Official FMS 1400mm Sky Trainer V2 Thread

[Aros]

Motion RC is pleased to announce the release of the FMS 1400mm Sky Trainer V2. This is the official message thread to post photos, videos, flight reviews and any questions about this iconic aircraft.

[MichiganJarrad]

Fms sky trainer v2

I'm surprised nobody has posted here yet! Just wanted to show that even though someone may not like the graphics option for this plane, options are limitless! These are so easy to change to whatever you desire to make them! Callie graphics did a awesome job for me making these graphics for my plane of a 2010 version Cessna 182. Hope you enjoy the pics!

[ICM]

After reading reviews and forum posts on this plane, most suggest that this trainer is a great second plane for a beginner but a bit too advanced for a first plane. That's too bad, because it just looks so much better than other trainers. Is this because of flight characteristics, or because it lacks SAFE like others such as the Apprentice. If the reason is the absence of SAFE, can it be made SAFE compliant with the appropriate transmitter/receiver or some other equivalent?

[MichiganJarrad]

This is a bit advanced, it has flaps, it doesn't have good slow fly characteristics and has a tendency to tip stall when flying slow. After being out of the hobby for almost 20 years, I got back into it with the apprentice with safe. That my friend is the best trainer to start out with in my opinion if you want to start with a larger r/c airplane. The Apprentice "S" is a wonderful plane because you can step up from beginner mode, to a more advanced beginner mode, then to Advanced mode and slowly build up your confidence while still being able to have a panic switch to self level if you run into trouble. Just always remember if you run into trouble, never let go of the throttle and maintain half to three-quarter throttle when pulling the panic switch. I use AS3X Ar636 receivers in all of my planes, some of which I have safe, that sky trainer "Cessna" has the receiver out of the Timber which has safe select so if I ever run into trouble I can pin the throttle and hit safe to self level it. Definitely not the same as safe in the apprentice but it does have the self level future for it if you run into trouble which is nice if you're a little further out and you lose coordination. Hope this helps you.

[wvrailfan]

I loved mine, flew it often. Let a friend fly it and he discovered that trees have airplane magnets in them. I have a new one in the stash to replace it.
It may not be a good first plane for learning solo, but if you are working with someone and a buddy box I think it would be okay. It flies much like most high wing trainers, sans the SAFE or AS3X or other stabilization equipment on a lot of newer planes.
It is stable and slows down nicely for landing, especially when using flaps.
Appearance wise I think it is head and shoulders above the Apprentice or Sport Cub.
I wrapped mine as a CAP plane. It made a pretty good camera platform also. As far as I am aware, it has been in production since at least 2010, with some improvements, so it must still be selling okay. to me, that is a good indication that it is a good model.

[MichiganJarrad]

I really like that CAP theme! Great job!

[monsenrm]

I am wondering if you can just peel off the existing graphics and put new decals/vinyl on it. Is it just plain white with vinyl graphics?

[MichiganJarrad]

You are correct. I carefully peeled off all of the original decals, sent proofs to Callie Graphics, she created new graphics for me, I applied them and filled in the necessary areas with a paint that matched.

[monsenrm]

Ah neat. I actually have a full scale 182 and would love to duplicate it. Been flying both "scales" for 40 years!

[MichiganJarrad]

Awesome! Thankfully after you peel off the decals the only thing that will need to be painted is the wheel pants, the stripes are painted on the pants unfortunately. If you contact Callie, send her as many photos of your plane as possible, and she should be able to match up the graphics.

[monsenrm]

Outstanding. You know the I would love to get rid of the N numbers on my full scale version. Believe it or not if the plane is over 30 years old (mine is 1969) you don't require 12" numbers. You can have little ones on the tail. Could do that with vinyl wraps too... hmm...

[rifleman_btx]

Hey there ya go! That would clean up the look. Would you just go completely white?

[monsenrm]

I like the gray and black trim. I dunno - could do a vinyl wrap too. I don't really want to spend a ton of money on paint or vinyl but something to make those giant N numbers disappear would be fine. Then I can go back to doing low passes over the RC field without people seeing my numbers. :)

[270win]

I love the 182, I put about 1,000 hours on this one over a 10 year period.

http://s195.photobucket.com/user/1kwik72/media/DSC04217.jpg.html

I just sent an email to Callie Graphics to see if they can replicate the stripe and N number.

Ours was a 1962 182E, my understanding was that when we re-painted we had to have the larger N number painted on the airplane. We didn't think much of it, but it would clean it up to have the smaller N number.

[270win]

Callie graphics said no problem with the markings. Good price too.

[monsenrm]

Here is the N number rule: The following aircraft may display marks at least 2 inches high:

• Aircraft that had 2-inch markings displayed before November 1, 1981, and an aircraft manufactured after November 2, 1981, but before January 1, 1983, may display those marks until the aircraft has been repainted, restored, or changed.
• Antique/classic aircraft: Aircraft built at least 30 years ago, or an aircraft issued an experimental certificate under FAR 21.191(d) or (g) for operation as an exhibition aircraft or as an amateur-built that has the same external configuration as an aircraft built at least 30 years ago may display marks at least 2 inches high.

https://www.aopa.org/training-and-sa...umber-markings

Those big 12" ones are ugly.

[270win]

Should have done more research when we had the 62' 182 painted.

[270win]

Well, I got mine on Friday. Opened the box to a styrofoam cup finish...actually our styrofoam cups are smoother. Packet of phillips head screws came with an allen wrench to install them...maybe that works in China? Incorrect hardware for the control horns. Instructions were horrible to say the least. Poor fit of parts. Wiring mis-marked. Zero quality control. Just disappointing from the opening of the box to completing the assembly. When this was on backorder for months and I was hoping they were improving it. From other reviews it had to better before. Haven't flown it yet, but right now I'm not even interested in flying it. I came very close to throwing it in the trash several times during the build.

[monsenrm]

I just got mine yesterday. I must admit it seemed fine to me. I haven't checked every piece of hardware, but the finish is exactly what I expected for a foam plane - maybe better than some I have had. The foam plane "paper cup effect" is prevalent on all the foamies out there. I hate it, but this one seems a bit smoother than others I have had. One day, RTF/PNP type kits will come with nice smooth finishes - but as long as normal foam is the construction material we will have that slightly lumpy exterior.

[270win]

I think I just don't care for foam airplanes. So when it also had hardware that was incorrect and really poor fit and finish it really bothered me.