Is this a good plane for a beginner?
 

Hello, I had just recently got interested in r/c airplanes, an I was wondering if this would be a good plane for a beginner to start on.

http://www.hobbytron.com/Megatech-Me...F-w-Radio.html

So is this a good plane for a beginner?

RE: Is this a good plane for a beginner?
 

Probably not. With a little research you will find there is a line drawn between R/C toys and R/C model planes. While many of us started out with the "toy" variety that is very common and plentiful today many of them are misrepresented to beginners. Making them belive they are easier to fly than they really are. Take a look at the list of "beginner planes" at the top of this forum to see the difference. There are some sub $200 electric foam planes out there that can teach you to fly but I and many here will always encourage you to get help from an experienced flyer in your area. Trust me they are near you and willing to help.

RE: Is this a good plane for a beginner?
 

I started out with a Mega-tech. Would never buy another one. The plane you're looking at has to be hand launched and is very fast and difficult to fly. Find your local club, get with an instructor, and if the club doesn't have its own trainers (like ours does) then have them suggest one for you to buy. I went through a ton of electric crap but never really learned to fly until I bought my Nexstar.

RE: Is this a good plane for a beginner?
 

I've taught a few people since I learned an the easiest plane to learn on is the Sig LT-40 followed by the great planes/tower RTF Superstar 40. Both will fly almost at a walking speed if need be.

The nexstar is not as good of a trainer as they claim IMHO.


Ronnie-The Toolman

RE: Is this a good plane for a beginner?
 

The Nexstar is the only complete training package I've ever seen. RTF with the radio, plane, and simulator with a guarantee that if you crash the plane on an AMA approved field with a flight instructor they will replace it free of charge. Now tell me about another package that good or all inclusive. And try and get Sig to replace that LT-40 when your student plants it. It may fly easy but that isn't the only consideration. BTW The Nexstar will float down the runway at a crawl all day long and the simulator provided with it really flies like the plane.

RE: Is this a good plane for a beginner?
 

The nexstar is an overpriced albatross $369.00-$379.00. The superstar also comes with a radio an RTF at @$279.00. The only thing good about the nexstar is the simulator that comes with it, but I sure don't think it is worth the extra $100 or so over the superstar.

If you have a good instructor you'll never need that guarantee, plus that guarantee isn't good forever you know (60 days) from purchase date.


As far as the student planting the LT-40 goes. If he does, it means he hasn't got a very good instructor IMO.



Ronnie

RE: Is this a good plane for a beginner?
 

Sure got a lot of "IFs" in there. And I quote

Seems the Superstar comes with the cheaper LA engine ($68.00 as opposed to $110 for the AX) and has rubberbands holding the 60" wing on (Nexstar has a 68.75"). It doesn't have the AFS system or a sim. I would have printed out the guarentee but it didn't list one on the page. Seems the Lt 40 doesn't come with anything but the plane at $132.00. So, $68 for an engine, $100 for a flight pack, $120 for a transmitter. Oh $420.00 without the tubing or any other things needed to build it. I'm all over that deal!!! Talk about an Albatross.

RE: Is this a good plane for a beginner?
 

Even better, the Tower Trainer RTF Package. [link]http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCXF4**&P=ML[/link] . $254.99

From Tower's information about the Tower Trainer at the above link:
That's over $200 dollars less than the Nexstar. The student could be a FULL copy of Realflight with that $100. Or use the money to buy their field gear. I too believe the Nexstar is overpriced. While it flies about the same as most other trainers, it's been my experience in 9 years of training students that most instructors take off all the gadgets that the Nexstar boosts about.

Ken

RE: Is this a good plane for a beginner?
 

Well Ken, at least that one has a guarentee! BTW I don't think you can get G3 for $200.00. I could be wrong about that though.

RE: Is this a good plane for a beginner?
 

ROTFL----Does (2) ifs constitute a lot? I'll try an fix all 2 of'em for ya.....

1. With a good instructor you'll never need that guarantee, plus that guarantee isn't good forever you know (60 days) from purchase date.

2. As far as the student planting the LT-40 goes. When he does, it means he hasn't got a very good instructor IMO.


RC Ken's even got a better deal an it still has the guarantee, which still goes back to my 2 above statements



Ronnie-The Toolman

RE: Is this a good plane for a beginner?
 

[link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXNYN1&P=ML]Realflight G3.5[/link] $159.99

[link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXSNP2&P=ML]Realflight G4[/link] $199.98

Ken

RE: Is this a good plane for a beginner?
 

Now, with all that I said above. I totally agree with you, if you have a good instructor you don't need a money back gaurantee. In 9 years of instructing I've never lost a students plane while training them. I've been able to take all of my students to a solo on their trainer without any crashes.

And in regards to the original choices for this thread, I would choose the LT-40. After building one for my build thread and flying I must say that it's got to be one of the best flying trainers out there.

Ken

RE: Is this a good plane for a beginner?
 

hehe, Ken you oughta do an STL an edit that price from $200 less to about $125 less.


As far as sims goes, I bought the cheapy radio box an cd for FMS? from sig for $40 or so. Not the best graphics, but it still does all of the things you need to know as good as the high $ ones. My wife learned from it in about 1 weeks worth of eves on the computer an all I hafta do is land it for her now. (Sig LT-40 with 46 LA) She actually was a lot faster at learning than me, but I didn't have any sims to use when I learned.

Ronnie

RE: Is this a good plane for a beginner?
 

Al, our resident hot shot has wrecked 2 nexstars and the nylon bolt never broke on either one, it ripped the mountings out of the fuz on both of'em. At least the rubber bands on the superstar will break an let the wing go when it hits the ground, if the instructor lets that happen ;)

Better read up on the afs system also. Theres all sorts of reasons they give in the instructions why it might not work also. Like flying on a nice sunny day [8D]

As far as the engine goes, the nexstar does NOT have a 46ax in it, it is a 46 FXI and is a purpose built engine for the hobbico nexstar. It is not of the same quality build as the now discontinued 46FX


EDIT--- for the life of me, I can't understand why everybody always throws that tubing thing like its a big cost on a plane. Usually $1 will pay for the fuel tubing. Besides, the lt-40 came with all of that stuff included (pushrods, tubing, tank, etc)

One thing about it though, he will have all he needs for an LT-40 once he wrecks the nexstar.:) 379 + 132 = $511

Ronnie

RE: Is this a good plane for a beginner?
 

Well personally, I think you and Ken are full of it or at the least trying to get people to spend way more money then is necessary to get into this sport successfully. Just my opinion mind you. Why else would you give out so much mis-information?? Follow the link to the .46 AX which is in stock at Tower. Why would anyone suggest someone new to the hoddy spend $420.00 for a trainer when they can get a better one for $369.00??? Sure seems strange to me. We keep hearing about these ggod instructors and I'm sure there are a lot out there but I'm also sure there are guys just trying to help out newbies and crashing. BTW Toolman, why are you pulling all of these numbers out of your butt??? Build me your LT 40 trainer and send me the receipts and we'll see who got the best deal. I trained on my Nexstar, both of my sons trained on it, and now my grandson is training on it. In the meantime I've seen a dozen of your GREAT trainers lose their wing in a pull out or to a cheapo bum flight pack. You guys keep talking about good instructors. Well if you want to be one why don't you tell your students to buy smart instead of telling them to buy what YOU like to fly.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXFMD5&P=ML

RE: Is this a good plane for a beginner?
 

Al,
I'm not quite sure what you are saying here, because I did not recommend getting a trainer that cost $420. If you look at the Tower Trainer that I provided a link to it is a trainer, radio, and engine for $254 for the entire package. Much cheaper than the Nexstar. I'm not qute sure where you came up with a figure like $420.

If I am asked my opinions about the Nexstar I will let people know that I think it is WAY overpriced for what you get. When a student shows up to a field with a Nexstar the first thing most instructors do is recommend that the AFS be disconnected, the speed brakes removed, and the wing droops taken off. Those three items are some of the big selling points that Hobbico uses. If they are going to be removed why even pay for them in the first place?

Ken

RE: Is this a good plane for a beginner?
 

I turned my AFS off after the first flight but I left on the airbrakes and NACA foils. They keep the plane from diving in a turn and slow it down for landings. As far as the Tower Trainer I agreed with you that the plane at least had a gaurentee. It still does not have a sim. I respect your opinions but I also have one and it is based on the easiest and cheapest way to get people into this sport. If I've ruffled any feathers stating this I'm sorry but I watched a lot of guys start with me with the planes you guys suggest and drop out of the sport after they went in. Seven years later mines still flying. BTW I never said you suggested that they spend $420.00. If it seemed that way I apoligize. That was directed towards Toolman and his LT 40 trainer.

RE: Is this a good plane for a beginner?
 

My favorite current production trainers that I normally recommend reguardless of any so called ultimate combos are the ARF version Sig Senior Kaydet or the LT-40. The Senior is arguably the most successful trainer ever and the more modern LT-40 just as good in a slightly smaller size.

Additionally I will go one further and state that arguably the LT-40 makes the very best first float plane over anything else out there.

John

RE: Is this a good plane for a beginner?
 

Here we go again another thread where someone is asked an opinion about a trainer..Some die hard Nexstar fan gets offend because someone else doesn't agree that the Nexstar is the best...I'm with Ken I agree the Nexstar is overpriced..and frankly there are better flying trainers out there..Now that is my opinion based on teaching students to fly...
By the way Al, Ken is straight forward with his answers and opinions..

RE: Is this a good plane for a beginner?
 

I fly profiles most all the time Al, I could care less about trainers anymore. You are doing the same as you accuse me of "telling them what YOU like to fly" But the facts are, that there have been more people learn to fly with an LT-40 than the Nexstar. I have no connection with any company either, I'm in the excavating biz.....

Also when first learning, an LA 46 is more than plenty of power to start with on the LT. A new pilot doesn't need a BB engine running wide open anyway. I've flown both, an the LT is a lot more docile than the Nexstar, have you ever tried one?

Besides, we're having an ice storm here right now and I haven't got anything better to do than type stuff.... ;)


Ronnie :)

RE: Is this a good plane for a beginner?
 

By the way

LT-40 ARF $132.00
LA.46 $68.00
4 chan Futaba radio with all the goodies $120.00
Prop $3? maybe
Fuel tubing $1 just had ta throw this in.hehe

Total=$324.00

Besides, the new pilot will learn alot from putting this all together an knowing how it all works [8D]


Ronnie

RE: Is this a good plane for a beginner?
 

To Pilot Pat: All of the trainers talked about are good trainers with an instructor. At the begining of this Beginners Forum is a list of decent trainers put together by RCKen.

RE: Is this a good plane for a beginner?
 

I agree with most people that the nextar is over priced, while it will teach you to fly just like any other trainer. If you have an instructor there is no need to have AFS, Airbrakes, Wing Droops. The only thing that I see them gadgets doing is slowing down your learned process. Although I didn't learn on a LT-40 I think it is probably the best choice, I think the number one reason for this is because you have to build it. So you learn that much more than if it were an ARF or a RTF.

Lets say you get a nextar or any RTF plane. You get it with all the electronics installed, engine installed, and everything ready to go. So you learn absolutely nothing about building or installing. You are that much more likely to screw something up on your second plane (when most poeple get an ARF or a kit) and it is most likely you will not have an instructor to look over your second plane. Where if you learn how to build and set up your trainer you will probably have an instructor to look it over and find any mistakes. That way when your ready to build your next plane you are that much more prepared and educated, and the plane will probably look bettery to boot.

Just my opinion,
Austin

RE: Is this a good plane for a beginner?
 

Building your first plane to learn to fly is a great concept. As you guys have stated it gives the student a better understanding of their plane and what is doing what, inside of it. I don't think that anyone could argue that point. The problem I can see though is someone who wants to learn to fly and jumps onto Tower or Horizon's website and starts ordering 20 things that they don't need, will never use, or aren't suitable for the plane they bought. Next thing you know they're out $400.00 and don't have anything they can put together and fly. BTW When I first started flying I had no idea that RCU even existed so I sure wasn't coming here for advice. The package deals take those problems away. Remember, a lot of the newbies are kids out in the midwest on farms and ranches trying to teach themselves to fly. Many don't have clubs or instructors. I was lucky in that my neighbor had been flying forever. I also have a club with outstanding instructors, a youth training program where we supply everything, and a set qualification list of maneuvers in order to solo and get flight qualified. Even with all of that i bought a Nexstar because I liked the package deal concept and I liked the plane. I found that using the included sim helped me a great deal because I could turn on the instructor and the computer would talk me though the maneuvers. This made the whole experience of learning to fly much easier and much less frustrating (not as many failures). Now personally, I paid $358.00 for that Nexstar from my LHS. Both of my sons used it to fly and my grandson now owns it and is flying it. I don't consider that over-priced. Is it the easiest trainer to fly? By no means but, that just made me a better pilot learning to deal with its peculularities. I think it's a good package for the beginner pilot. Many may disagree but there are a lot of people out there that do agree. Let's be honest, if we all agreed on everything life would be pretty boring.

RE: Is this a good plane for a beginner?
 

I must say that I am totally impressed with Al Lewis. He's not only an expert on Nexstars but on all other trainers too. All this without claiming (that I saw) to have given any instruction himself or having flown the others himself. Impressive. Looking at a few of his other posts I find he is also a gas engine expert, 3D expert, manufacturing expert, economics expert and who knows what else. Perhaps he's studying brain surgery in his spare time. All the time not wasting his time by allowing that some of us may also have some knowledge in the area of interest. I am truely honored to be in his presence and perhaps we should just leave this forum for him to run since only his opinions count anyway.[:'(]