First Glow Plane
 

tHi ya'll,

I am in the process of joining a nearby club and am now searching for my trainer.I have narrowed it down to these two planes. The Hobbico Nexstar and Hangar 9 Alpha Trainer 60.

Which one's better?

Which one's the best starter?

Help!!!

RE: First Glow Plane
 

I have the Hangar 9 Alpha 60. I think it is great. Solid on windy days, lands nicely, the evolution engine has never missed a beat from the git-go. My first one was mid-aired. I purchased a second one while repairing the first. Same results with the second. Never any trouble. Replaced one glow plug in first gallon of fuel, that's all.

Just my opinion.

Jim

RE: First Glow Plane
 

Since you didnt mention the Kadet LT 40, I won't either. But amongst your options you listed. The Nextstar, by what I have seen is a great set-up. With the included Simulator and added train-eze attachments, its a smooth startout trainer, then the "aids" can be removed when the pilot is comfortable with it, and it behaves more like a sport plane.
:)

Course theres always the Kadet LT40. (oops! mentioned it.):D

RE: First Glow Plane
 

My vote goes to the Hobbico Nexstar. A truely nice flying plane. Takes off nice, flys great and lands even better. I'm thinking of buying one myself to keep on hand as a trainer for friends and family or just for those days of nice easy flying around the field. I have also flown the Avistar, nice too, but of the two, I'd go with the Nexstar. Good luck.

RE: First Glow Plane
 

Definitely the Hanger 9 Alpha!

Dr.1

RE: First Glow Plane
 

For my two cents worth, I solo'ed with the NexStar Select and really love that plane. So far, five of our new pilots at our club have bought and have solo'ed with the NexSTAR. One other is using a Tower 40 trainer and has a PT40 that he built and is training with THAT plane also.

I used both the wing tip gizmo's and the air-brakes spoilers that come with the plane during my training time. The week after I solo'ed, they came off and I flew it for a couple of months until I upgraded my 'fleet' to a Tiger 60.

I have flown the Tower 40, the PT-40, and the Hanger 9. All flew just great. This was after my solo though with the exception of the Tower 40 which was my first trainer, I 'upgraded' to the NexStar and continued with that until solo time.

A couple of weeks ago, I sold my NexStar to one of the guys at the club that had destroyed his on a bad landing a few weeks after he had solo'ed. He wanted the plane with the engine, I had already taken the radio and servo's out so that was a good deal for both of us. He got a plane that was in great shape (minor dings of course, hey..it's a trainer and they will get dings on them).

So, I have a vote here for the NexStar, although, I cannot fault any of the others, they are all great trainer aircraft.

You may want to consult with your instructor pilots at your field to see what THEY prefer. That may be a good way to get what you need and will be compatible with what the instructors are used to flying with. No matter what you do, it won't be the wrong decision, though, you will eventually solo and go your own way with aircraft choices.

By the way I solo'ed in August, 2004 and am into pattern training. Burn fuel. That's the way to get proficient.

One thing, though, PLEASE do your training with an instructor and use a buddy box system. You will save yourself a lot of heartache.

DS.

RE: First Glow Plane
 

Since you will be joining a club, it is presummed that you will have an instructor. If that is the case, then you do not need the overpriced NexStar. The "gadgets" are just "window dressing" for new commers to the hobby. The AFS, to the majority of people who have tried it, creates more bad habits than it is worth. The sim, while nice, is not needed since you can D/L FMS for free and either make or buy (about $15.00 ) an interface cord from the transmitter to the computer.

MOST people learn on a 40 size trainer. Going that route, I suggest the following:

1. An ARF trainer. Most trainers fly pretty much the same. Hobbico Superstar and Avistar, are about $100. The LT-40 (among others) is a little more. Remember, a trainer is to learn on. Expect it to get beat up and damaged.

2. Most trainers (in an RTF configuration ) come with a low power/marginal power bushed bearing engine that is rarely useable in a second plane. I suggest a USER FRIENDLY ball bearing 46 engine. Three I can recommend (depending on your budget ) are: OS 46 AX, Thunder Tiger Pro 46 and Evolution 46. By user friendly, I mean that 99%+ are going to run great right out of the box, have a minimal breaking in required and not need a lot of or constant "fiddeling" to run at their best.

3. While some people will suggest a 4 channel radio (all the RTF I am aware of come with a BASE level 4 channel radio), I suggest a 6 channel (or more, depending on budget ) COMPUTER radio. You will not be using many of the functions initially, but by your 3rd or 4th plane you will be wanting them (flaps, retracts, multiple models in memory, etc. ). The Futaba 6EXA is a good example of the type of radio I am referring to.

I suggest 2 other things with the radio.

BEFORE BUYING THE RADIO find out what brand is used by the majority of people at your field and get that brand. Manuals are nice, but a live person with experience is much better WHEN (not IF ) a question/problem arises.

The other thing is to find out which are the LEAST USED CHANNELS, and get the radio on one of those channels. It will minimize your waiting time for the channel to clear so you can fly and minimize/eliminate the chance of you being "shot down".

With some careful shopping, you can do this for the same (or often times less ) than the cost of an RTF.

RE: First Glow Plane
 

My experience with these two planes, although minimal: I'm the training coordinator for our club, and have been providing instruction this year. We had two new students. One had the Nexstar, and the other had the Alpha 40. While the Nextar performed quite adequately for a trainer, once we got the extra gadgets off, the Alpha trainer was a dream. I got to maiden the alpha trainer for the student, and it required almost no trim adjustments on its maiden flight. Landings were very smooth and easily controlled. The plane responded extremely well during approach to both elevator and throttle inputs, with no bad habits to balloon or float. The Nexstar was a little touchier for landings, and was a little more difficult to trim. We never did really trim out the tendency of the Nexstar to want to climb with power (not necessarily a bad tendency), but the Alpha was rock solid on heading through all throttle settings.

Bottom Line: If I were purchasing a trainer for the Club, I'd probably recommend the Alpha.

Brad

RE: First Glow Plane
 

I've flown and instructed with both the Nexstar and the Alpha 40. Unless you simply desire a bigger plane (Alpha 60) I'd recommend the Alpha 40. There is no need to pay the extra for the Nexstar if you are going to get proper instruction. IMO Purchase an ARF and select your own (better) radio/engine combination with the money you save over the Nexstar.

RE: First Glow Plane
 

I haven't flown either airplane (I soloed on an LT40) but there have been a couple of students out at the field lately with NexStars. Since the club uses a buddy box to teach, the instructors disconnected the AFS after a couple of flights. If, (please say you are ) going to be using a buddy box, you might find you can spend the same amount of money(or close to it) and get another trainer without all the gadgets and a fancier radio. While the radio included with the NexStar is just fine, it is a relatively simple four channel radio.

Having said that, there is a difference of opinion on the question of starting out with a simple 4 channel vs a computerized six channel radio.

From Tower Hobbies:
NexStar $390
Goldberg Eagle 2 ARF(110), OS 46LA(70), Airtronics VG6000(170)=$350
Sig LT 40(132), OS 46AX(110) Airtronics VG6000(170)=412

...I'm not recommending any particular engine/radio/airplane... but making your own combo and borrowing a flight sim might be a viable option for you and give you a radio with a bit more "oomph" if that's what you want to do....

RE: First Glow Plane
 

As the CFI at our club, I get to fly both -- frequently. Both are very good trainers, although quite different in concept.

The Alpha is a well-made standard trainer that flies beautifully. If you are a natural pilot, or a better than average student, it will work very well for you, possibly at marginally lower cost than the Nexstar, although, depending on your choice of power, it can cost more than the Nexstar. With comparable power & in stock trim, the Alpha is marginally more agile than the Nexstar is without its training aids (chiefly due to the Alpha's shallower dihedral).

The Nexstar is a broad spectrum trainer that can handle students of virtually any skill level, or aptitude, and as an instructor I have seen consistently better student success rates with the Nexstar, compared to any other trainer flying at our field. It is NOT overpriced -- the flight sim alone is an incrediby usefull tool, & the add-on flight aids are NOT gimmicks. They work extremely well & are indeed essential to some students, but may be non-essential to others. The airframe is good looking and very tough, while the OS FXi engine is the real thing & fully usefull for high-performance applications (either in a Nexstar hot-rod, or in a different sport plane).

Following completion of training, both models can be easily hot-rodded, and both have essentially the same aerobatic potential. In this scenario the Nexstar holds a minor advantage, as it will accept larger powerplants more easily.

RE: First Glow Plane
 

The nexstar but if you could i would go with an avistar 40 select i soloed with that plane and its great and can do some basic aerobatics, but since you didnt list it i would say the nexstar:D have fun!

RE: First Glow Plane
 

Listen up, your not going to stay on the traienr forever, even though its incredibly fun. Go for the cheapest one, ie the Tower Trainer. Its great, cheap, and will have you soloed in no time. For 250, you cant go wrong, for 399, for the nexstar? (Thats the price right?), i mean comon, youll save a bundle and get a new plane along with the trainer as a step up.

RE: First Glow Plane
 

Tell you what, Bigox25 and I both learned on Avistars, and I think they`re great. I have the Select, but I did put a 46 on it ( no big deal at all ) and it`s been terrific. Moved on to other planes, but STILL enjoy flying my Avistar. Yes, it`s a little hotter, but with an instructor, no problem. After you solo, you definitely have an airplane that can keep you interested!

RE: First Glow Plane
 

Actually, it's $389 Nexstar & $260 Tower trainer RTF.

For the $130 difference in price, with the Nexstar you get an OS 46 FXi, instead of the decidedly inferior Tower 46, a good flight sim and a larger, better looking & better built model -- one with the ability to handle students that can't tell one end of an airplane from another.

The flight sim alone is worth the difference in price.

RE: First Glow Plane
 

brit,

do you have any experience with the nextstar, do you have any experience with towers trainer? I think its useless to get all those gadgets on a plane that you wont be flying forever and pay alot. With the price difference, yes you can get an OS .46 AX or a second plane. Training is simple. You go to the field, you buddy box, you fly and you come home with a plane, the nexstar, sheesh, i dont know, i didnt fly it and wouldnt know whats good or bad for a trainer, but i know that i am perfectly happy with the tower trainer. I have a gp easy sport now with the same tower engine and radio gear, and it works GREAT! And you must be blind not being able to coordinate this plane. IT has a red strip under its left wing. And if you cant tell from the front to the rear of the plane, boy are you gonna crash. I personally had no experience with the flight sim, and i learned in no time. I couldnt care less if there was a flight simulator. THe sim will only teach you how to crash, more then fly. <-- THATS JUST WHAT I THINK IT DOES, DONT HATE!

Just thought you'd like to know,

Samolot

PS: I don't now one beginner who wanted a trainer and stuck with it. Every 5 posts or so, i saw a beginner posting up about bi-planes, war birds, its all there .Heck, Ive done it too, its just a process we beginners go through till we get to the area of the sport where we like.

RE: First Glow Plane
 

Sam I have a great deal of direct experience with both of those planes (go back & read my post again).

I fly several Nexstars every week at our club training sessions & Tower trainers somewhat less frequently. I also repair trainers for students, as well as modify them for fun.

So you don't want to keep your trainer after you learn to fly -- that's your decision. The real issue is to learn to fly, & in my direct experience as a chief instructor the Nexstar does it better, for a wider range of students, than anything else out there

RE: First Glow Plane
 

samolot - I've been flying for @ 30 years now and always keep a trainer in my fleet for fun flying. They are just plain fun to fly at times. Nice and simple and little to worry about. Don't knock basic trainers. :)

RE: First Glow Plane
 

Ditto

RE: First Glow Plane
 

My bad, i didnt realize. I will keep my traienr. Im trying to get a new radio and engine for it.

RE: First Glow Plane
 

Hey TideFlyer that little engine upgrade is what i did to mine after i soloed and that kept my intrest even longer ( i still fly it often though:D its a great plane) before i got my big stik.

RE: First Glow Plane
 

They also make great back-ups after you teach your new planes how to do the infamous "figure 9's". [:'(]

RE: First Glow Plane
 

haahaa. my baby is my back up for the easy sport

RE: First Glow Plane
 

I just thought it interesting to know that the " decidedly inferior" Tower .46, also descibed in this thread as low power/marginal power, bushed engine, that does come in the RTF version of the Tower Trainer is in fact a ball bearing ABC schnuerle engine that produces 1.75 hp @ 16,000 rpm, while the OS .46AX produces 1.65 @ 16,000 and the OS .46FX produces 1.36 @ 16,000. The 46LA is the most under-powered @ 1.2 hp, Here's your sign![X(] Now don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking OS engines, they are mostly what I own. I do have that Tower .46 as well and with about 3 minutes worth of fuel ran thru it, it smoothed right out, has a great low idle, plenty of power, and basically runs like a raped ape!
I have no reason to beleive it won't do so for a very long time as long as I take proper care of it. The point is I would never trash a product on an open forum until I first armed my opinion with the facts, which is exactly what I just did, I read the specs on all three of these engines. I would not hesitate to use this engine in another .40 size plane. If my OS .60 that I plan to use in my next project runs nearly as well as this Tower .46 does, I will be very pleased with it.

I believe RcKen stated in another thread that his Tower Trainer has over 500 flights on it & is still running strong, but I don't know what engine he has in it.

As someone else mentioned above they are all good Trainers. If money isn't a real issue for you, just get the one YOU like best, after all it is going to be your plane! But if you are looking for a bargain, $259+ shipping for the RTF Tower Trainer is the cheapest that I am aware of. I can't personally comment on the two specific models you asked about because I don't own either one. They both look like nice Trainers to me. I was given a new Tower Trainer RTF as a gift, so that is what I'm using. Good luck in whatever you decide, and just have alot of fun with it Afterall, that is what this is suppose to be all about!


Mark


Mark

RE: First Glow Plane
 

Mark, Mark ?? Hey I sound like a hairlip dog![sm=drowning.gif]