Tower Hobbies Tower Trainer 60

[james1787]

Hi everyone. I am new to Gas/Glow powered aircraft. I have been building and flying electrics for a few years now and I have yearned for something different.

Several years before I got into electric, I bought a Tower Hobbies Trainer 60. I built the airplane, but I never flew it. When I ordered it, I had the choice between a .46 sized motor and a .61 sized motor. At the time, I knew nothing about the hobby, so I figured the safer motor would be the .46 size.. figuring it would be slower and easier to learn on. For lack of finding a local club at the time, I let the plane sit and only would occasionally turn the motor over by hand now and then to keep it from seizing up.

Fast forward to this year. I got a call from my parents that I might want to pick up my plane, they were going to move alot of things around in their basement, so I decided to bring the big plane to our apartment to keep it safe. Heh, the fuse just fit on my rack I built for my electrics and the tail sticks out into the window - kinda funny looking next to my park flyers.

I decided since I spent money on this thing, it would be nice to fly it. I took some time and located a club within 30-45 mins of where I live and I am in the process of joining. I've been an AMA member for a few years. Anyways, I'd like to know is whether the plane will be flyable with the .46? I am not looking to fly it aerobatically or anything, save that for later planes. Am I going to run into problems with the smaller engine? Why would Tower Hobbies offer the trainer with the smaller sized engine? Even today (http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCAS1&P=0) they still say it's .46 - .61 sized, How should I expect the plane to fly on a .46? Am I headed for trouble with having the .46 in there? Should I hunt around for a .61? If it will fly fine then I don't see any reason for spending the extra money. Many thanks,

[ivanc]

...I'd like to know is whether the plane will be flyable with the .46?...
Yes, it will be exactly "flyable" (if the engine is a .46 BB and not bushed one) - take off, float around, do some high altitude rolls and loops and land. If you check towerhobbies.com you'll notice them selling the Hobbistar 60 as RTF with an OS 65LA which is as powerful as a 46FX/AX, TT 46Pro, ST 45, TH 46 BB, etc. I would recommend you use a 12x5 prop with your 46 engine.

[fhhuber506771]

The "60 size' trainer is actually smaller than the Sig Kadet Sr which calls for a .40 maximum.... so you aren't going to be under powered. You just won't be abe to do a lot of aerobatics.

You will be dissapointed with its performance using any prop other than a 12X4 or 12.25X3.75 These will allow it to fly nicely. a 10X6 or 10X7.. you will wonder if it will eveer be able to take off. (it won't take off on anything less smooth than a freshly cut well groomed lawn if you use a 10 inch prop)

The problem I forsee is ballancing the aircraft. Plan on having the engine as far forward as practical and the battery right by the firewall. Then you may still need some lead in the nose.

[ClydeM]

Just finaly broke down and picked-up the Tower Hobbies Trainer 60 as well.. after sticking my scratch built this fall..

I have the same question as to power plant size.. I got the SuperTigre GS -45 ABC with an spec output of 1.45BHP at 16,000. Do i have a Putt- Putt on my hands now??? Do I need to upgrade too the ST G-61 Ringed ?

[james1787]

I just checked the engine. I'm pretty sure it's a .46. One one side it says OS Max FP but on the other side, it says 60. The carb also has the number 60A on it. I thought I remember ordering it with a .46, then again it was 8 years ago.. is there a sure way to tell? Now I'm not sure what OS engine I have in it. Maybe I did order a 60 engine?

The prop I have on the plane now is a Top Flite Power Point 12 x 6.

I'm not concerned about aerobatics so much as that's not what I had in mind when I bought the plane. Originally it was to learn how to fly. I've been flying electrics for 2 or 3 years now. Now I intend to use this to get my feet wet in glow planes and get used to the much faster speeds.

So, I wonder what I have in this thing? The 60 on the side has me a little confused. Is there something I can measure to be able to tell for sure?

[james1787]

Update.. it looks like I might have the OS Max 60 FP as my engine. Many of the parts match up to this: http://www.osengines.com/parts/xr16100.html and none match to a .40 or a .46 sized engine. Perhaps I do have a .60 sized engine in here..

[ivanc]

James, you have the 60FP which is enough for the plane.
Clyde, that's a good engine - use a 12x4 or 12x5 prop and it will fly pretty well - as good as with the OS 60FP that James has. You'll have to balance her properly though with the lighter engine as fhhuber suggests.
The 60FP isn't much heavier either, so James, do proper balancing too!

[ClydeM]

Thanks for the response.

[gromitvt10]

HI, how would an 11x7 prop do on that OS .60 FP motor? I've got a Goldberg mig-27 i'd like to put it in. Thanx

Kyle

[fhhuber506771]

11X7 is a light load for any .60... its a high end load for a .46. A low power .61 like the FP series would be OK with it if you watch the rpm.... an FX .61 would scream at an rpm that might cause self destruction.

[gromitvt10]

Thanx, so i'll just get the 12x4 to be on the safe side. I'm looking for more horse power rather than speed. Will the 12x4 give me the most pull out of that engine? My plane is not going to be fast unless i put at least a .90 in it. I just want it to fly well, i don't mind going slow. I fly Prowlers, so i'm use to going slower than everyone else:)

Kyle

[ivanc]

12x4 is too small for a 60FP. 12x6 is a standard prop for it. If you need torque instead of speed (horsepower doesn't mean too much here) you should consider 13x5 (if you have enough ground clearance). If you need speed, then 11x7 or even 11x8 will provide for it.

[fhhuber506771]

12X6 is about the same load as the 11X7

If you REALLY want torque.. go to a 14X4 (which the FP can swing) The FX can go to a 15X4 if you can find one.

[ivanc]

12x6 is 20% more load than 11x7.

[gromitvt10]

I got the 12x6, thanx for the help.

Kyle

[cadconversions]

I used the 12x6 w/ my tower 60 and loved it on the OS .61FX. I also like the 13x4 for less speed and more pulling power.

[ivanc]

I used 12x6 with my Tower 75 in a Hobbistar - tore the wing off the plane at full throttle - R.I.P. :-((.