advice
 

I'm interested in learning to fly rc planes and some of the people at my local club recommended the Hobbico Nexstar 46 select rtf as a sloid first choice trainer. I'm really not interested in electric planes. What you all think?
Thank you for your help.

RE: advice
 

There are many good choices out there and the Nexstar is one of them.

If that's what your club recommends, then it's a very good choice because that means they are familiar with it which will take a lot of the guess work out of your training.

RE: advice
 

Thank you Minn for your quick response. I appreciate your time. How much more $ should I expect to pay for other things I will need to fly...just ball park or course.
Thank you again.

RE: advice
 

The Nextstar is an O.K. trainer,many have learnt to fly on them.but I would go with the Hobbico Avistar if your going to use an instructor . This plane still handles like a trainer , but can also be very aerobatic . I teach with mine and also enjoy flying it alot. Good windy day plane.
The Avistar wont grow old on you fast , like a normal trainer , it is capable of doing many, many manuvers that a normal trainer wont.

RE: advice
 

Malkman, Click on the link in my signature. It will take you to a great place filled with tons of info for starting out.

RE: advice
 

I have the NexStar ARF and it's a great flying model once you get it setup correctly. They also make a RTF version with an OS 46 and Futaba 4 channel that you may want to consider. I think you can pick it up for around $350.

I had a few setup issues with my model. The fuel tank sits between two bulkheads behind the firewall would not fit securely behind the firewall. It would move around once in position and that can change our center of gravity. I corrected this by installing two cup hooks on either side of the fuse and threading two #64 rubber bands behind the tank. It still moves slightly, but it's much better. Also, there's no room to wrap the tank in foam so I get some air bubbles in the fuel line to the carb. I had to mess with the highspeed mixture quite a bit before I found a slightly rich setting to compensate for the bubbles. It occassionally will hiccup while flying at full throttle, but so far it seems to be okay. Until I got the mixture right, I had quite a few deadstick landings. Fortunately this model glides well! Another guy at our club has the same model and he hasn't had any of the fuel tank issues. So I guess it varies from model to model. The other thing is the landing gear. It's designed to snap into place and there's a quick release button if you want to remove it. It works great until you need to adjust it. I had a hard deadstick landing once and the right main gear broke off some of the balsa beneath the fuse. After fixing everything, the gear would no longer snap into place. So i had to remove the quick release mechansim from the fuse and just replaced it with 1/4 ply. Then I screwed the gear permanently in place with four large wood screws. It's now much more secure, but I lost the ability to quickly snap the gear in and off. It's not a big deal though as I never remove the landing gear.

Keep in mind you'll likely encounter small issues with any kit or ARF. They've become quite better since the mid 90s, but they're not perfect.

RE: advice
 

Sig Kadet Lt-40 is one of the best, if not the best, trainer. Very forgiving.

RE: advice
 

Thank you to everyone for your help. I never expected to get such quick responses. This must be a good site...glad I found it. I'm going to look into and consider all that was said/recommended and then make my choice. I appreciate the support and everyones' time.
Does the computer tainer that comes with the trainer really allow you to have a decent chance at an uneventful solo flight? Am I better off with looking for a person to train me?

RE: advice
 

As I said on the "Getting Airborne" site, A simulator is a fantastic tool, but it's no substitute for an instructor.

A sim allows you to do "Homework".

Before sims, you went to the field, worked with your instructor, and then didn't get any more hands on experience until your next lesson. With a sim, you can spend some time with your instructor, then go home and practice what you learned.

RE: advice
 

Pay heed to MinnFlyer's advice. A sim is a nice tool, but you're chances of successfully staying in the hobby and enjoying yourself are greatly improved after a few sessions with an instructor. There's nothing worse than bringing home a pile of splinters.

RE: advice
 

If you put in a few hours of sim time, there is a good chance you can solo within 3-5 flights with an instructor. Without the sim, it will take you quite a bit longer. The hardest part of flying RC planes is learning the control perspective, or how to control it when it's flying towards you, away from you, above you, inverted, etc. This is something that is best learned with lots of practice. The sim allows you to put in several hours of practice at home on your own, and figure that out. Then at the field, the instructor can give you tips on you flying style, take-offs & landings, etc.

I'll put in another vote for the Avistar for your first trainer. It has less dihedral than most trainers, and a semi-symetrical wing airfoil, making it much more aerobatic than the typical trainer. This means it will be more fun than the typical trainer after you've soloed.

RE: advice
 

I learned to fly on my Nexstar back in '05. The engine and radio equipment that come with the Nexstar Select RTF are top notch as far as quality. The airframe is nice looking and the landing gear is sturdy. My wife snapped this picture right before I made my first landing while working with a flight instructor at one of the local clubs:

http://image2-6.rcuniverse.com/e1/ga...9/lg-29487.jpg

The Nexstar Select RTF comes with some "features" that are detrimental to the performance of the airplane. The "wing pods" taped to the leading edge aren't a big problem, nor are the optional "air brakes" you can screw onto the wings. The ALS auto leveling system only works if you fly at noon, however. It should be disconnected before flying the plane.

I enjoyed using the flight simulator that came with the plane, as well. For me it was a chance for extra practice, it was also a nice consolation for evenings when I wanted to go flying but it was too windy or too rainy to head out to the field.

The Nexstar isn't the best plane to fly on a windy day. The deep wing chord and high angle of dihedral make the Nexstar difficult to turn into a head wind, causing it to balloon up like a kite. Crosswinds will push the Nexstar around as well, and I've seen good pilots get their planes flipped over while taking off or landing when a gust of wind came up.

On a good note, the Nexstar has a very gentle and predictable glide path. There may not be an easier trainer on the market with which to learn to land.

With regard to your field equipment and tools, you'll need between about $40 to $120 worth of accessories to get your Nexstar in the air.

Thunder Tiger sells a nice, basic field equipment package called the Side Kick:

http://www.thundertiger4u.com/thunde...ck-p-7708.html

For $35, this includes a 4-way prop & glow plug wrench, a fuel cap kit with extra fuel line, a glow ignitor and charger, a fuel pump, a "chicken" stick for starting your plane, and even a cardboard carrying caddy. This is the bare minimum of equipment necessary, along with a bottle of glow fuel from your local hobby store, to fly your plane.

What you'll more typically find at the local flying field is something like this Hobbico bundle with power accessories:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXL419&P=0

There is a wooden field box kit that requires assembly and painting. It comes with a 12v field box battery and a power panel. The power panel distributes the field box battery power to the electric starter, the electric fuel pump, and the glow ignitor clip.

You'll eventually want to add a few basic tools to your field box like a decent flat blade and phillips' head screw driver, a set of allen wrenches, a pair of needle nose pliers, and the like. Spare parts like extra propellers and glow plugs are also quite handy.

Good luck and good shopping! Feel free to ask additional questions as they pop up.

RE: advice
 

you can expect to pay about 30 bucks for a starter plus what ever you can get a 12v battery for, another 15 for a glow igniter, 10-15 for a fuel pump then tools seems to be and endless pit but another 30 for tools to start with, glow plug wrench, screw drivers pliers, wrench for the prop, prop balancer. Most of this you can get used from other club members, but i would recommend buying the glow igniter new since it one of the more abused tools. Everything you'll end up acquiring in time as you figure out what you really use and need.

RE: advice
 

<font size="2">

I've put together a list of planes that make good trainers and second planes. All of them on the list are proven planes that are well suited for successfully letting students learn to fly, or advance to a second plane. Check out the list here</p>

 Looking for a trainer- what's available. (Updated 01-03-2009) </p>

Hope this helps</p>

Ken</p></font>

RE: advice
 

RCKen...Thank you for your time in putting this together. I appeciate your help!

RE: advice
 

The nexstar is a great plane I learned on the nexstar.. but the money.... a little too much when you can get some more trainers and get the same thing out of them if not more... the nexstar comes with all this crap that you DO NOT even need or WANT to use, I never even put them on and unplugged the sensor thing. now that I bought an avistar just to mess around with I would have much rather trained on that plane.. i would recomment both though they're awesome.. the avistar will progress with you though a lot more than the nexstar

RE: advice
 

I have a Tower Hobbies trainer MKII that I keep around for friends to fly and as a fun windy flyer (I enjoy the challenge). While the Tower Trainer is not as pretty as the Nextstar or Avistar it is MUCH cheaper and one of the toughest airframes I have ever seen. I have been abusing mine for about a year now I am still amazed what this plane will tolerate! I even used it for combat!

Tower Hobbies RTF/$259+$10 Shipping
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...=LXCXF4**&P=ML

My second choice would be the Avistar. It is a little more expensive but the wing design is much better for learning some basic aerobatics. I almost bought when I got my Tower trainer but the Tower price sold me.

RE: advice
 

Hello all. I've been flying a Hobbyzone SuperCub (electric) for the past 2-1/2 years, and after making about mod possible to the Cub, I've decided to move up to a bigger plane and go glow powered. I located a "gently used" Nexstar RTF kit on Craig's List for $100 bucks and decided to make the plunge. Everything looks good and seems to work perfectly, but I do have one question about the glow engine. Maybe this is normal, but I was rather surprised by the amount of fuel that isn't burned while running the engine. I haven't flown the plane yet, but when I do bench tests of the engine there's a fair amount of fuel spitting out of the muffler. After about 2/3rd's of a tank, there's fuel running down the side of the fuse and the right side landing gear, including wheel, will also be soaked. I've tuned the engine to a lean but safe mixture and it still does it. I have also turned the exhaust port to face more outward instead of down, but that's a temp fix.

Can someone tell me if this is normal? If not, any idea what should be done?

I also noticed the air bubbles in the fuel line described by DenverJayHawk. This is caused by vibration?

Thanks.

RE: advice
 

foxhat... yeah it's normal with 2 stroke glow engines... you're probably running a little rich though if it's a surprising amount coming out.. lean it out a little and it will go away a bit by the way thats an amazing deal on the nexstar you'll enjoy it

RE: advice
 

Great thread. I picked up the Goldberg eagle 2 and will be using the Saito .62 4-stroke. With any luck I will be able to start building this weekend.

RE: advice
 

That was my first field box, I replaced the box since I out grew it but I still have it and all the equipment that it came with it ( over a year) .

RE: advice
 

There are lots of great trainers out there. RCKen put a lot of effort in his list so if you have any real questions about a trainer, my advice would be to take a look but listen to the advice of the experience.

Minnflyer said it all. That's a fine aircraft to learn on. I used it and loved it. It is one tough airplane... I abused mine, like most beginners will (not intentionally, by the way.. I don't want to be taken to task as a trainer abuser.. :D ) In fact, it's still around after all these years, still training people. I sold it to someone that sold it to someone.. and so on. So, it still lives and still trains.

Also, the "getting started" series that Minn and RCKen put together is just perfect for anyone looking to get started, or to read through even after they solo. You never know what you may have forgotten and need to brush up on.

CGr.

RE: advice
 

Any company's trainer will work fine, but I do second the vote on the Avistar if you're working with an instructor. As for cost, if you buy everything new, you're looking at around $100 for the field equipment and a can of fuel. But before spending your money, ask around at the club and look at the sale forums on RCU. If you catch a guy going from glow to electric or upgrading his stuff, you can pick up a field box with everything for about 1/2 price usually.