Hobbico’s SuperStar 40™ All Wood Almost Ready To Fly .40-sized trainer has been one of the mainstream RC trainers for more than 5 years. The SuperStar has trained thousands of pilots, taking them from raw student pilots all the way through medium aerobatic flyers.
The SuperStar is distributed by Great Planes and is available in most hobby shops for about $100. The plane is a true ARF, requiring the builder to glue the wing halves together, glue the stab and fin in place and then install the radio, engine and fuel system. The ARF kit includes all the accessories. Total construction time is about 35 hours and requires no special skills. The result is a sharp looking trainer with clean lines. (Photo 1)
Photo 1
The SuperStar 40 is a somewhat older design than the RTF planes sold today. It’s 60 in. wingspan results in a slightly higher wing loading than most of the newer trainers. But the SuperStar’s smaller size and lighter weight have some advantages. As Photos 4 & 5 show, The SuperStar is a very clean trainer that looks good in the air. The bottom of the right wing sports a wide blue stripe for better visibility and attitude identification.
With a good .46-size engine, the SuperStar is more aerobatic-capable than the larger 40-size trainers. Inverted flight is easier, loops are larger and more round while spins and snap rolls are actually possible. These maneuvers are gentle in a SuperStar, but possible.
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