Next plane????
 

Hi. I have been flying a hobbico Superstar EP (Electric). It's a great trainer but in another 6 months, I would like to purchase a fuel trainer. Here is my problem. I now have a 3 channel radio. I want to move up to a 4 channel radio w/ buddy box capabilities so I can fly a trainer with ailerons and have a pilot train me. What do you think of the Nexstar combo with radio and everything/ Is there any other good trainers? If you have flown a good trainer, please let me know what your choice is. Also I have attached a photo of my totally homemade and home designed flight stand. I made this from PVC tubing for a total cost of about $16.00. I gave it a wing shelf and the 4 bottom rests detach for easy transport. Thanks for any info on a good fuel trainer.

RE: Next plane????
 

You should keep flying this electric plane. Although the "fuel" trainer will have a little more power, it will all in all fly the same as your electric. Keep flying the electric Superstar EP and then move on to a Sig Somethin' Extra or something. That is an incredible second plane after the trainer. Since most second planes are taildraggers, you will already have experience because of the Superstar.

But if you insist, then I think yoiu could just move to the Superstar ARF or RTF. It will cost more than the EP version, but it is a tricycle gear configuration, and is a great "fuel" trainer. I've been flying for 5 years, and still have my Superstar RTF. I believe the RTF (includes engine(OS 40LA, radio(Futaba Skysport 4 channel, and servos(Futaba 3004s standard type which is ALL already installed and literally takes 30 min to put together (join wings, assemble tail section, and atach landing gear, then charge batteries of course!!)

Hope this helps!!

~Michael~

RE: Next plane????
 

Thank you Michael! That is a lot of very useful info. The fuel version of the Superstar makes sense. I think I would get the larger wing span also. Thanks again. Mike

RE: Next plane????
 

You are most certainly welcome there Mike.

I guess that would make sense, but if you are really tired with the electric version then the Superstar RTF is the way to go. Now, if you don't already you will have to get an electric starter (if you don't wanna start the engine with the finger.) I would invest in a starter. It will save your finger in the long run and you can use them forever. Also, you will need a power supply for the starter.

Also hope this helps....

~Michael~

RE: Next plane????
 

double post:D

RE: Next plane????
 

Thanks Michael. While u are on here , Imight as well do a brain tap. How about the tower trainer 40 mkII RTF? It comes with everything and I can do a buddy box with the pilot/trainer at the club. Is it a good trainer? Thanks, Mike

RE: Next plane????
 

This one:[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCXF4**&P=ML]Tower Hobbies MKII RTF[/link]


Yes, that will be a fine plane for a first gas (nitro) plane. Most planes, not matter what brand are about the same. Use the same, or similar quality parts. With the exception of like the Hangar 9 Alpha, Hobbico Avistar, etc, all of them have a flat-bottomed airfoil, tricycle gear, and have the wings attached with rubber bands (most!) and are great to learn on.

Here are some more choices with the links:
[link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Shop/ByCategory/Product/Default.aspx?ProdID=HAN2600]Hangar 9 Alpha[/link] : at $389 it's still an ok price for a RTF. Plus when you move to a larger plane, you can take the 60 sized engine and use it on the second plane and not have to buy something larger.

[link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Shop/ByCategory/Product/Default.aspx?ProdID=HAN2550]Hangar 9 Arrow[/link] : this is $299 and is around the same price as the Tower Hobbies trainer (Hangar 9 is a more well known brand, but Tower Hobbies is just fine.)

[link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Shop/ByCategory/Product/Default.aspx?ProdID=HAN2825]Hangar 9 P-51 PTS[/link] : Now I haven't seen this one and it's training capabilities but you might want to search here in RCU for more information on this plane

[link=http://greatplanes.com/airplanes/gpma0118.html]Great Planes PT-20/40[/link] :another good plane for learning. It wouldn't cost that much just for the plane, but you do have to put it together and buy the servos, engine, etc.

[link=http://greatplanes.com/airplanes/gpma0119.html]Great Planes PT-60[/link] : Same here with the 60 sized engine, but like the PT-20/40, you would have to get all the equipment.


[link=http://www.hobbiconexstar.com/]Hobbico Nextar 40[/link] : This is I believe the latest in R/C trainers. It is priced around $399, might as well say $400.00. It also comes with it's own simulator and is a great plane. I have personally flown this, and highly recommend it if you want to spend $400. Best of all, if you crash within the first month, their gurantee says it will give you another one. It also has some kind of stabilization type system. The plane I flew did not have this, so I can't comment on it's capabilities.


I'm sure I forgot some other trainers, but I hope this should give you an idea of everything out there to choose from. It's a hard decision. I hope this helps and makes it easier to find a trainer.

~Michael~

RE: Next plane????
 

Michael, Thank you very much for your efforts. I will print all your info and then go browsing. I love my Superstar EP and I still have to get an instructor for it. I have flown it (hand launch) by myself, at the local soccer field and it is a dream to fly. Unfortunately I have some trouble on the approach and have crashed it 5 times with only minor damage, wich says a lot for the plane and also my every day training on my Real Flight G3 simulator. I already have an instructor for my next flight. The big thing is that my wife would like to get me a nitro trainer for Christmas and it would be best to get a combo since I also need a four channel radio. I think $400.00 or less would be affordable for us. I researched the P-51 and it is a beauty but I am limited to one plane right now so the more practical choice, I think, would be some of the ones you recommend. The P-51 has some unknowns so I will wait for later reviews on it. The tower trainer, I believe, has a ball bearing engine and buddy box radio for under $300.00. I am 58 years old so my learning curve may be a little slow, but I think I can eventually master it. One very fortunate thing is that I already have a great work shop with a lot of small tools including a lot of electronics. I do not need to invest in a lot of new r/c equipment. Again, Thank you Michael for all the valuable info. It is sure appreciated . Sincerely, Mike

RE: Next plane????
 

As an instructor at our field, here are my thoughts on what to get next.

I wouldn't think about the Nexstar. Yes, it has some nice features but if you are going to fly with an instructor he is more than likely going to tell you to take two of them off (the AFS and the speed brakes are gone for any student of mine). IMHO why pay more for a plane that has features you aren't going to use.

Yes, the Nexstar has a warranty but most of the Tower Trainers also have a replacement policy too. So any of the Tower trainers are ok.

The last 3 students I have instructed used the Hobbico SuperStar packages. Plane, motor, and radio for approx. $280. I think this is a great deal. This is an RTF and you can have the plane ready to fly in less than an hour. It takes longer to charge the batteries than it does to assemble the plane. This plane has been a good one for my students who have had one.

IMHO most any of the trainer packages out there will do fine. As I said above I would avoid the Nexstar if you have an instructor and save the money.

Hope this helps some.

Ken

RE: Next plane????
 

Thank you RCKen. Yes, I agree and so does Michael who has helped me a lot . My Superstar EP is a great plane so I will either go with a Super Star nitro combo or a Tower trainer nitro or some other ones that Michael suggested. I think the bells and whistles are an added expense. A nitro trainer will be a Christmas present but in the meantime I am going to get instructions with my Superstar EP. I just can't seem to get the hang of making my approach to land. The rest is good. I keep practicing on my Real Flight G-3 Simulator. Thanks Ken. Sincerely, Mike

RE: Next plane????
 

Practice, Practice, Practice!! That's very good to have the sim. It will do you great.

Yes, just as RCKen said, you can't go wrong with any trainer package. You just keep looking around and get what you would like. If you get the ARF, YOU can decide what electronics and engine you wanna use. Good luck with your future in the great hobby.

~Michael~

RE: Next plane????
 

No need for an electric starter...if the engine is primed correctly, it should start on the 1st-3rd flip of the prop. If it doesn't start at about the 5th flip, somethings wrong...most likely a fuel (priming) or mixture problem...you gotta know that with an electric starter, when you just spin the engine waiting for it to finally fire, there is no lubrication between the engine componets, which will eventually cause premature wear on the engine. For a "chicken stick" (a stick you use to flip the prop to start the engine), you can use a piece of 1/2" wood rod with either electrical tape wrapped about 1/8-1/4 inch thick around the area that will contact the prop (to protect the prop), or, get something like [link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXL405&P=0]this Hobbico "Safety Stick"[/link].

RE: Next plane????
 

Yeah, that is an option. I was just talking about future use.

I like the starters because when I can't get the engine started on the 1s-3rd flip, then I have the starter to help me out. It sucks when you can't get your engine to start. I do agree on the premature wear though, in some way.

For now, you could go with the chicken stick. For priming (if you don't know, since you were using the electric), you open the throttle all the way, and WITHOUT a glow plug ignitor, put your thumb or whatever over the carb and rotate the prop until you see the fuel coming up the line to the carb. Be careful though. If you happen to not be looking and the fuel comes up and you don't see it and you keep priming, you could flood the engine, and can hydrolock it among others, it will be hard to crank if you flood it.

Everything is up to you.

Hope this helps

~Michael~