[HAL9KPCM]

Trainers can be cool. I had not flown a plane in over two decades when I put together my Sig Komander. It's a unique looking plane, a docile floater when you keep out of the throttle, but with a bit of power, while no speed demon, it has decent vertical, does huge loops, etc. Unfortunately a discontinued kit, but I made templates of the parts, another person in a group I'm in took the partial plan and made a full plan, foam wing, fiberglass cowl, and canopy are available from third parties. I intend to keep one in my fleet forever.

[Spitfirejoe]

The one thing I would add, and maybe not everyone agrees, is to look into a umx model like the umx timber or a cub or cessna. This is 100% from my experience because that's how I learned to fly myself. I used the phoenix flight simulator with a dx6i radio and then I flew high-wing umx planes in any large empty space I could find. Now I have progressed to larger foam warbirds, biplanes, and edfs. But I still love to fly umx planes at a soccer field or at my own school field where I teach. In fact, I have some of my own students learning to fly on the simulator. Just yesterday I allowed one student who has enough skill to fully take off, fly around, and land my umx timber on our football field. Another student who lacks confidence/experience, flew patterns in safe mode while I did take-off and landing. These models are well under the 250g limit that can cause trouble with the new laws (that were not in place when I learned myself) and so it's the only way to fly and fly a lot without club membership or between visits to your club. I must have 100s of hours playing on the sim, and that many again with my umx planes (pitts, p51, waco, timber, j3 cub, f16, a10) and you will not get anywhere near that amount of stick time and quickly any other way. Just my experience.

[Spitfirejoe]

And one other thing - the umx timber is certainly a cool plane! With leading edge slats and flaps deployed -the most experienced rc pilot is still gonna love what you can do with this plane. And at full throttle (add extra tape to the wings because you'll swear they'll break from the fuselage!) the crazy stunts you can pull will make any pilot smile. I don't know if a timber counts as a traditional 'trainer' but it is far from boring and you'd never get tired of it! I can fly mine with full flaps inside my school's double gym and seeing it float past with lights flashing gets any spectators inspired to learn as well!

[OLD PRAIRIE RED NECK]

There are many successful ways to learn and far more that are not!

I learned before flight sims and safe modes were ever invented. I also did not have anyone to mentor me. I started with a 2 meter pure glider, a hill and a high start. My first powered plane I always landed dead stick because that was what I was most comfortable with!

The flight sim is the best learning tool ever, I have yet to be convinced with the safe mode though.

[HAL9KPCM]

As for flight SIM, if you have a computer with the power behind it and don't mind spending the money on a VR headset, do it because wow, it's just like standing int he field flying. Orientations are my weak point and I'm practicing them without risking my plane or helicopter.

[NeilM]

Phoenix flight simulator is how I started, spent many hours til I could do loops and all kinds of things before I flew my Apprentice for the first time. Will save you on expensive crashes, no fun if your first experience is crashing your first plane.

[cuetip]

I guess I am new to the hobby. Use to fly 30 years ago. Am not familiar with the new rules at all. One thing that was not mentioned is do you need a license to fly under the new ruling. Where I fly is not anywhere any buildings or airport. It is on my private land. Flying aircraft from a pound to 25 pounds.
I hope I am not high jacking this thread. I think "Help"could use this information.

[jsparky]

There are also a few other threads here.. use the search tool to find them..

[Uglymule]

Your hobby has certainly changed over the years and has become lets say user friendly ... technology has made it a bit more enjoyable for the beginner and a lot less frustrating. Old trainers are absolutely great and worthy but if you want an enjoyable experience look into the new equipment talk to your local guys on what the new people are flying successfully. Make it fun not frustrating, hope you found a club have some fun.

[wurehman]

There will be different opinions but this is what I learned from my experience.

1. Buy a new plane and not a used one. This will save you lot of time in fixing the plane and you can focus more on flying.
2. Go with electric, as a beginner you might find it hard to tune/maintain the nitro engines.
3. Get a new transmitter that you can use for years.