FlightMaster Hints and Tips

Flightmaster's Hints and Tips
Often, we get asked ... What's the best trainer airplane? What's the best radio? Where can I get them?
Well ... There probably is not *"the best"* trainer to learn on. There are several "not so very good ones" and then there are several that are really very good! The very good ones can be divided into two categories: In kit form - requires building the plane from a kit of parts and plans. ARF or ARC models - These planes are already built and are either "almost ready to fly" (ARF) or "almost ready to cover" (ARC). The ARF planes come about 90% built and only require a few steps to have them ready to fly. They are more expensive than "kit" planes, but not overly so. If you don't have the time or skill to build, they may be the best way to go for you. Our recommendations are: For Kit type planes - - The Carl Goldberg "Eagle 2" The Sig Manufacturing "Kadet" and the Great Planes Manufacturing "PT-40". All three of these planes are easy to build, stable, fly very well and are built to survive most crashes unless they are "bad" crashes! For the ARF type - - The Goldberg "Eagle 2 ARF" The Sig "Kadet Series ARF's" Any of the Hobbico Manufacturing "Flightstar" series The Tower Hobbies Trainer 40 ARF or the Great Planes PT-40ARF. We have flown all of these planes and they will do the job they are intended to do. We strongly recommend, however, that you not try it alone! In fact, its more than a "strong recommedation" -- its more of a "guarantee" ... "Get with a Model Airplane Club in your area and contact a flight instructor to help, or you will crash!" It isn't as easy as you think it might be and you will severely damage your plane without help. Now, Trust us, here: We have seen this happen many more times than we can count. And, although you might not realize it, flying a Radio Controlled model airplane can be very dangerous as well. It is very easy for a novice to loose control of his/her airplane and that "out of control" airplane can injure bystanders as well as auto's and buildings. Most clubs have instructors with "buddy box" systems that can prevent crashes and "out of control" flights by allowing the flight instructor, who is constantly looking for the first "hint" of trouble, to take control of the model immediately, restore normal flight attitude and altitude, discuss what was going wrong and how to prevent it, then give control back to the student. Believe us ... It works! Almost all of the radio systems in today's market are equal. Four common brands are Airtronics, Futaba, HiTec and JR. Our recommendation is at least a 4 channel system and, perhaps, a 6 channel system if you think you are going to stay with it. A four channel system will give you all controls necessary for a trainer ... but later, when that P-51 starts to look good, you will need a couple of more channels for flaps and retractable landing gear. We do stress, again, that you contact someone in the local club. See what brands the instructors have available so you can get a system that will be compatible with their "buddy box" system. Mail Order is usually the least expensive way to buy (ignoring the shipping charges), but local hobby shops can lend a lot more help if and when you need it. Their prices are usually only slightly higher than mail order.

Well ...

There probably is not "the best" trainer to learn on. There are several "not so very good ones" and then there are several that are really very good! The very good ones can be divided into two categories:

In kit form - requires building the plane from a kit of parts and plans.
ARF or ARC models - These planes are already built and are either "almost ready to fly" (ARF) or "almost ready to cover" (ARC).

The ARF planes come about 90% built and only require a few steps to have them ready to fly. They are more expensive than "kit" planes, but not overly so. If you don't have the time or skill to build, they may be the best way to go for you.

Our recommendations are:

For Kit type planes - -
1. The Carl Goldberg "Eagle 2"
2. The Sig Manufacturing "Kadet"
3. and the Great Planes Manufacturing "PT-40".
All three of these planes are easy to build, stable, fly very well and are built to survive most crashes unless they are "bad" crashes!

For the ARF type - -
1. The Goldberg "Eagle 2 ARF"
2. The Sig "Kadet Series ARF's"
3. Any of the Hobbico Manufacturing "Flightstar" series
4. The Tower Hobbies Trainer 40 ARF
5. or the Great Planes PT-40ARF.
We have flown all of these planes and they will do the job they are intended to do.

We strongly recommend, however, that you not try it alone! In fact, its more than a "strong recommedation" -- its more of a "guarantee" ... "Get with a Model Airplane Club in your area and contact a flight instructor to help, or you will crash!" It isn't as easy as you think it might be and you will severely damage your plane without help. Now, Trust us, here: We have seen this happen many more times than we can count. And, although you might not realize it, flying a Radio Controlled model airplane can be very dangerous as well. It is very easy for a novice to loose control of his/her airplane and that "out of control" airplane can injure bystanders as well as auto's and buildings.

Most clubs have instructors with "buddy box" systems that can prevent crashes and "out of control" flights by allowing the flight instructor, who is constantly looking for the first "hint" of trouble, to take control of the model immediately, restore normal flight attitude and altitude, discuss what was going wrong and how to prevent it, then give control back to the student. Believe us ... It works!

Almost all of the radio systems in today's market are equal. Four common brands are Airtronics, Futaba, HiTec and JR. Our recommendation is at least a 4 channel system and, perhaps, a 6 channel system if you think you are going to stay with it. A four channel system will give you all controls necessary for a trainer ... but later, when that P-51 starts to look good, you will need a couple of more channels for flaps and retractable landing gear.

We do stress, again, that you contact someone in the local club. See what brands the instructors have available so you can get a system that will be compatible with their "buddy box" system.

Mail Order is usually the least expensive way to buy (ignoring the shipping charges), but local hobby shops can lend a lot more help if and when you need it. Their prices are usually only slightly higher than mail order.

Flightmaster's Hints and Tips

Often, we get asked ...