This isn't really an answer to your question, but it addresses an issue that you might appreciate.  

IMHO, The Ares is too complex and fragile of a plane to use for relearning to fly stunt.  
I would think a simpler and more durable design would be a better choice for your return to the fold.  Save the E-Ares for your 2nd plane after you have completed a good season of flying and your aren't crashing regularly.

I have used this simple plane to go from flying not so good loops and lazy eights, to being able to fly a pretty recognizable pattern.  I burned 2.5 gallons of fuel, 4oz at a time, learning the pattern this year and it has been great!  The fuselage is my design and it uses a foam wing.  The wing is from Phil Cartier at the Corehouse.  Ask for a Gotcha 500 with the 3" tip extensions for 54" span and 540 in.sq.  You can buy the wings 4 at a time and build a small fleet of planes to keep you flying all season.  I have repaired the wing 8 times, the fuselage 5 times, the rudder 4 times and it is still ready for more action this spring.  I have had a blast with this thing and would recommend something similar to anyone interested in making progress learning the pattern.  I fly it with a stock OS LA46 on 65ft lines (handle to fuselage centerline).  This gives comfortable lap times and plenty of sky for maneuvers.  E-power would be a cinch to adapt.  

You can't learn if you are afraid to take it down to 5 feet.  There will be carnage.  Prepare for it.

Brent...  Not exactly what I wanted to hear.  But.... you are probably right.  I built a Big Otto from plans downloaded from outerzone... and I found the instruction sheet from one I built in high school...   I have already crashed it a couple of times.. with short 1/2A lines it was running 3 sec laps... I got dizzy and fell down  :-(...  made a set of 35' lines.. still really fast... - Really good golden bee...   trying to stand still and do lazy 8's and loops etc...  for a while...  getting better...  I have been thinking about getting a flite streak trainer for my grandson...  your idea may kill 2 birds with one stone. 

I have emailed Phil and am waiting to hear what the cost is for wing sets etc...  the price list listed on the website says 2010... If not too much $$ I may get a 4 pack of wings.  The 540 - 550 area is about the same as  the brodak ares 59 which says it is 542.  I may just use the FP 40 I bought to get used to it... also I have 2 36X's, an old 35 combat special and some other .25, .35 and .45 engines...  I could start working on electric setup too... get my feet wet.

I may go ahead and order the ares and get started...  should be able to whip up some trainers pretty quickly and get to work... I would really like to try to go to the DMAA contest in Feb... Don't really know if I can be ready by then... depends on the weather... We can fly behind my shop if the weather permits... so it is convenient... no excuse for not practicing....

Thank You Dennis...

This will help me start looking at equipment.  I have no Idea what to expect the finished airplane to weigh.  I would think the first one will be more basic...  simple finish etc...   I wonder if I build some of these trainers -  if I should make one heavier like an ares? 

Thanks again Guys!!

steve

You don't want to crash with electric unless you're rich.


MM

I got curious so tried to add up the cost.  I started from scratch a couple of years ago and found about this

Motor about $60

Hubin system
ESC                 65
FM-9 timer     10
Jeti box        40  once    edit as posts below, not the Jeti Box, but the FM-9 programmer for $75 if current.

KR system
ESC                50
timer             50
program        15 once

Lipo storage in fire safe box  $20 – 30 on Amazon.  Of course you may wish to spend more and get a large box.  Cell phones and many tools and electric conveniences share those lithium batteries.  Of course that will make the conveniences inconvenient.  

Components other than batteries should last.

4 6S packs for 128.50 used for 500 flights so about 0.26/flight or per tank of fuel.

Recharge one pack 2 amps x 25.2v 100.8 watts or 400watts for 4 packs and with inefficiency, perhaps double.  One 100w bulb for 8 hours...  The cost of a kilowatt-hour of electricity varies across the country, but the average (including all charges) is about 15 cents.  

Cost of motor and electronics, 150/500 about 0.30/flight or up to 0.33/flight if the higher option

So about 0.55/flight – 0.60/flight with the box
  
Charger costs vary and the chargers should last over years and many battery packs, so a bit more difficult to figure "in the tank costs."  Of course those IC motors like batteries, glow plugs and other items as well.  If fuel is about $20/gallon and you get 32 flights then about 0.60/tank and that doesn't include motor and initial costs.  I haven't researched fuel costs and usage so may be off a bit.

What is the cost of building the plane if your time is worth 1.00/hr  plus supplies?  Is there really enough difference in IC and E to offset the overall costs, and the overall enjoyment, at least on some days, of the hobby

Joe,
I have not used Hubin and didn't read carefully about using it's own programmer since I was estimating cost.  So, I will revise above to reflect the Hubin Programmer.
Thanks,
Fred

Joe,
I have not used Hubin and didn't read carefully about using it's own programmer since I was estimating cost.  So, I will revise above to reflect the Hubin Programmer.
Thanks,
Fred

I was hoping it could. as I like to pack light.. there are times I have to bring both programmers.

On The engine story, a nice engine would be one of the Enya's like the 30SS or the special 35 with the anodised red head. The 30SS weighs about the same as a Fox 35 and the lightweight muffler does not add much at all.

Keith R