Smallest trainer available to UK
 

hi guys

i am considering taking to the air with a plane instead of just jumping my Savage off buildings...

so i need your opinions on which Nitro trainer i should get, i had a Jamara cessna 120 which was 2 channel and it was horrible, so i want something with atleast 3 channels, as cheap as possible and easy to get parts for

so really all i want is a 3-4 Channel nitro trainer, small as possible (.15 - .25) and something that is very easy for beginners as im perfectly alright taking off, its just the landings that im not very good at (its hard with no elevators)

cheers

- foamy

RE: Smallest trainer available to UK
 

I would suggest the Carl Goldberg Freedom 20 with an OS 25LA engine. You can get the plane, engine and radio from Tower Hobbies. The plane is a kit and is quick and easy to build. It looks like a Cessna 152. Very nice plane that flys as great as it looks. The plane is $69.99. This is the setup I have and I love mine. It flys fast or slow and it is a 4 channel plane. You will really like this one. This was my first trainer and I learned to fly on it easily. Good Luck!!!

Gibbs

RE: Smallest trainer available to UK
 

thanks gibbs

thing is, if you clculate the shipping it comes to $80 or something silly like that, got to be about £50 in my money (english)
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXDJC0&P=7

i can get the engine, radio gear, tank, materials and everything else dirt cheap over in england, but its amounts to almost £100 to ship the plane over to the UK, and then i need £60 for electronics

what do you think of the Thunder Tiger trainers? [link=http://www.alshobbiesstore.com/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Trainer_Advanced__Deals_109.html]CLICK HERE AND LOOK AT DEAL B[/link]

its got some good quality radio gear, servos, propellor and plug so i should be ok with that

RE: Smallest trainer available to UK
 

Thats true, but the plane is worth it. If your only buying the plane I'd go for it. Even if you need to get the other things from Tower I would still do it. This a very reasonably priced kit for a 55" wingspan. You decide! What can you get over there?

Gibbs

RE: Smallest trainer available to UK
 

Welcome to the end of free time and disposable income as you knew them. That being said, perhaps you should wait until your budget catches up with your desires. IMHO you will not be happy with a 'small' trainer.

If it's at all possible, consider buying a used trainer. At least a .40 size. Go check out a local club or 2 and ask some questions. You may find someone willing to give up their old trainer for a song.


This hobby can get expensive, but there is no reason you should'nt be able to participate at a low cost. Some clubs even have 'club trainers' which are intended for student use. You may be able to learn for free and save your money for a larger plane and all of the field equipment.

Good Luck!!

RE: Smallest trainer available to UK
 

That plane is almost the same thing except it's bigger. Buy that one!:D

Gibbs

RE: Smallest trainer available to UK
 

Bigger isn't always better. I learned on a 20 size and now everybody thinks they have to have large planes. I agree that it's easier to see large planes but that doesn't mean there better. Now I buy big because I can afford it. But I mean real big in the giant scale category. I like the way a giant scale bird flys and also the use of gas engines instead of gummy glow.;)

Gibbs

RE: Smallest trainer available to UK
 

im no stranger to nitro, ive been doing nitro offroading for a few years now and i know the costs of it (HPI savage... cant wait to get rid of it) and im only really looking for a .25 because i need something that will fly slow so i can have time to make adjustments

but R/C'ing in england isnt much fun, theres an abandoned airfield not far from me so im in luck, but there is nowere NEAR as much R/C shops and facilaties as you guys have in the US of A, i really want to move to america when im older, everything is so cheap and friendly over there.

but anyway, what are the advantages of a .40 over a .25?

RE: Smallest trainer available to UK
 

how does this look?:

[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJ555&P=0]Clicky![/link]


with this engine and readio gear:

[link=http://www.alshobbiesstore.com/acatalog/Thunder_Tiger_Aero_Engines.html]THUNDER TIGER GP-25[/link]
[link=http://www.alshobbiesstore.com/acatalog/Jamara_Radio.html]THE RADIO AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE[/link]

RE: Smallest trainer available to UK
 

Bigger IS better when it comes to trainers.
Easier to see in the air
More stable (not as easily effected by turbulance)
Can handle more wind (there are a couple of smaller trainers at my club that are grounded in fairly high wind where my larger Kadet Senior is perfectly happy)

RE: Smallest trainer available to UK
 

NCIS

Bigger IS better, aerodynamically speaking, that is. Yes you can have just as much fun with a smaller plane if that is what you like, but bigger planes fly better due to reynold's number, aspect ratio and a number of other factors which are frankly WAY WAY beyond my understanding.

It's exactly why I went to giant scale too. I still fly glow, but I LOVE the bigger planes. I think trying to learn a new skill set on a squirrelly little .25 would be harder than a .40 or larger trainer.

Let's face it, a student is more likely to give-up and find another hobby if the first few experiences are poor ones. That's why I think larger trainers are better...it's more likely to result in a new member of the addiction...um er...UMM...HOBBY!

RE: Smallest trainer available to UK
 

I have to agree with NCIS - small planes can be a lot of fun and there is a definite mind set that about flying a larger size plane. While I also agree that bigger planes, in general fly better, I've had a chance to fly some big planes that flew horrible! The .40 size plane had become the standard size trainer for several reasons - it's large enough to be easier to see and quite stable, yet with a .40 is small enough not to break the bank. I've had as much fun with 1/2A as with larger planes - how often on a nice hot summer day can a large plane get a 1-1/2 to 2 hr flight? Done it quite a bit a QRC .049 powered Q-Tee, and all on a 4-1/2 minute engine run......and they are less expensive, take up less space, use less fuel, etc. Same with a well built Jr. Falcon (which makes a good trainer also).

It's all what a person wants to fly, and if they want to fly a small plane their choice should be supported. Part of the diversity of the hobby. Wild Foamy is asking about the availability of .15 - .25 size planes, not .40 and up.

Wild Foamy,

Check out the 1/2A forum which is dedicated to the smaller planes. You'll find a lot of knowledge there just ripe for the pick'in in the size plane you’re looking for. The Q-Tee I mentioned will have to be scratch built as the Airtronics kit has been out of production for many moons, but plans are available form RCM and it's an easy build (I just scratch built fuselage for the shoulder wing S-Tee version and re-used the kit wing).

Hobby People also has the .09 - .15 sized School Boy ARF for around $50.00 US (but I don't know what the shipping to the UK would be). I recently picked one up and hung an OS .10 on it. All it needs is the radio installed and it's ready fly. It's a 50" span and should make a nice gentle trainer. I got mine for a relaxing evening flight after work at a local park when I don't feel like driving across town to the flying field. If you look at the magazines available you should be able to find something in the size range your look for. Something along the lines of a power glider may be the ticket for you - low powered and easy to fly.

Hogflyer

Edit: I posted this in one of your other threads, but the Sig Siniorita, with a 63" wing span, is powered by a .15 - .25 and 3-channel. Very easy plane to fly and very forgiving. It sounds exactly what you're looking for.

RE: Smallest trainer available to UK
 

star bud ;), thats exactly what im looking for, its small but stable and a good price and looks like something i can "tinker" with for a few moons... maybe a little banner that says "look mommy, im flying!" or conversion to dragtail?

and my birthday is just around the corner (26th of October) and i usually get about £100 from relatives for my birthday, plus my income from paper round, allowance and any extra chores/jobs i can get my hands on so hopefully i will be up and running by christmas, but having said that i think i should wait for spring time as it will be warmer and less windy...

ive managed to find an instructor in hampshire using the sites search feature, so will give him a call tomorow and see what he can do for me :)