Ken's Recommended Top 5 Trainers; Spring 2018

     The planes are arranged by their Wing Cube Loading (WCL) value. The WCL value is an indicator as to how 'easy' a plane flies on a relative scale. The lower the WCL value, the easier the plane is to fly, especially for beginners to the hobby.

Wing Cube Loading & Types of Planes Typically Related to the WCL

Note: The example types given relate to the 'flyability' or level of difficulty, not a specific venue. There are planes, because of there physical size and/or weight that should not be used at a certain venue that might be associated with the 'type'. The 'types' are very generalized and only indicate their ease of flying.
Level 1 is the easiest to fly and Level 7 the hardest and requires great skill.

In parentheses, the Level is followed by the Wing Cube Loading (WCL) Range and then a generalized 'type'
(Level 1 0.00 - 2.99) Indoor, aircraft speed and size determine the actual 'best' size venue
(Level 2 3.00 - 4.99) Backyard, large area with no obstacles
(Level 3 5.00 - 6.99) Park, large area with no obstacles or people doing other activities
(Level 4 7.00 - 9.99) Sport/Trainer, typical AMA club flying field
(Level 5 10.00 - 12.99) Advanced (Adv.) Sport, typical AMA club flying field
(Level 6 13 - 16.99) Expert Sport, typical AMA club flying field
(Level 7 17+) Expert, typical AMA flying club field

* * * * *

E-flite UMX Radian BNF with AS3X $89.99
Wingspan: 28.7"
Wing Area: ~93 sq.in.
Ready To Fly Weight: 1.5 oz.
Area Wing Loading: 2.32 oz./sq.ft.
Wing Cube Loading: 2.89 - WCL Level 1
Type: Micro/tractor/hand launch/glider-sailplane/BNF
Suitable Flying Area for Beginners: Large indoor venue, Outdoors: medium-size park with no obstacles & low winds for first flights

Components Used to Calculate Pricing

Transmitter: Spektrum DXe DSMX Transmitter $59.99
Note: The transmitter is said to work 'out of the box' with this plane.
Charger: Hitec X4 Micro AC/DC 1S LiPo Charger $46.99
Extra Batteries (3): 1S 150mAh batteries $4.99 each
LipoSack: Micro Storage $29.95

Total price with listed components: $241.89

Notes: How to turn the AS3X stabilization on and off for this plane.


The Flite Test video shows three of these planes in action.


Video shows minimum size indoor area for UMX Radian

* * * * *

FliteTest FT Explorer Kit $39
Plans & Plans Build Video
Wingspan: 57"
Wing Area: 460 sq.in.
Ready to fly Weight: 24.1 oz.
Wing Area Loading: 7.54 oz./sq.ft.
Wing Cube Loading: 4.22 - WCL Level 2
Type: "Park Flyer"/hand launch/pusher glider-sailplane/Scratch or Kit Build from Foam Board
Suitable Flying Area for Beginners: Outdoors: large-size park with no obstacles & low winds for first flights

Components Used to Calculate Pricing

Power System & More: Power Pack B: $57.50
Batteries (2): 3s XT60 2100 battery Hyperion G5 2100mAh $19.95 ea.
Charger: Hitec X1 Pro/ePowerbox 17, Combo $79.99
Charger at Tower Hobbies
or
Charger at Horizon Hobby
Radio Transmitter & Receiver: Tower Hobbies 424 4-Channel SLT System $49.99
Liposack: Small Storage $24.95

Total price with listed components, not including adhesives and tools: $254.33 to 291.33

Notes: This is a glider-type plane, it requires a fairly long glide in area for landing.


The video is the official Flite Test FT Explorer video.

* * * * *

hobbyzone Sport Cub S RTF with SAFE $129.99
Wingspan: 24.3"
Wing Area: ~84 sq.in.
Ready to Fly Weight: 2.0 oz.
Area Wing Loading: 2.72 oz./sq.ft.
Wing Cube Loading: 4.49 - WCL Level 2
Type: Micro/tractor/Rise of Ground (ROG) from 'packed dirt' or hand launch from grass/3-channel/RTF
Suitable Flying Area for Beginners: Indoors: medium-size venue, Outdoors: medium-size park with no obstacles & low winds for first flights

Components Used to Calculate Pricing

Charger: Hitec X4 Micro AC/DC 1S LiPo Charger $46.99
Extra Batteries (3): E-flite 150mAh 1S 3.7V 25C LiPo Battery $3.99 ea.
LipoSack: Micro Storage $29.95

Total price with listed components: $219.90

Notes: How to turn the AS3X stabilization on and off for this plane.


The Flite Test video shows three of these planes in action indoors.


Independent video review of this plane.
Click on image to start video.

* * * * *

Horizon Hobby HobbyZone Champ RTF $89.99
Wingspan: 20.3"
Wing Area: 62.6 sq.in.
Ready to Fly Weight: 1.3 oz.
Area Wing Loading: 3 oz./sq.ft.
Wing Cube Loading: 4.54 - WCL Level 2
Type: Micro/hand launch or firmly packed soil for Rise Off Ground (ROG)/tractor 3-channel/RTF
Suitable Flying Area for Beginners: Indoors: small to medium-size venue, Outdoors: small to medium-size park with no obstacles & low winds for first flights

Components Used to Calculate Pricing

Charger: Hitec X4 Micro AC/DC 1S LiPo Charger $46.99
Extra Batteries (3): E-flite 150mAh 1S 3.7V 25C LiPo Battery $3.99 ea.
LipoSack: Micro Storage $29.95

Total price with listed components: $178.90


The video shows how well, and easily this plane flies while the guys at FliteTest are having some fun as well.
Flying Indoors in a 'typical' gym

* * * * *

HobbyZone Champ S+ RTF $169.99
Wingspan: 27.3"
Wing Area: 114.5 sq.in.
Ready to Fly Weight: 3.7 oz.
Area Wing Loading: 4.65 oz./sq.ft.
Wing Cube Loading: 5.21 - WCL Level 2
Type: Small/hand launch or firmly packed soil for Rise Off Ground (ROG)/tractor 4-channel/RTF
Suitable Flying Area for Beginners: Indoors*: medium to large-size venue, Outdoors: small to medium-size park with no obstacles & low winds for first flights
*Note: Indoor flight requires the onboard GPS to be 'off'.

Components Used to Calculate Pricing

Extra Battery: 280mAh 2S 7.4V 30C LiPo Battery $7.99
Charger: Hitec X1 Pro/ePowerbox 17, Combo $79.99
Charger at Tower Hobbies
or
Charger at Horizon Hobby
Liposack Micro Storage $29.95

Total price with listed components: $287.92

Notes: This is a small plane, but it can handle some wind because of the AS3X stabilizing system. It has gotten mixed reviews on the Internet. It seems to work as described if ALL of the directions are followed. It is small enough, and slow enough, that it could be flown indoors if the venue is large enough.


The video is from an unbiased 3rd party who shows it actually working as described.


The author of this video gives some good advice on flying this plane indoors.

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