Live Wire Trainer

Live Wire R/C Trainer
A classic early R/C trainer model.

The Hal de Bolt Live Wire Trainer kit made its debut in 1952, with this particular plan being redrawn in 1978.

Overview
Recognized as Famous R/C Aircraft No. 2, the Live Wire Trainer was first advertised in the spring of 1952. This model became the go-to training tool for countless early R/C enthusiasts, all eager to dive into this captivating hobby following the establishment of the Citizens Band.

Historical Significance
The Live Wire Trainer was the very first R/C model design made available in kit form. It emerged just before the Citizens Band regulations we know today were implemented. At that time, a non-licensed band at 465 MHz was in use, and the Citizen-Ship Radio Corporation provided a successful system that helped launch many of today’s experienced R/C pilots. Over the course of its decade-long run, between 40,000 and 50,000 of these kits were produced.

Originally unveiled at an industry trade show with a price tag of $6.95, distributors were hesitant to place orders, skeptical that there could be a promising future for R/C models at what they deemed an excessively high price.

Innovation and Impact
What’s truly fascinating is how such an innovative model made its way into production, addressing a new need in the hobby community. For those control line flyers of that era, the dream was always about the potential of flying model aircraft without being tethered by those pesky wires. The Live Wire Trainer turned that dream into a reality, bringing freedom and excitement to model aviation enthusiasts everywhere.