Hobbico SuperStar 40

by Vincent
(Long Island NY)

Stock Photo

This is a great airplane for beginners because it embraces the basic elements of ARF assembling, and is a gentle, predictable flier that is robust when an "oops" is encountered.

The Superstar is a complete kit at a good price and with a few evenings and some patience a great trainer can be born. The instructions are direct and easy to digest. The included hardware is high quality as expected of Hobbico.

Radio installation is a breeze using only 4 channels. I recommend the most basic servos for duty in this bird.

The most fun in any build for me is marrying the power plant to airframe. With a good variety of choices in the .40 class, you can go with a variety of engines from high performance to value.

Mine actually flew on an O.S. .35 FP which was enough to get it going and fly around the patch with good performance. Electric versions of the Superstar became available a few years ago and the only difference in the model is the power plant and lack of a fuel cell thus changing the CG.

The Flat bottom airfoil makes the extra lift and coupled with its dihedral angle seems to almost right itself in unusual attitudes. The landing gear is wire-type which is my only complaint. But it will make you good at greasing it in because the wire landing gear will surely bounce you up again if your flair if your touchdown skills are not up to par.

As every beginner should always fly 2 mistakes high and half as fast as the plane is, with it trimmed straight and level at 1/2 throttle.

Keeping the recommended throws on the surfaces is a good way to ensure you will not over-control this plane. As your skills grow, you can up the anty and with a computer radio, just add more throw on the servos to get into basic acrobatics.

In conclusion, you get one of the most docile airfoils, good quality construction, and the support of Hobbico if you should need a repair or replacement of a part or parts if a mishap should arise.

The only con to this plane is that it can become un-interesting to fly as your skills get better. There is only so much the SuperStar can do, but it does do what it's designed to do very well and that is train.