trainer
 

The Avistar with a 40 is adequate, that`s what I had to start, but I would recommend at some point switching it out for a 46. Just throttle it back some for most of your training time, but you`ll have the extra " kick " when you need it ( and it`s likely that you`ll need it at some point).

RE: Best Trainer
 

My setup:

Sig LT-40 (kit)
Lots of CA
Thunder Tiger 46 Pro
APC 11x5 prop
Futaba 6XAS
Lots of Yellow MonoKote
RealFlite G2 Simulator

Took about 2 weeks to build the kit (I'm an experience builder but took my time). Put about 2/3 gallon of fuel through the engine on the bench. Balanced the model where plans indicated and set control throws as recommended. Had some issues with correct fuel (flameouts) but got straightened out on that. After 6 flights each my son and I solo'ed at our club field.

The only mod I did to the kit was to substitute 1/16" wire pushrods for the inner nylon ones. We kept the outer nylon pushrod tubes.

RE: Best Trainer
 

Hmm, 34 years of flying RC
Dozens and dozens taught over the years.
LT-40 is absolutely the best 1st airplane.

Balance it forward where shown with throws indicated - fly’s well for initial training

Move balance toward the rear and increase throws - learn basic acrobatics

Inside/outside loops, rolls, and all combinations of these basic maneuvers.

Works well with 40’s and 45’s, use a lower pitch prop like 10-5 or 11-5