Seagull Harvard as a Trainer ??

[john sessions]

Hi All.

 Can anybody please give me some advice, I have been bought a Seagull A6 Texan, (Harvard) 6 foot wingspan, I have to buy the engine and all the rest of the gear, Will it be possible for me to learn to fly on this aircraft, (I do have a good basic knowledge of flying but it was on real aircraft, Chipmunk and Tucano, I understand Lift, Drag, Stall, Flaps, Over compensating on the stick) The texan is a lovely aircraft and i would really love to fly it. or am I on a none starter.

[winchweight]

I would love a review if you would, as I am thinking about buying this for my son. Is it the smaller 46 sized one, or the larger 60 sized one?

[David Ashby - Moderator]

John, Hi and welcome.

The simple answer is no, bad idea for a trainer.

Get a standard high wing type - the Seagull Cessna trainer is a good one - cut your teeth on this. Your experience will come in handy in the long run but not until you've learnt the hand eye co-ordination required to fly. In our office here we sit opposite a chap who is a full size flyer who also dabbles with RC. In his opinion flying an RC model is harder.

The Harvard is a nice model but put it away for a year until the trainer has done its work. Assume you're joining a club?

David 

[scott cuppello]

Have to agree with David, the Harvard seems to have a bit of a reputation as a deceptive model, it can be docile, yet bite when you least expect it [it isn't the only one!], they always raise eyebrows when mentioned at our club! I think they have caught the odd person out.

[winchweight]

IIRC, in real life, the Harvard was used as an advanced trainer, because it was likely to bite if not handled correctly.

[David Ashby - Moderator]

It only has to bite once......and it will 

Many Harvard models (and I can't speak for the Seagull one) have been terrors over the years, the short nose meaning that unless a lot of weight is added they can be very tippy indeed and difficult to get off the ground even.

[john sessions]

Thank you all for your very helpful replies, well itt looks as if I will have to buy a trainer, I have read the raves and reviews on the latest new P51Mustang PT (Progressive Trainer) and it looks very nice although only a 54" wingspan, Its a new inovasion from Hangar 9 and its got rave reviews so I think I will go for this, If anybody has got one I wouldnt mind some feedback.

[winchweight]

You really don't need to spend much on a trainer. A simple high wing profile, such as the Protech or Seagull trainer or similar will suffice. These kits are simple enough to build and be flying in 7 days.

 http://www.sussex-model-centre.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=85

http://www.sussex-model-centre.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=2151

Don't spend too much on it as it is after all, a trainer. And whilst you're flying the trainer, you can still build the harvard.

[scott cuppello]

I have seen the Mustang PTS, and it's quite impressive as a concept and flies well , but very under-powered once you have mastered it, and needs to be up-graded with a different engine....which is quite a downer....oh, and the OE 3 blade prop is quite useless!

You are obviously a scale fan, so go with a high winger, but NOT a Piper Cub [unless it is one of those sold as a trainer], there are some nice scale high wing trainer types around, but just bear in mind that trainers look the way they do as they are designed to be robust, and tolerate the inevitable hard knocks. Also, tail draggers [although I must admit, I started on them] are more difficult to handle on the ground than tricycle UC.....the point is, if you build a really nice DH Beaver, or whatever.....it might not look nice for very long....hence those "horrible" trainers!

[Russ Williams]

Hi fololowing on from this is it possible to get a good training on a high wing electric model then go onto a more advanced i/c powered one such as p40?

[David Ashby - Moderator]

Yes Seagull have a new 55" electric powered high-wing trainer for £39.99 - have a look at

http://www.jperkinsdistribution.co.uk/detail.php?JPNO=5500590&activepage=1  

[Ernie]

Hi Russ, Possible, but a few problems...ie you are not only learning to fly, you are learning to set things up, and generally understand your systems. Also, double the outlay, chargers, batterys, etc for electric, then fuel systems, starter, etc for I.C. But most important, when you move onto the smelly things, you will be competent at getting the devious little things to do what you want.

ernie

[john sessions]

OK, I am on my way to get a trainer, Thank you all for your help and posts, maybe one day I will be able to give help and advise, Safe flights to all

Regards

John

[Aslan]

John,it might be worth your while to check out some of the trainer package deals available at most hobby shops.Some include a field box which will have pump.battery,glow start, electric starter etc.Please join a local club.Good luck.