I have heard this isn't a begginer plane and can't find out why. Can someone please elaborate?

Its not a beginner plane per se'. But it depends on whether or not you are going to train on a buddy box. If you have the very minimum throw necessary and its a well balanced plane you can learn to fly with it. Its really going to be noticeably different from a landing perspective. Its going to land a little faster and its going to sink a little faster than a trainer. A good trainer will land almost hands off. Just point it at the runway and get your approach set so that it settles on the runway and you are in. You will have to fly a stick to the runway ( but it is still really gentle).

I would say with a good instructor and a buddy box you could most certainly learn to fly with it. I have taught guys to fly with all sorts of different planes using a buddy box including a profile P51, a Cessna 180, Misc "Sticks", 4* 60 size. Every once in a while someone actually starts with a trainer, but with a good instructor and a buddy box it isnt imperative.

i think chad already flies with a trainer, as hes building a 4*. i think he means a "newer pilot" plane.....something after solo

Another big difference between a <insert name here>-stik plane is the wing. A trainer wing has a lot of of dihedral built into it. This helps make the plane more stable. The dihedral will try to return the plane back to level flight if no inputs are used. A stik plane has a flat wing. With a flat wing the wing will stay exactly where you put it. If you use the ailerons and bank the plane, when you release the ailerons the wing will stay exactly where it was until you use OPPOSITE ailerons to level the plane.

A trainer also has a flat bottom wing, while most stiks have a semi-symmetrical or fully symmetrical wings. This makes them more aerobatic. This is not a bad thing because this is what a stik is made to do. But that also makes it harder to learn on.

While it's possible to train somebody to fly with a Stik, it will be harder than if using a trainer. It is usually more frustrating for the student, and definitely more work for the instructor. If asked I wouldn't recommend training on a Stik, but rather spend the time with a trainer. Time on the trainer is definitely well spent if the time spent is done correctly.

Hope this helps.

I've always insisted that the Ugly Stick is the best trainer around.
Those flat bottomed trainers are TOOOOO hard to fly in any kind of wind.
How many calm flying days do you get where you live?
Get the Stick,and learn how to fly.
Flat bottom trainers are a waste of time,and money!
Mike

The stick is a very good second airplane and with help it can be used as a trainer as well.

For most new pilots just starting out a Stik makes a good second plane, but the trainer must be completely mastered first. I would not suggest a Stik for training unless the person has reasonably good skill right from the beginning and a good instructor is on the buddy box

If you cannot handle a trainer in wind then a Stik will be a handful even as a second plane. Almost all Stik's have a nice big "Hershey Bar" wing and as such tend to not slice through the wind as well and will float forever. The bigger Stiks like the 60 and 120 sizes are much better in wind because of shear weight and size but the 40 size is shall we say a handful.

I consider that a good thing for exactly the reason you mentioned. Students NEED to learn to fly in the wind, and learning with a trainer is a good way to learn that. Here in SW Oklahoma (yes, the wind does actually "come whipping down the plains" ) our "normal" wind grounds some places around the country.

I agree...I have a Hangar 9 Ultra Stick 60 with a OS .61 and I think it might be a little much for someone to learn on, especially with the zero dihedrahl (sp?) wing. I'd just get a avistar or alpha 40 or something else for a trainer instead of a flat-bottom trainer...easy flying and once you throw the rates up to 140% travel and put a .46 in a avistar, I can make it do as much as a u-can-do-3d .60, including hovers (really tricky with a trainer), knife edges, reverse immelmans, tight cuban 8's, etc...its funny because the people at the club go like, "You know, a trainer ain't made to do that." And I respond, "Mine is" . My stick has been a shelf queen for nearly 3 months because partly it won't fit in my dad's truck with the wing on so it takes too long to pack...plus it only has like 5 flights on it and I'd rather break my avistar than my stick.

So ya, in conclusion, as others have said sticks don't make good trainers...they don't have self-leveling capabilities, and might be too aerobatic (the H9 Ultra Sticks have fully symetrical airfoils) for someone new to the hobby.

Sorry for the essay like post (gotta stop listening to my English teacher )
IBrakeForNobody

The reason i ask, Is i am going to start over. Training and all. I got my AMA number the other day, and even though i soloed, i want to go ahead and get more training. I think the stick would be good for my skill level. And it will get me ready because it is a point and go plane.

RCken,
Do you think it would be good? I am asking you because you know about how good I am at flying. Anyone else who knows my skill level can also chime in.





I am also going to take everyones advice this time. I just need a fresh start. Do you guys know what i mean? So yeah, if this sounds corny oh well. But, when i started i took no ones advice. Now, I am. I have already talked to the president of the local club about joining and am going to try to make it out this weekend just to watch and such.

Hopefully you have a better prez than we do...the guy thinks because he's prez he can help himself to anyone's field box and all its contents. [X(][:@]

Chad,
Since you are "starting over" I think you should completely start over, and that means a new trainer.

Hope this helps.

ken, Do you think i should get a trainer? If so, what would be a good one? What about the tower trainer?

Chad,
That's what I said in my last post. Most of the trainers on the market today are pretty much the same. Take your pick.

ok. I think the tower trainer will do. Better save up.

ok, I am going to go with the avistar. I will Hopefully need to mow my grandmas yard this weekend.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXPY56&P=0

The RCM 40 (Global) and a Thunder Tiger .46 is a little better aerodynamically than many trainers (it will fly inverted and a tad faster than the Avistar, so you'll be less bored). We have LOTS of Avistars at our field and they are rugged and a good trainer.

A GP Big Stik would be a perfect second plane when you've mastered the trainer. The Big Stik has nice low speed handling but lifts her skirts at higher RPM.

i know the little trainer i have is flying like a demon.....it doesnt have much dihedral in the wing, so it tends to roll extremely well and fly inverted nicely. However, i dont think theyve made it in a few years so.....

Chad - If you are joining a club and presumably going to get help from their instructors, why not get with their instructionsl staff and determine what type of plane you need. I believe you need a trainer of some sort but not necessarily for a long period. Someone in the club may have a used trainer for sale cheap.
Make a point of going to the field this weekend, meet the members and some of the instructors and ask for some advice. And PLEASE LISTEN for a change.

Properly set up: slightly nose heavy and limited throws, the Stick makes an excellent trainer. Will land as slow as any trainer and is very stable. An added plus, as you gain experience, up the throw rates and you have an excellent more advanced flyer.

I agree with Rodney, if I can learn on my Ugly Stick then you don't need to waste money on a trainer to "start over".

I am going to totally disagree with these points. Allot of that depends on the experience of the person in question. "Easy to Fly" is a very relative term. What may be easy to fly for you may not be for the original poster of this thread.

The person that started this thread had some problems early on and allot of us have seen where his inital instructors left him lacking in basic skills which is not the posters fault. This judgement is not being made to try to insult or degrade anyone but is fact based on video and previous postings.

So based on what I/we know of his skills I think a trainer, a club and an instructor are the way to go. This will give him his best chance of enjoying this to the fullest.

Now there is no problem buying a Stik or any other good second plane ahead of time as long as discipline is maintained on not flying it until the instructor thinks he is ready.

Great advice Bubbagates

I agree also, Chad, do it right this time. I envy you, You have your whole life ahead of you and there will be plenty of time later for other planes.
Take your time and stop and smell the roses buddy.

I'm gonna have to disagree, I wouldn't care if I didn't have to hear Chad moan about wanting a new plane when he gets bored with another trainer, he is a fine pilot, and he could use some more teachings maybe but that doesn't mean that he should buy another trainer, that's just stupid, he's spent enough money on this hobby to "start over".

How do you know that he is lacking in basic skills, from what I've heard and seen Chad is an excellent pilot, everyone crashes a plane, loses their temper, and even messes up on their first kit.

And he definatly does not ned to put his full scale funds on hold, RC is a hobby, a great hobby, but getting a pilot's license and doing it with your own money is a career, a lesson, and it's even better than RC.


Chad, you don't need a new plane, you don't need to get in the air ASAP, build your 4* and take your time, once you finish it after taking your time, you can find another instructor to get you used to that kind of plane, don't waste your money on a new trainer, and don't even waste youy money on an Ugly Stik.