which trainer???
 

hey! im 13 and id like to get a plane. any suggestions on a plane? im looking for a RTF.

RE: which trainer???
 

most any trainer is good, hangar 9 - alpha 40 or 60, arrow 40 or 60. Hobbico, Great Planes and other all make some good trainers. I personally started with an alpha 60, it's great plane, but the 40 series would be cheaper

RE: which trainer???
 

is it hard to learn to fly?

RE: which trainer???
 

If you can play computer games, you can fly RC.:)
:D Look into a Kadet LT40 ARF. For power, an OS Max 46AX or a Supre Tigre 45. Radio Futaba 4Y.

RE: which trainer???
 

Hey there mate,

have a read of this link


[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_2640411/anchors_2640411/mpage_1/key_Getting%252CStarted/anchor/tm.htm#2640411]Click Here[/link]

This should give you ALOT of info and insight into your next step in RC.

RE: which trainer???
 

check out the hobbico nexstar rtf. comes with radio, engine, and the flight simulator wich will really help your learning curve. and it only takes about 45 mins. to put together. i learned on this plane and really love it.
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...=LXEXK2**&P=ML

RE: which trainer???
 

Computer games won't seriously maim you or even kill you if you make a mistake, or do something stupid. It isn't hard ONCE YOU LEARN. But you need help learning, or you or someone else could get seriously hurt, or worse.

RE: which trainer???
 

every 1 heres prolly sick of hearing me say this... but here it goes again...

i seriously recomend that you build your first plane the LT 40 and LT 25 made by sig are very easy to build and are GREAT planes (not the brand but as in very good planes) they glide very well so you wont have to worry too much when your learning about deadsticking it in. just my recomendation. you also have a greater respect for your planes if you build them and its much easier to fix them (yes... you will end up fixing them or pitching them) if you know how to build them. my $.02 also incase there was any doubt or hesitation, i would say to go with a gas (glow fule) plane with en engine in the .46 ish range so that the engine will work with many of your future planes, theres very good first, second third and even warbirds that will work with a .46 and that will save you from having to buy a new engine each plane. also buy the BEST radio you can, i recomend an eclipse 7 chanle so that you wont have to buy a new radio every time you step it up a level. i guess that makes it my $.04...

RE: which trainer???
 

It isn't hard to learn if you have an instuctor and you learn on a buddy box. If you try it by yourself, the plane won't last long and you could hurt yourself or somebody else. RC instructors are happy to teach you for free at the RC club field. Find out where the RC clubs are first and get out there on the weekend so that you can check out the field. If you don't know where the clubs are, phone the hobby shops that sell RC planes and ask them. An hours visit with club members will teach you more than a weeks worth of typing on the web. [8D]

RE: which trainer???
 

My suggestion is the Great planes PT-40 or PT-60, I built the 40 size for my first about 10 years ago, we just finished building and flying one with my 7 year old son.

They are very tough, on my first flight with mine 10 years ago I clipped a wing on a tree and spun it into the ground and all I hurt was the prop, I was very lucky but it was up flying again in about 10 minutes.

The LT-40 is a very good airplane but just not as tough as the PT-40 in my opinion.

Here is a picture of my sons from last weekend.

Weskel

RE: which trainer???
 

thanx for all the help! but are there any RTFs for a kid with a tight budget?

RE: which trainer???
 

I dont now why \everyone is recommdngin the most expensive planes. I got a ower trainer rtf for 250, and it has been so easy to fly. I love it by the millions. Download the free fms, and you ll have fun.

RE: which trainer???
 

This is the Tower trainer that Samolot was speaking of: http://WWW.TOWERHOBBIES.COM/products/towa21.html for $250.00

and here is the Alpha 40 :http://www.horizonhobby.com/Shop/ByC...ProdID=HAN2475
for $290.00 which IMHO has a better engine and radio.
I also have taught several students on the Alpha and know it to be a good plane. The Tower most likely is also, many people have said so in other threads.
There are many choices and you will eventually need to make one. The good news is that it will be hard to make a bad one. Just don't go too cheap if you are serious about the hobby. You need not spend a fortune but you will want reliable equipment that you can move into a future aircraft. :)

RE: which trainer???
 

how about an electric? are they any good? i dont have a flying field closer than 3 hours away and dont have much space to fly. only a baseball field. i was looking at the PT electric and its only 178 on tower with everything i ned to build and fly plus 2 day air shipping.

RE: which trainer???
 

go to quantum models and look up the Ace or Thunder Tiger scooter RTF/ARF its a good size /slow flyer with an .07 engine and 3 channel radio....check it out..

RE: which trainer???
 

oh I missed that, if you only have a ball field then you have to go electric..there is a park flyer forum on here,,thats what you want,, I started at the schoolyard up the street with a GWS pico stick,,,its great fun for starting with...Rog

RE: which trainer???
 

There are 3 clubs in Spokane but that is quite a ways from you. Check with your Hobby Shop and see if he knows of anything or anyone closer. For that matter, do you have a shop there?

RE: which trainer???
 

i dont have a hobby shop here. the only ones are in spokane. i have a radio and servos but only have like 95 dollars. if anyone buys my engine ill have 135. mi kinda want to start with electric anyway.

RE: which trainer???
 

any suggestions on a electric trainer ARF?

RE: which trainer???
 

I did the same as you, i did not have enough money for gas, but gas is much better to learn on. If you want a fun plane, i suggest getting the slow stick. Its nice, and the reviews about it are endless +++. I started with the wattage cessna, trash. If you want to go electric, get a balsa made plane, it will fly better nad penetrate the wind. I remember my foam cessna coudlnt take on 4 mph winds and screwed up. The wood electrics are expesive at first, but get much cheaper. I suggest getting one set of gear, such as motor, radio, and a plane. I suggest seomthing like the goldberg trainer electric.

RE: which trainer???
 

Hobbico Superstar EP ARF $109.99
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXGVZ3&P=0

A young man brought one of these to our fun fly last year. He could get 20-30 minute flight times by killing the motor and just glding around. He had a folding lounge chair and just relaxed as he flew around. For a decent size electric plane I think this one would be hard to beat.

This is a balsa and plywood trainer, elctric powered, with a 48 inch wing span.
Comes with motor, speed control, battery; almost everything you need
REQUIRES: Radio: 4-channel
Servos: 3 standard size (1-aileron, 1-elevator, 1-rudder)
Charger: Timed or peak for included battery
COMMENTS: This model can use 8.4V flat 1700-3600 mAh battery packs.
This model will take off from hard surfaces like pavement but not
from grass.

RE: which trainer???
 

i found the hobbico superstar electric ARF and it comes with motor and battery for 99. i have a radio system and it just needs a charger. is the superstar electric a good first plane?

RE: which trainer???
 

As electric trainers go it's pretty good -- as electric trainers go. If you can possibly afford a gas (glow) trainer, a real Superstar would be --- well, super.

RE: which trainer???
 

losi, if it flys anything near the nitro, then yes it's a great plane. If i were you though, I would find someone on these forums or anywhere close to you that flys and get on the buddy box the first time. If you can't do that, then i would get a simulator and get10+ hours on it. It might seem easy to fly these, But it isn't easy as 1 2 3. I think you can ge the basics on one saturday with a buddy box. You COULD take it out on your own if you feel completely comfortable. But to be honest it would last longer if you went on buddy box. This is just advice...
Hope this helps
Chad

RE: which trainer???
 

i've flown once before.it was when i was 7 though. i wasnt on the buddy box system though. i think ive got the basics down though. i just need to recap on flying.

RE: which trainer???
 

by the way, anyone wanna buy an engine? i need cash for a plane.

RE: which trainer???
 

not goin with the superstar EP?

RE: which trainer???
 

for $109 you can get 3 of the GWS stick planes..go to the parkflyer forum and ask advice there, you are already being steered towards glow here....with no help available you need cheap ,lighweight, foam, floater ,planes....Rog
ps what engine are you selling?

RE: which trainer???
 

im selling a thunder tiger GP .42 for 45.00. its only been ran about 5 times.

RE: which trainer???
 

i found a cheap arf and its only about 150 with everything i need with 2 day shipping.it doesn't even need glue!! its a global RCM trainer 40. i have the engine, radio, and three servos. need one more and im ready to go. is this a good plane to start with?

RE: which trainer???
 

[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJKE1&P=7]sig EP 42[/link]

Try this one out. It's a little higher (149), but well worth it. It's not one of those slow, small, hard to handle foamies, it's a full sized electric park trainer, and SIG makes some GREAT stuff! I don't think you'll go wrong with it, and it comes with motor and ESC. You only need TX, RX, and some micro servos. (and a battery, of course). You'll find that it's hard to start out with less than 250 dollars when it all comes down to it. You need to save some more. You could buy a 99 dollar plane, but it might last one flight, and be too hard to actually keep flying. JMO! Get a balsa plane (electric or glow) and get someone to teach you how to fly it, and your money will be better spent.

RE: which trainer???
 

Losi24,

The RCM trainer is fine.. However I think given the fact that you don't seem to have a proper field or help that your investment is going to wind up as a pile of sticks in a matter of seconds!!!!!!!!

Take a step back and reconsider the GWS Slow Stick its your best bet for success given the Info you have provided IMNHO
PS Don't take any .40 sized Nitro plane to the local baseball field untill you have become a profcient pilot even then its not the best idea!!!!

The slow stick will allow you to use your radio and std servos. You will need an ESC (electronic speed controller) 1 or more battery packs and a field charger that can recharge them.

RE: which trainer???
 

its cheaper to build it yourself... if your on that tight of a budget then buy a sig lt 25 and a cheap .25 engine buy some cheap old servoes and tx from some 1 here or at ur club for next to nothing (usualy ul buy the old servoes from one of their first planes since most people move on to digital and highspeed servoes and dont need the little ones ne more so u could get em used pretty cheap) you may even be able to borrow a tx from some 1 if you find some thats really trusting....

RE: which trainer???
 

No it is not. It is however for some more fun

RE: which trainer???
 

i've tried to build my self already. DISASTER!![X(] i found a place to fly. my dads uncle owns 13 acres an it has about 6 or 7 acres of flat land. is that enough? i decided i want a nitro any way. i asked a couple of friends that fly and they all learned on nitro. they said it was easier to learn on them cause of their big wingspan. plus if i buy a plane with ailerons now i wont have to make them and put them on later.:D

RE: which trainer???
 

Did you ask your friends if they learned by themselves? If so how many crashes did they have before becoming proficient enough to leave the field with the model in the same condition that it arrived in.

You make several statements that need to be addressed before you pick a plane. The most critical to your success is are you going to attempt this without experienced help. If you are I would stay away from standard nitro trainers for several reason the two most important are.

1. Speed

The average .40 sized nitro sized trainer will fly 30-50mph with no problems (That means that 13 acres is going to seem pretty small to you at first) The speed coupled with your inexperience means that you are going to have little or no time to react before your plane gets far enough away that you won't be able to clearly see what it is doing as a result of your actions (i.e. is it banking left or right is it flying inverted or up right.)

2. Properly breaking in/tuning your engine and trimming your plane.

A lot of beginners get on these forums and assume that they are going to take their new ARF/RTF pride and joy out of the box start it up and have it operate and fly 100% correctly right out of the box. Unfortunatly this is usually no the cause. Running an engine to lean can damage it Running ABC/ABN type engines to rich can cause premature engine wear. Flying a plane with an engine that doesn't idle or transition properly can cause the engine to "flame out" forcing a dead strick landing at best and a crash at worse. Flying a plane that is badly out of trim and or balance can be difficult for those of us with experience for a beginner it usually spells disaster

Please under stand that I'm not trying to discourage you only attempting to point out that if you are on a tight budget you should make decisions and pick equipment that will minimize damages to your model causing you to either quit the hobby or spend more money then neccessary.

Having flown both Nitro and Electric. I would strongly suggest going the electric park flyer route if you are planning on learning unassisted.

RE: which trainer???
 

i know how to tune the engine already. i just need to know about how much room do i need to fly? would a big school playground be enough? i don't know how to find out if there is a flying field near me. id also like to know if there is a club near me. i did ask them if they learned by themselves. one of them did. he said that he just drove it around on the ground for a tank or two and got used to each of the controls. them he took off about 10 feet off the ground and practiced landing. them took his first flight and did pretty good accept for the landing. he luckily only broke a prop. after that he can fly pretty good.

RE: which trainer???
 

One more time IF you are going to be learning on your own. A playground big or otherwise is NOT the place to fly a .40 sized Nitro plane. For other types of models a big playground can be enough room.

If you want to find a club near you start a thread asking for info on clubs near your location here on RCU also you can call the AMA and ask them for a list of clubs in your area.

Losi24, Why don't you try an experiment. You will need a Bike a friend and a stop watch or watch with a second hand. Heres what you want to do Ride your bike as fast as you can from one end of the field to the other while your friend times you. Figure that at best your top speed on level ground is 20mph most likely more like 10-15mph Look at how many seconds it took you to traverse the space keeping in mind that the plane will be going 3-5 times faster. I think you will find that the average nitro trainer will be outside of the open area in much less the 30 seconds. This doesn't neccessarly present a problem if you can control it. If you can't your plane may end up on someones roof or backyard making you unpopular at the very least.

This can be a very frustrating hobby but it doesn't have to be. ;)

RE: which trainer???
 

You have been talking to a couple of people who fly, ask them if they know of any clubs close by. Do either of them have enough skill to teach you and would they be willing? A big playground COULD be big enough, it would depend on how big BIG is. My high school had a playground that was over 1/2 mile square, but we had 4000 students there, I'm betting yours is smaller.

RE: which trainer???
 

yes mine is smaller. only like 800 students. nwell thanks for all the tips guys! you probaly just saved me ALOT of money!otherwise i would have crashed on the first 10 second flight. id appreciate it if you'd keep helping me out. it really helps!