First plane
 

I want to get into flying and need a good trainer? Thinking of a slow stick please give any advice you can.

RE: First plane
 

LT-40 with a LA-40 or a 50 fourstroke, built as a taildragger, the BEST trainer Period.

RE: First plane
 

is this a nitro model

RE: First plane
 

Yes the LT-40 is typically glow powered. That doesn't mean you can't go electric with it of course. Doing that though would take away lot of the cool stuff like burning castor smell and noise though. Take a look at this post in the beginners forum: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4537845/tm.htm

It has some good information on first planes.

RE: First plane
 

I agree with the LT-40. It is a great trainer airplane. It flies quite gracefull and landings are a piece of cake.

MR G

RE: First plane
 

Yes a glow plane, by Sig not Nitro Models, tower has them for about $130. I've been flying since '71, this was the most fun plane I think I ever had. Don't over power it, It's a fantastic slow flier, just a normal good flier when over powered. This is a picture of it after 4 years, a little long in the tooth so I sold it.

RE: First plane
 

Just to address your questions about the Slow Stick....

The Slow Stick is a completely different animal from a nitro trainer (obviously). It is very easy to fly, and can provide you with a very relaxing flying experience. It can give you a leg up on training with a nitro trainer, by simply giving you more stick time to work on orientation, etc.. I have one, and I flew it a LOT before I soloed my Alpha 40, but I haven't really flown it since.

Looking at the financial picture, the Slow Stick is about a $35 airframe/motor. To get it into the air, you need an ESC, a receiver, a transmitter, two servos, a battery, and a charger. Unless you have parts you can scavenge from another park flyer (as I did), you will be looking at around $100-$150 to get the Slow Stick flying. When you look at it that way, it seems like a lot of money for the experience of flying the SS.

Don't get me wrong, I loved flying my SS, and I put together a second one for playing with low budget aerial photography. If your goal is to get into nitro flying, your money might be better invested in a used nitro trainer, or just go with an LT-40 as has been suggested if that fits your budget.

Good luck.

RE: First plane
 

:eek: Here we go again.

The first, the very first posting in the Beginners Forum is this: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4537845/tm.htm

Go there and choose.

RC Ken spent an awful lot of time to develop this list and it is probably the most extensive listing of great trainers available.

And, I won't yell... period.

RE: First plane
 

Great list, but I think he was looking for a recommendation of which to trainer get.

RE: First plane
 

Well, Rich, isn't that what the list is for? Or does he want a specific recommendation?

If it were me choosing again, I would go as large as I could for a trainer.. any of the 60 size trainers are great because the trainee can see them. Visibility is a good thing!!

As far as models are concerned, well, the Senior Falcon, Nexstar, Goldberg Protege (although it is more flat wing.. not much dyhedral.. it does perform well as a trainer), Hobbistar 60, Thunder Tiger 60, any of those 60 size trainers are great.

I must admit, though, I have a Hobbico Super Star (40 size) that I bought as a club trainer and swapped out the 40 LA with an OS 46 (forgot the version) and a MACS exhaust, and this thing does two things very well... it flys great as a trainer at half throttle, and will surprise the dickens out of you when adding throttle. It flys great.

I go back to my original reply, and go to this list and pick out one.. but I do go with a recommendation for a larger, 60 size aircraft.

RE: First plane
 

I think the point of the list is that you can take it to a hobby shop, find any of the listed models on the shelf, buy it, and have a plane that will be perfectly fine for learning to fly.

If the store has multiple choices: Flip a coin. Choose the least expensive, or the most expensive, or pick your favorite color.

Everyone has their "favorite" combination but the truth is that any of the trainers Ken listed will get the job done.

RE: First plane
 

Is he able to chose well? It's his first plane, so I'm assuming he can't, so I would say a specific recommendation is what was wanted and needed. I agree bigger is better, the LT-40 is as big or bigger than most of all the .60 size trainers, it's just lighter and flys better.

I instruct a lot, I finally told guys if you want me to instruct you get a LT-40, make it a taildragger, or there's lots of other instructors to teach you. I have lots of guys that get the LT-40.

The problem with the list is a newbee will take it to his LHS and find one of the that's on the list. The LHS will tell him yep that's the best one, and I have it in stock. Well there's only one best one, but a hundred on the list.

CGRetired

Here's a list:
Boat/US
West Marine
Boaters World
Solaris

Let the newbee pick your liferaft's flares. Hey, he's got a list.

RE: First plane
 

Yep, and all of those liferaft flares will work just fine, provided you don't drop them while lit. [sm=drowning.gif]

I've never flown the LT40. I have flown several of the ones I though of as appropriate, including a Tower 40, Nexstar, Hobbico Suuper Star, Senior Falcon, Protege, and a few others, so what I said was not without some experience.

And, I do agree that setting it up as tail dragger is definitely the way to go. It teaches several aspects of take-off and landing that you just don't get with a trike setup.

CGr.

RE: First plane
 

I'm still a fan of the Midwest AeroStar and the Hanger 9 Alpha. I started out with the Aerostar (kit)with an ASP .46 (20+ years ago). Over all the years I've instructed on almost everyone of the planes that that made the list. I like the H9 Alpha complete package (just wish it was a Futaba Radio :). For the Alpha, normally after the first flight session, I reccomend a two blade prop instead of the 3 blade, I just perfer the better performance from the engine. Yes, some might disagree with that, but I always know that I have a 10X6 or 10X7 in my box just in case, but I never carry spare 3 blad props. But all the trainers on the list can be used to teach someone to fly.

My advise, join a local club, talk to the instuctors about which plane(s) they like to train on and then purchase that recommendation. The LHS can be helpful, but sometimes try to push a certain product line. As an instuctor, I like to try to keep my students flying certain planes so that I know the planes and not trying to figure out new ones every time I get a new student. Not that I can't adjust, but it is a little easier on me when I have to make recommendations. I also like to keep that certain plane so that in case its is broken, I know that parts can be found quickly to get the back in the air. The one that I really do not like that much is the Hobbico Nexstar (please no flamers).

RE: First plane
 

Unfortunately there arent any local clubs around ,so I pretty much have to try to keep it in the air till I lan to hit the ground ( hopefully upright and all parts still attached

RE: First plane
 

Ditto that, what a POS that is.

whatfelloff

Don't do it, get a instructor!
Use this to find a club! http://find.mapmuse.com/re1/map_bran...AIRPLANE_CLUBS,
or save youself the trip to your field and just stomp on the plane in your drive way.

CGRetired

You shock me. If you've ever seen a Solaris burn at the same time as anything else there would no question what you wanted in a liferaft with you. I did, at a demo for the Carribean 1500, the Solaris was so much brighter you could not see the Boat/US flare.

RE: First plane
 

whatfelloff - have you looked at the AMA website for clubs in your local area? Sometimes, even you might have to drive a ways, but it will be much more pleasurable. If you can't find one, I would advise you to get an RC simulator before you start trying to fly by yourself. The cost of the rc sim alone will save you many $$$ instead of putting a plane into the ground on the first try. Although the sim does not teach you the art of getting an actual plane set up, the engine running correctly, etc. , at least it will get you used to the way an RC plane flies. You will read about the few (and I mean few) people that have taught themselves to fly, a sim and then an instructor are the way to go.

RE: First plane
 

You should make every effort possible to find and contact a club with an instructor. If there is no possible way to do that and you still insist on doing this I would advise you to buy the Nexstar as it is RTF and comes with it's own flight simulator for you to practice on before you crash the plane. It will make it a lot easier for you to learn to fly. It has everything but the fuel, starter, and glo-driver. Unless you have a very large area to fly in I would advise you to get an electric parkflyer. Cost lots less and don't crash as hard. Usually Hobbyzone or Parkzone electrics are good starters. Just remember, if it looks fast, it probably is.

RE: First plane
 

Nope, I've never seen one. (Solaris) Then again, I am retired so I don't get to see all the fun stuff. And after 26 years of CG, well, I've seen enough water.. from the "out-there" perspective, that is. I thought you were talking about a Toyota.. oops, or is that Solara? ;)

As far as the Nexstar is concerned, well, it did it's job for me, then two other students, and, from what I understand, is still around.

RE: First plane
 

Part of the fun of RC flying, is the comeraderie at the airfield. I hope you can find a club or airfield nearby. My field is a 30 minute drive from my house.

Even if I don't fly, hanging out with a bunch of nice people makes the trip worth it...

Oh... I built/fly the LT40. I don't have other flying experience to compare it to, but it flys nice for me. Built good too.

RE: First plane
 

I belive I want to start off with a electric.I have a nitro car and can set the motor on mine and several guys that i got into it cars quite well. Electric seems to be a easier and safer way to start just dont want to buy a pos that unerperforms

RE: First plane
 

You're in luck...

My LT40 is electric. I'm on my second motor/ESC/battery setup. The first one flew, but was wimpy. I had to modify the fuse slightly to use different main landing gear. But it's turned out really well.. And is fun to fly.

Here's my thread on the motor setup:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_6359162/tm.htm

RE: First plane
 

can u buy the lt 40 elec or do you have to convert it

RE: First plane
 

SIG sells an electric version of their Kadet trainer, the EP-42B, that comes with a brushless motor and speed controller. The plane is smaller than the Kadet LT-40 though. It has a 42 inch wing span. Picture of www.sigmfg.com product page below.

There's also the Hobbico Electristar (RTF - Ready To Fly) http://www.hobbico.com/airplanes/hcaa12.html that comes with brushless motor and computer radio already installed. All you have to buy is battery packs and charger.

Hobbico also distributes the Flyzone line of RTF electrics http://www.flyzoneplanes.com/airplanes/flyzone-rc.html
These are small and light. Some say they're "toys" but they might be a good choice compared to a balsa plane if you're not going to have an experienced pilot helping you.

RE: First plane
 

You can get an LT-42EP ARF.. But it's not the same size as an LT40.

I bought the LT40 kit, built it, and converted it. Thing I would do differently.

1. Mount the ESC under the motor in the engine area. I added air scoops in the fuel tank hatch, and again after the wing. This allowed air to enter and exit the fuselage. It also added weight. If I had it to do over again, I'd do that a little differently. A little creativity and it would simplify the built and electric portion of the build. And make at-the-field battery changes a bit easier.

2. Build in some kind of battery arming switch. I have to remove the front hatch, connect the battery, and reattach the hatch. A switch or something on the outside of the plane would be handy. And safer.

3. Possibly build it as a taildragger. I had issues making the front wheel steer well. Making the tail wheel steerable is tricky, and you may not want to undertake such a mod if this is your first build. But it would make the mounting of the ESC a lot simpler.