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Bigger is always better. Well, at least it is sometimes. In the world of model aviation, bigger airplanes are often easier to fly than their smaller siblings. Reactions to control inputs are slightly, just very slightly, slower allowing the pilot more time to plan and maneuver. Larger aircraft are easier to see, important if you are on the plus side of 40 years old or like to fly "three mistakes" high. Since wing area increases by the square of the wingspan and chord, most larger models have lighter wing loadings and are more forgiving.
Up to a point, bigger is better for model RC trainers as well. Trainer aircraft powered by .40-size engines are easier to fly than .25-powered trainers. The larger 40-size aircraft handle winds better and are not as sensitive to control inputs. Trainers that are too large however, do become more difficult to fly. Why? The answer is too much momentum, adverse yaw and increasing wing loading after a certain point, requiring the new pilot to think too far ahead of the aircraft in order to fly it well.
There have been several attempts to market trainers with wingspans from eight feet and up, powered by larger glow engines or by small gas engines. For the most part, these larger trainers proved too expensive and possessed too steep a learning curve for most new model pilots. They were not huge successes.
What is the upper size limit for trainers? What size provides the best combination of low wing loading, good control response, easy visibility, low momentum, cost efficiency and short in-flight lead-time? There are many opinions on this subject, but there also seems to be a general consensus as well. The majority of RC instructors seem to think that a 60-size trainer is one of the best learning platforms. The problem has been that there are few 60-size Ready-To-Fly (RTF), RC trainers available. There are some excellent Almost-Ready-To-Fly (ARF) 60-size trainer aircraft, but these require more work and need a radio and engine to fly. The new Hangar 9®, Alpha 60® RTF trainer is helping to end this problem
 
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The Alpha 60 is a larger version of the tremendously popular Alpha 40 trainer. Both RTF aircraft feature the popular JR Quattro radio system, installed. Both also feature Evolution engines that are factory pre-run and set. These engines have proven themselves to be reliable, very powerful and cost effective (read “less expensive than you would guess”). As its name suggests, the Alpha 60 has the Evolution .61 engine installed, already broken-in with the mixture controls factory pre-set.
How much larger is the Alpha 60? The wingspan is 9 in. longer at 72 in. while the wing’s chord is 2.25 in. bigger at 13.5 in. This doesn’t appear to be much of a size increase until you realize that the wing area has grown by 255 sq. in., a 36% increase. Even though the Alpha 60 weighs two pounds more than the Alpha 40, the wing loading is exactly the same at 17.3 oz. per sq. ft.
The aircraft’s overall length is just 2 in. longer at 54 in. But the fuselage itself is much deeper and wider than traditional, 40-size trainers. The landing gear has a wider stance making for better ground handling, especially in windy conditions. The wider fuselage not only accommodates the larger Evolution .61 engine and a larger fuel tank, but also makes bolt-on wings more practical. Finally, no more rubber bands although optional rubber band wing mounting is included if you prefer that form of wing attachment system.
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