RC Warbirds for Beginners: P-51, Corsair, T-28 and A-10 Compared

1. Are You Ready for a Warbird?

Horizon Hobby's scale military range uses five skill levels: L1 Trainer, L2 Next Step, L3 Intermediate, L4 Advanced and L5 Expert. All four warbirds in this guide are Skill Level 3.

Learn on a trainer first

Horizon describes its Skill Level 2 planes as the best choice for low-time pilots who have learned on a Skill Level 1 trainer, and says they're typically easier to take off, fly and land than Skill Level 3 and beyond. If you haven't soloed yet, start with our best beginner RC planes guide and practice on a simulator with RealFlight.

Get help from a club

The Academy of Model Aeronautics' Introductory Pilot Program is a free, 90-day program that lets non-members fly at club fields under a certified instructor, with liability insurance included. A club instructor is also the best person to help with a first warbird flight.

What AS3X and SAFE Select do

Horizon says AS3X counters outside forces such as wind, turbulence, torque and tip-stall so the plane flies smoother, but it does not fly the aircraft for you. The T-28 manual adds that SAFE Select, when you turn it on, keeps the plane from banking or pitching past set limits and self-levels it when the sticks are centered.

2. The Four Warbirds Compared

Here's how the four stack up on the specs Horizon publishes. The two prop fighters and the T-28 share the same battery range, which makes it easy to add a second warbird later.

Side by side

Spans and weights come from the T-28 and Corsair manuals; weights are with a 4S 2200mAh pack.

What you need to fly

All four are Bind-N-Fly Basic, so you supply the transmitter, battery and charger. Horizon lists a full-range 6–7+ channel Spektrum DSMX/DSM2 transmitter for the T-28 and Corsair. For the A-10, a 6-channel radio covers basic flying, SAFE Select needs 7 channels, and motor reversing needs 8 or more. Our guide to programming a Spektrum transmitter for a BNF plane walks through setup.

3. Which One Should You Fly First?

Each of these has a personality. Here's how we'd line them up for a pilot moving up from a trainer.

First pick: T-28 Trojan

Horizon calls the T-28 Trojan 1.2m its easiest-to-fly full-house T-28 yet. The manual lists 90-degree retracts and flaps installed, and it sits on tricycle gear like most trainers. For takeoff, the manual says to set half flaps, bring the throttle to about three-quarters, steer with the rudder and ease back on the elevator once it's up to speed.

Next step: Corsair or P-51D

Horizon calls the F4U-4 Corsair 1.2m the easiest-to-fly scale model of the warbird yet. Its manual says to apply gentle back pressure once the tail lifts. As a tail-dragger, it asks a little more of you on the ground than the T-28. The P-51D Mustang 1.2m has functional flaps and retracts and takes the same 3S or 4S battery range. Horizon's scale military page also lists a HobbyZone P-51D at Skill Level 1 for pilots who want a Mustang shape sooner.

For jet fans: A-10 Thunderbolt II

Horizon calls the twin 64mm A-10 the easiest-to-fly, high-performance model of the "Hog" yet. It's a bigger step: two ducted fans, a 6S battery, and a Smart ESC, with reverse thrust available on an 8+ channel radio. For smaller fields, the UMX A-10 is a micro-size version with AS3X and SAFE Select. New to ducted fans? Read EDF Jets 101 first.

Conclusion

A warbird is a great second or third airplane, not a first one. Get comfortable on a trainer, then start with the T-28 Trojan for its tricycle gear and forgiving setup. Add the Corsair or P-51D when you want a fighter, and the A-10 when you want a jet. Turn on SAFE Select for the first flights, land with full flaps, and fly with a club instructor if you can.

Questions about which warbird fits your flying? Contact the shop.

Gear Mentioned in This Guide

E-flite T-28 Trojan 1.2m with Smart BNF Basic (EFL18350)

Tricycle gear, flaps and retracts, with SAFE Select: our pick for a first warbird.

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E-flite F4U-4 Corsair 1.2m BNF Basic with AS3X and SAFE Select (EFL18550)

The classic gull-wing fighter, same size and battery as the T-28, once you're ready for a tail-dragger.

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E-flite A-10 Thunderbolt II Twin 64mm EDF BNF Basic with AS3X and SAFE Select (EFL011500)

A twin-fan jet warbird on 6S power for pilots who want something different.

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E-flite UMX A-10 Thunderbolt II 30mm EDF Jet BNF Basic with AS3X and SAFE Select (EFLU6550)

A micro-size A-10 with AS3X and SAFE Select for smaller fields.

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Frequently Asked Questions