Need Advice for Trainer
 

I am wanting to purchase a trainer but due to so many options I would appreciate a little feedback. I definitely want a .60 size more for visibility and also a quality easy building kit with good balsa, etc. Also any power and radio suggestions would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks,

Perry

RE: Need Advice for Trainer
 

Hi Perry

This is a very common question with many threads discussing. I suggest you do a search here on RC Universe.

Most important, join a club and get an instructer.

RE: Need Advice for Trainer
 

I always recommend the Sig Kadet LT 40. It is basically the size of a 60 plane and flies nicely with a old 40 engine. If you wanted an even bigger plane, the Sig Kadet Senior is slightly larger. The plans are easy to follow and provide the beginning modeler with great tips to help you get started. The kit also contains a beginners guide to RC with some basics covered. Get ahold of your local club and get help starting out flying.

RE: Need Advice for Trainer
 

You will find the Sig Trainers or the Carl Goldberg Eagle 2 big enough Aircraft to see even when they are very high up...

Use a .46 Motor...

I use the Eagle 2 and a Super Tigre .46...

The Airplane is easy to fly while still having the power and response to be fun... The Sigs are great too...

Have fun... JOIN A CLUB!!!

Matt

RE: Need Advice for Trainer
 

If you are a builder, you can build a senior telemaster. It doesn't come in arf form, but it is huge, light, and will take you well beyond the trainer stage later on. Hobbico and Tower both have several inexpensive arfs, any of the new arfs will be great. I don't think there is a bad .60 sized trainer out there. You may want to opt for a semi-semitrical, rather than a flat bottomed wing, so you don't get bored too quickly with your trainer. The semi wings are more aerobatic for later on. Definitely find a qualified instructor in your area and get some lessons. Teaching yourself is usually expensive, frustrating and expensive. Good luck!

RE: Need Advice for Trainer
 

I like GreatPlanes PT-60. Works fine with a .46 engine

RE: Need Advice for Trainer
 

You should check out the SIG Kadet LT-40 I'm building with a 71" wingspan and a 56" fusalage you have to be blind not to see it!

RE: Need Advice for Trainer
 

I agree with the LT40. It has great instructions which will teach how every piece is built into the plane. This comes in very handy if you get a hobby bump as you will probably have an idea as to how to repair it. It has balsa and plywood sides which makes it much more durable than an Telemaster or a Senior. HAs the best ground handlying any trainer I know of and lands at walking speed. I would use an OS 46AX for the engine. Use Neon Yellow for the wings and you will almost be able to fly it in the dark.[8D]

RE: Need Advice for Trainer
 

Whatever plane you chose, if it comes with wire landing gear, scrap it and get aluminum, carbn fiber, or someothign along those lines. You'll find that it will sit reall tail low after a few days of good use. As for the radio, try airtronics, just as good quality IMO, and they are cheaper than JR, and Futaba.

RE: Need Advice for Trainer
 

All of the planes listed, so far, in this thread are good trainers. I, personally, recommend the Hangar 9 Alpha 60, 73" wingspan. The ARF package (my cost for my local LHS) cost me $374.00. It included a almost ready to fly plane with everything including a .61 Evolution engine, JR Quattro 4 channel Tx, flight simulator software and appropriate cords. This plane is very stable, even in moderate wind, lands nicely and the Evolution engine has run flawlessly, thus far.

You can check out the reviews on the Alpha 60 and probably most of those listed in this thread by going to RC magazine and searching under "Reviews." Read them all.

Good luck, and welcome to the wonderful world of RC. You will never regret it.

RE: Need Advice for Trainer
 

Tower Trainer 60 Mk.2, 69 1/2" span, $119.99 -------- Recommended ***

Thunder Tiger, Tiger Trainer 60, 73" span, $139.99

Hobbico Hobbistar 60 Mk.3, 71" span, 149.99 ------- Best plane of the three.

I would recommend a World Models Mach-1 trainer--- $69.99--- with a OS 46 FX or AX engine or a Thunder Tiger Pro 46, however, there are many other very good engines on the market to choose from.
Do not buy any kind of performance or hot rod engine for training.

RE: Need Advice for Trainer
 

I should add on my LT-40 I'm using a Super Tigre GS40 it has a lot more power than the OS Max LA series and the price is a lot more atractive. For the radio I went with a Futaba EXA 6 channel its programable and once you trim out the model it storres the settings and it can store settings for 6 models. The local club has had interference problems with other brands in my area. Check with your local group they can advise you on radio and frequencies that work best in your area.

RE: Need Advice for Trainer
 

I always trained with a Tiger Trainer 40 from thunder tiger. :DBRILLIANT TRAINER:D. They do a 60 size one too and if its as good as my 40 was, i would HIGHLY recomend it.

RE: Need Advice for Trainer
 

I got a great deal on my trainer package from hobbyheadquarters. They have a great website.

RE: Need Advice for Trainer
 

So PTS -- I guess all of that stuff really clarified things for you. :D

RE: Need Advice for Trainer
 

I would get the NEXTSTAR 46 SELECT RTF from HOBBICO This was my first plane and learn to fly the first time and never looked back
It has everything you need to get you started Sim, Radio,etc, Wing span 68.9!QUOT! fuse 56!QUOT! large enough to spot in the air.
The only thing I would change would be the clevis to metal type.
If you never flu before you should not get board too soon I know I did'nt, I have so far no regrets, I now have two other planes.
I started this hobby last summer. 2004

IMO


roltech

RE: Need Advice for Trainer
 

Wow! The response is overwhelming. I decide to go with SIG Kadet Senior ARF w/ Saito power.

Many thanks for all the advice...

Perry

RE: Need Advice for Trainer
 

The other planes mentioned would be a better choice because they are made from balsa and have plywood reinforced sides and are 4 channel planes. The fuselage on the Senior is made of criss crossing sticks in order to make a light plane. It flys well because of this but is much less resistant to sudden hobby bumps and would take longer to repair. Also taking the info from the Tower Hobbies site: "FEATURES: Balsa, Spruce, and Plywood Construction. Does not have Ailerons." Starting with a 3 channel plane will simply increase the learning curve for getting into higher performance planes. It sn't going to help you down the road. But just goes to show that you can try to advise new flyers and they will simply ignore your suggestions. :eek:

RE: Need Advice for Trainer
 

Right On!!---

RE: Need Advice for Trainer
 

Perry,
You should reconsider, the Sig Kadet Senior is a very good trainer, for a overly stable "floater" with sluggish penetration on landings in any kind of wind.
On the other hand is the World Mach 1 trainer, it has a bolt on "semi symmetrical wing" with a bolt-on self aligning tail assembly. It's a very tame trainer when set on low rates but comes alive on high rates so you can have fun with it as your skills progress and is capable of decent aerobatics which I teach my students early in their training just so they know what it takes to move the plane around and what the plane is capable of.
I always have a trainer in my hangar, I like to throw it around and do things with it I'm afraid to do with my $2000.00 Mustang.
Carlos
P.S. The Saito is a great choice, maybe the new .82? And don't be afraid of a little more power on a trainer, you can always throttle back...

RE: Need Advice for Trainer
 

The SIG Senior is a great plane but an old design, SIG Kadet LT-40 is a lot more up to date will laser cut as well as dye cut parts. The fuselage is plywood with a plywood doubler. The wings have a spruce main spars. Grqanted some people don't like wire landing gear but you want that on a trainer to absorb some of the force of a hard landing. Also the LT-40 has the tank, wheels, etc, needed to build the model. You provide your own glue, radio, engine and covering material (3 rolls of Monocoate in a single color will do). You won't need to buy anything else.

RE: Need Advice for Trainer
 

I miss my Goldberg Eagle II. (RIP) [&o]

RE: Need Advice for Trainer
 

I dont think the NExstar is a good choice. Im a beginner, still waiting for spring flyin season, so i can enjoy my first flight. Dont have a plane yet, but will get one soon. I looked at the NExstar, and really think its more of a toy plane, then a real trainer. Who needs so many trainer options. What happened to the basics of a trainer? I think the more worried you are, the more you will spend. Im trying to get my dad to get me a sig seniorita, hopefully with a buddy box, it will last long. I really dont know.

Hopefully,

michal

RE: Need Advice for Trainer
 

Well I'm sure there are other good trianer, but the Nexstar is definitly a good trainer I have and since then a flu others such as SupperStar 40 Arrow 40, Avistar Select
The only thing I did was to remove the droops and air speed breaks and I do not use the AFS. I also took out OS 46fx and install the new OS 46AX for more power,
I'm not an expert on this hobby but can't tell you how old I am but if I learn to fly at may age with this plane without crashing and go on with other planes The Nextstar thought me well. My son bought me an RV- 40 kit for Chritsmas, can't wait for sring to try it out I'm sure it will fly diffrently then a trainer. WHOOOPEEE???
roltech