Here’s a neat RC trainer airplane for your young pilot candidate students.

The Champ RC Trainer Airplane is hard to beat. It’s built sturdy, comes ready-to-fly, and includes everything you need to teach yourself, or your young pilot-in-training, how to fly. (Plane is rated for age 14 and up.)

You even get the batteries with your order so there’s no disappointing emergency run to the store.

Wondering what flyers think about this aircraft? Here’s one that readers found helpful:

This is a beginner’s RC plane. It was designed specifically for that purpose. I bought it for my son, who is new to RC.

It came with a defective engine, so I contaced the manufacturer and they told me to send it back. I did. They fixed it – no hassles, just good solid customer service.

Once it was fixed, it flew like a dream. This is the most forgiving, easy trainer imaginable. First, check out the manufacturer’s website and watch the few brief instructional videos. They are quite a help. The plane practically flies itself, controls are easy to handle with a low res setting for true beginners. The plane is so light that as long as you fly in a park over grass, you will probably sustain little if any crash damage.

Of course, being that light makes it suitable for only the lightest of wind. In a light breeze you can fly this into the wind and hold it virtually motionless. Also, it is three channel – throttle, rudder and elevator. No alerons, but that is perfect for a simple trainer. Also, this is such a small, light slow plane that it can be flown in smaller parks where a full size RC would not be suitable.

The battery is small but easily accessible, and lasts a good ten minutes if not flown at full throttle. This is quite simply, a great little plane.

And here’s another:

First things first – I have last flown an RC plane roughly 8 years ago. At that time, I would call myself a rookie at best and someone that flew a gas powered indestructible plane, so I do have limited experience (enough to get myself in trouble).

I bought this plane for 5 reasons:
1. I wanted a plane I didn’t need to work on / build – don’t have time, just want to fly something
2. My friend had 2 RTF planes and told me how great they are – he had the P-51 Mustang and the J-3 Cub.
3. I wanted something that would help bring me back into it
4. I did NOT want to spend a lot of money
5. Based on the recommendation of the guy at the local hobby shop – he recommended this Champ over the P-51 or J-3 Cub (and it was cheaper than both, so it was an easy sell for me).

Today was my first day flying it (and I did not practice using the a computer game), I just jumped at the joystick:
1. Battery charged for 15 minutes.
2. Read a little of the instructions (not much)
3. Took it out to the driveway and played around with just the ground control (steering, acceleration, etc.).
4. Took it to the school by my house (you want it open on he first few flights to get down the plane).

This plane is AWESOME. In the first day, this is what I have done with it:
1. Took off from a track with a football field in the center
2. Landed it in the grass a number of times (it wasn’t smooth landings and flipped over, but didn’t hurt it).
3. I nose dived the thing into the grass once (on accident) – didn’t hurt it.
4. I got it caught in a tree (yes, I tried it close to home after I got confident and got it stuck). Pulled it down with a rope, caught it, did NOT hurt it.

It’s a blast. I would highly recommend this plane. It’s cheap and out for a good time. If you are a beginner, start it out and get it 50 feet off the ground, if you mess up, just decrease acceleration and lay off the controls, it will correct itself and you’ll be good.

Now, the few disadvantages:
1. The thing is extremely sensitive to wind (just because it’s all foam). Be cautious getting it up too high or you’re fighting the wind outdoors.
2. No ailerons – I didn’t realize this till I got home, but you have accelerator, elevator, and rudder, that’s it (but this is what makes it so simple to control too).
3. Charge on the battery is only 10 minutes or so (recommend having a couple extra batteries on you for extended fun).
4. It won’t do a loop (I’ve tried and it just stalls). The instructions tell you that, but I saw it after I tried, easy to recover from the stall if you’re high enough. I have not tried to get it upside down yet, maybe my task for the next flight
5. Be ready to trim trim trim. My plane came out of the box wanting to climb so much. I am still messing with the controls after 3 re-charges, but I would prefer it climb and fight that, than the dive.

This RC trainer airplane has some 160 reviews, and you can read some more at Champ RC Trainer Airplane.

Check this price comparison chart of a variety of trainer planes for help in choosing the one that’s right for you.

Shops		Product	Price
		Hobbyzone Champ RTF Airplane Teach yourself to fly in your own backyard with the 3-channel HobbyZone® Champ RTF. With its compact size, durable construction, and gentle flight	Too Low to Display used from: 145.00	Go to Store
		Super Sonic RC Model Airplane R/C SYMA 9399 Training Plane ARF Radio Control Aircraft - Full Function Radio Controlled - Super Tough - Lightweight Airframe - Length: 17" - Wing Span: 20" - All Molded Plastic and	Too Low to Display used from: 145.00	Go to Store
		Hobbico Nexstar R/C Trainer Airplane w/Flight Simulator The Hobbico NexSTAR Select RTF (Ready-to-Fly) .46 Trainer is much more than an airplane. Light-years ahead of any ready-to-fly trainer you ve ever	Too Low to Display	Go to Store
		NexSTAR .46 Trainer ARF "This is the radio controlled, glow powered, Almost Ready-to-Fly, Hobbico NexSTAR .46 trainer airplane. For Beginner Modeler/Fliers. ** This version	Too Low to Display	Go to Store
		TechOne FunFly 3-Ch EPP Trainer Plane with Brushless Motor - Red THIS PRODUCT IS A KIT. IT REQUIRES TOOLS AND ASSEMBLY. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE EXPERIENCE BUILDING RC AIRCRAFT, THIS PLANE IS NOT FOR YOU. THIS KIT DOES	Too Low to Display	Go to Store
		Alpha 40 ARF Trainer This Alpha 40 ARF Trainer is based on the same Alpha 40 RTF Trainer that has been used in flying clubs everywhere to introduce thousands to the fun	Too Low to Display	Go to Store
		Goldberg Eagle 2 Trainer .29-.49 Kit Goldberg Eagle 2 Trainer .29-.49 Kit	Too Low to Display	Go to Store
		PT-60 Trainer Kit This is a Perfect Trainer .60 size Airplane from Great Planes. / This is a Great .60 Kit for a Beginner to Build and Fly. / / FEATURES: Interlocking	Too Low to Display	Go to Store
		PT-20 MkII Perfect Trainer Kit Based on the Popular PT20, Great Planes Improved the Construction and / Manual of this PT20 MKII Trainer Plane. / / FEATURES: Stable,	$69.98	Go to Store
		PT-40 MkII Perfect Trainer Kit Based on the Popular PT40, Great Planes has Improved the Wing Construction / and Instruction Manual for this PT40 MkII Trainer Plane. / / / /	$89.98	Go to Store

When you’re first learning RC flying, or training those young pilots, you’ll want to avoid those sudden ground encounters that turn your aircraft into splinters.

Do yourself a favor and start your flying experience joyfully with a Champ RC Trainer Airplane.