Werkstatt-Check: E-flite Apprentice STS in the test mirror

For many, the E-flite Apprentice STS is the beginner trainer – the official trainer of the US model-flying association (AMA), with high buyer satisfaction (avg. 4.4★ on the manufacturer’s site). And yet our follow-up-cost traffic light is on red. Here’s why that’s not a contradiction.

What the tests say

• Beginner-friendliness (SAFE): AirMag.aero highlights the three switchable flight modes – beginner mode with strict attitude limits and automatic return to level flight, intermediate, then full manual control. A “panic button” returns the model to stable flight at any time. (Source: AirMag.aero)
• Durability: The EPO foam is tough and light; the rubber-band-mounted wing pops off in a crash and absorbs impact energy that would otherwise damage the fuselage – crashes are planned for as part of learning. (Source: AirMag.aero)
• Scope of delivery & criticism: The BNF variant only includes the airframe and electronics (transmitter, battery and charger separate), the RTF variant everything. Spare parts (wings, tail, propellers) are well and cheaply available. Testers are critical of the optional GPS and landing-assist modules – for beginners more of a hindrance than a help, better left off. (Source: AirMag.aero)

“The Apprentice is a gentle ‘puppy dog’ in Beginner Mode, but switching to Experienced Mode unlocks full aerobatic capabilities.” — AirMag.aero, Apprentice STS 1.5m Review

Our take

In the air the Apprentice is almost a self-runner – tests and buyer ratings confirm it. So why follow-up costs: high? Because our traffic light measures what comes after the purchase – and there, in our data, battery and charger are missing. On top of that, plane-typical items are ongoing: matching LiPos, propellers and crash spare parts (wing, tail). The expensive add-on modules (SAFE-Plus GPS, landing assist) push the price further – and are advised against for beginners of all people.

That’s no contradiction to the plane’s strong rating: the Apprentice is an excellent trainer whose total cost you should simply plan for realistically – which is exactly what the traffic light is for.

Verdict

If you want to learn to fly and value the comfort of SAFE, you get a forgiving, easily repairable trainer. But budget for transmitter/battery/charger (depending on the variant), LiPos and wear parts from the start – and skip the optional modules for now.

Original research and assessment by RC Garage 24 based on an independent test report and aggregated buyer reviews (see sources). We don’t reproduce third-party content; we report facts with sources and summarise the general tenor in our own words.