SuperStar 40

Trainers center around specific characteristics that make them the “easiest” airplanes to fly.  The term “easiest” is not meant to imply that there is any less skill required to successfully fly a trainer.  What it does imply is that trainers tend to be less sensitive to control input, self-righting, travel at a slower airspeed which allows for more reaction time to recover from unwanted flight attitudes and they generally tend to be more durable than more advanced models.

What makes trainers “easier” to fly?  We start with a high wing, or an airplane where the wing is mounted to the top or on top of the fuselage.  The wing is flat on the bottom side and the wing tends to have dihedral, or a change or bend in the angle of the wing in relation to the position of the fuselage.  A combination of these elements makes a trainer very stable in flight.  Stable meaning that the aircraft will try to restore itself to straight and level flight when no control input is given (self-righting).  The more stable the aircraft, the less of a burden it is on the pilot.  This will allow a “new” pilot to focus on learning the basics of flight before moving on to more advanced aircraft and maneuvers.

Another attribute of a trainer that makes it “easier” to fly is the small amount of “throw” or control surface movement allowed by the airplane.  By mechanically and/or electronically limiting the amount of deflection of the control surfaces, the plane will feel less sensitive, or react more slowly to control input.  More advanced models require a large amount of control surface deflection in order to allow the pilot the control needed to perform more aggresive aerobatic maneuvers.  What is important to remember is that an increase in “throw” is directly proportional to an increase in the plane’s sensitivity to control input.  A large amount of control surface movement is not necessary for a pilot in training as he/she will only be performing basic maneuvers.  This limited amount of deflection also gives the aircraft a more stable or “locked-in” feel.

Trainers are not “high performance” aircraft for a reason.  The faster an aircraft travels, the faster the pilot must react to changes in the aircraft’s attitude.  Experienced pilots are accustomed to these sudden changes and their reaction to them is second nature.  This is not so with a ”student” pilot.  When a pilot is learning the basics of flight, every turn, every increase or decrease in altitude, every adjustment for wind, basically every control input has to be thought through and the slower aircraft is more forgiving when the “wrong” control instructions are given.

The durability factor is a given.  Trainers are built to handle a bit of abuse.  The use of wire landing gear, an abdance of plywood vs. balsa, using rubber bands to hold the main wing in place vs. using nylon or aluminum screws all give a trainer a better chance of survival in the event of a mishap.  Due to the nature of what it is, a trainer will inevitably suffer a mishap, usually many mishaps, over the course of its lifetime.

I imagine that, by now, you are able to gather that trainers are purpose built aircraft.  They are perfect for the budding pilot.  They are also a lot of fun.  Even though it is not a performance machine, it is most pilots introduction to radio controlled flight.  What could be more exciting than that?