Well I've been with my FireBird XL for some time now and love to fly. But I'm ready to step up to something bigger and better. I'm planning to get a

Hobbico Avistar AWARF 40 II .40,59.5" w/OS .40.

I'll also be getting another plan in the future for my dad so I'm thinking to go with the Hitec Eclpse so I can store his plane in it and buddy w/him (I'm teaching him to fly).

I'm looking for a review on either of these items (Plane/Transmiter) and any advise on a trainer that would be good for me, I know how to fly but want to experience a normal plane with trainer qualities.

Welcome to RCFLYING.NET!

If you have been flying your FireBird XL and want to get into glow powered airplanes the two main things that is gonna change is; you need much more room to fly and the glow powered airplane is going to fly much, much faster so your decision making has to be quicker as well. Even if you are the ace of aces flying the FireBird XL you should find someone to buddy you on your new glow airplane at least until your comfortable flying it alone.

The avistar is a good airplane. It has a semi-symetric wing and will do aerobatics a little easier than other trainers. Another you might consider is the Hobbico Super Star 40 which I feel is a great first airplane as well. As for radios I am a Futaba guy who started with a basic 4 channel and just recently got a 6 channel computer radio. Hitec is also a good radio but I can't speak greatly of them because I haven't used one.

Thanks for visiting and ask away if you have any more questions. There are hundreds of guys here willing to help a new flyer!

You might also look at http://www.rcflying.net/index.php?page=faq&catid=1

I agree totally with WreckRman.
The AVISTAR is a terrific Plane, But you will definately need help till you get the hang of it.

Secondly.... The combo ( if im not mistaken ) comes with the
OS LA .40
I highly recommend you not get this engine!
It is a good running engine, however...it makes no real power!
choose a good .46 instead.... such as a thunder tiger or the like.

hope this helps you got started off on a good note!

southerngent

You may want to stay with electrics -- many advantages. I started with the XL and then stepped up to a Sky Scooter Pro -- a good aileron trainer. A T-52 or a Soar Star, etc. would work as well. There are many many many electric trainers out there -- and you don't have to put up with 'the mess' or noise. All you need is the plane, a battery, and the TX. Plus you can then move on to zagi's, pico combat jets, twin jets etc. as your skills increase. My second plane was (and is) the SS Pro. The gassers at the field are amazed at how good this plane flys -- plus you can fly anywhere as long as you don't violate the 3 mile field AMA rule. It doesn't cost a lot of money ($170 RTF) and is really fun to fly (loops, rolls, etc). I am currently flying wih 3:1 Gearbox and 9X6 prop (12-13 minute flights); my son who is now a better flyer is flying with a 1.7:1 and 8X6 for speed (7-8 minute flights); probaby be moving to stock configuration soon. Check out the www.ezonemag.com and the discussion groups to see what other e-flyers are doing. Check out the videos and pictures over at www.funtecmodels.com and a excellent vendor is www.servocity.com. Ignore the funny sun glasses, you can paint the plane anyway you like! See my photos in the photo section.

If you haven't already pick up a flight simulator for your computer. I am currently using CM Backyard Edition (Has the SS Pro as one of the planes). You can use a joystick or your radio if Futaba or Hitec on the trainer port (I just got a Laser 6 -- and this is one of the uses for it!!). There are 29 different electrics to fly. Helped and is helping me a lot! There is also FMS a free simulator and several others.


My two cents!

Well guys, I've compared the two planes and from what you've been saying and from whats posted at Tower I'm realy liking the Avistar.

-Is there anything that I should do to the plane(that isn't in the instructions) befor I fly?

-WrechRman2-
I wasn't planning to fly solo, the friend that got me into flying offered to help me my first couple of times out.

-Southerngent-
About your comment on the .40 engine. Will I really need the extra power?

-rclark-
Thanks for the advise elictrics, I told my dad and he's considering an electric for himself.

-Southerngent-
About your comment on the .40 engine. Will I really need the extra power?


In short.... Yes! As you begin to fly.... you will need the power to recover from stalls and other common mistakes that you will make as you learn to solo. Once you have solo'd the plane you will begin to do basic aerobatics. The AVISTAR does them very well for a trainer. But power is a needed requirement. The OSLA .40 (as I stated in my prior post) Is extremely weak!
Also.... After you learned all that the AVISTAR can teach you....
you will want to get a more advanced plane... again you will need power. It's in your best interest to purchase a good engine to begin with so you wont just have to be underpowered now and have to replace it as soon as you learn to fly.


southerngent

Holly Cow! I went to a local hobby shop today and they had a computer set up running Realflight Gen. 2 - It's so amazing! I sat there for at least an hour!!! I've learned so much from just sitting looking at a computer screen. I don't have a computer good enough to run the sim but the family is planing on upgrading this old box. My advise to anyone leaning like myself get this simulator!!!

Oh yea, is anyone form South Florida? I live in Palm Beach and am looking for some locals. If you are, e-mail me : MainLdzMn@hotmail.com

SouthernGent is spot on with his advise on going to a more powerful engine. Like he states you will out grow your trainer and will be able to step up to a more responsive one and then that weak engine just becomes a paper weight. Go with a good .46, you won't regret it in the long run.

You have a computer box. It should be good for the popular and free flight sim that you can download from the net. There are a lot of different planes available for the program as well. I have included the link to it below. It will give you a good idea of how you will make out with a fatster plane. I would go glow for training. The engines generally have more power and and can get back in the air faster than exchanging battery packs all the time.
Good luck, Fast!

http://n.ethz.ch/student/mmoeller/fms/index_e.html

I would have to disagree with one last statement on getting into the air faster with a glow plane than electric. All I have to do is pop in the battery, do the preflight checks, and I going for a 12-15 minute flight. Meanwhile the gasser is still either pumping gas, checking idle, running it up, running it down, fiddling with needle valves, etc. Soon as I am down, pop in the next battery and I am back in the air -- quietly. :D When I am done with my 5 batts (about one hour of flying time) -- plane goes in the truck (no grease to wipedown) and go home! Very convenient and 'power' hasn't been a problem with my scooter. Also, could have been quick charging a batt for more time, but an hour of flying is about right for me.

Oh, I don't see many gassers flying in the morning at 10F. Electric doesn't care what temp it is (keep batts warm before use however)!

Now no flames, just a different point of view! :rolleyes:

I know I wish I had a small electric I could walk out the back door with when I don't have time to drive to the field...

or take to the Golf Dome in Fort Wayne every 2nd Wednesday night of the month through the winter to fly indoors.

They got an indoor flying site down there Wreck?

Jon

Ok if you have 5 battery packs then it might be a tad quicker. Your actually the first guy I know that has 5 packs for E flying. My first flight of the day does take a few minutes for warm up and engine adjusting. After that I find that the setting is good enough for the rest of the day. The E planes are quieter but then it makes it harder for the glow flying guys to try and keep track of the E plane when its not in sight! :D

For what it's worth, I started with the FirebirdXL, moved to the Sky Scooter, then to the Razor, and my first glow was the Hobbico SuperStar combo with the .40LA. I found this engine to be adequate for training, plus it had the advantage of being inexpensive. This is important because, in my opinion, no one wants to plant a $110 FX engine into the ground.

I have since moved on to the .46FX in my Ultra Stick, but I still have the .40LA in a scale plane. No, it's not as powerful as the FX, but it's half the price too. Sometimes you shouldn't rush in and by the 'last engine you'll ever need', especially if it's your first (glow) plane.

My $.02