next step?
 

I have a lot of training on a simulator( jets, helis, ect...) and own a hobbico skyfly. What be a good next step?

RE: next step?
 

Hard to say..go to your local field and see if they have an intro pilot program and get a flight..talk to the people there let an instructor evaluate your skills ...and go on their recommendation

RE: next step?
 

it also depends alot on how much $$$ you wanna spend.. don't know how much looking you've done but look in the beginners section their is alot of help there.

RE: next step?
 

If you can get to a club and fly a nitro plane , would be a good way to go. Then check out electric. and see if it appeals to you.
You may find , you don`t care for the nitro and prefer to not to get down in the nitty gritty. Then try a Super Cub , a little more money, but much more plane.
Also, if you go to a club , you just might find a trainer ready to go , for sale.
Whatever you decide . Welcome to RCU and let us know what you end up doing.

RE: next step?
 

Thanks for the help. Here are a couple of planes that looked fitting to me(under $300). The tower trainer 40mkII rft, the avistar 40 select 4 channel rft, and the super star select mkII rtf. All of these are from towerhobbies.com. Would any of these be a good choice?

RE: next step?
 

I have had a Tower trainer ARF . Nice plane for the money and it flys well . Decals don`t stick so well , but to me , that's not a big deal.
The combo deal with the SuperTigre GS40 not a bad deal at $237 and you may be able to find a coupon

RE: next step?
 

The Avistar is a great trainer and quite capable. The engine that comes with the Select is not real strong, but satisfactory for someone just starting in glow IMHO. Tell you what though, if you can, after flying with the 40 for awhile, switch it out for a 46. That`s what I did, and it made the Avistar a different airplane!!

RE: next step?
 

I'll second Insanemoondoggie. For the price the Tower Trainer can't be beat (one of RCKen's favorites). Looking at the Tower site, the plane comes with the Tower .46 engine and the Tower 4-channel radio which is a rebaged Futaba.

Hogflyer

RE: next step?
 

The Avistar and Tower Trainer are both excellent trainers, I am not familiar with the Super Star.

RE: next step?
 

I don't know anything about the Tower trainer, but I personally have the Avistar Select and my club has 2 SuperStars as club trainers. These two planes are well put together, and quite durable. I personally have put my Avistar into a tree, and it is still flying after some minor repairs. The SuperStars I have seen tumble down the runway, and again a few quick repairs and they were back in the air.

I would second the statement that the .40 LA that comes with the Avistar is a little weak. However it seems to pull the Avistar around a little better than the SuperStar. The Avistar doesn't have much vertical with the supplied engine, but it can manage most basic aerobatics. However it is only after flying the plane for the last 4 months that I am starting to wish it had a bit more engine. I personally decided to go with a new plane instead, but an engine upgrade would be a nice boost.

If I had to make a suggestion I would go with either the Tower Trainer, or the Avistar. The Superstar is a lot like the Tower Trainer, only underpowered. Another options would be to get the Avistar ARF and buy the radio equipment separate. This way you can start out with a stronger engine.

No matter what though, if these are the 3 you are choosing from I don't think you can go wrong.

Good luck, and have fun!

RE: next step?
 

I had a super star with a 40 la a superb plane you could fly it really slow without
Stalling you could land it like a helicopter but being a trainer was not able to do
Any aerobatics also the engine was not exactly a power house but vertical dives
Were great and the strength of the wing surprising pulling out of dives from a
Spec in the sky to around 10 ft off the ground the thing was shaking coming
Out of the dive and the noise was like a real aeroplane as I kept the throttle wide
Open in the dive but I would advise you to get a trainer with a 46 sized engine
And a 6 channel transmitter as I got bored after 3 months of it and sold the engine
Then got a 46 irvine and a sport aerobat cap 232 personally it is the hardware you
Get with your trainer not the trainer itself that counts

RE: next step?
 

speed lover,

Did you have your trainer set up with minimal control throw? I just did the maiden flight on a Hangar 9 Alpha 60 today after a couple of minute on the first flight was running it through a sportsman aerobatic sequence. Granted a flat bottom doesn't like to spin but will perform most of aerobatic maneuver in the sportsman category. When people talk about a trainer being boring, I just say up the control throw and start working on precision - a trainer can go a long way and I try to always have at least one trainer flying in the stable.

Hogflyer

RE: next step?
 

No the throws were at the maximum have to say the power was quite poor
But I have to say the rudder was great and tight turns were smooth and precise
But that was about it