Good second Plane?.

[coaster]

Now that I have started to get a handle on my trainer, It's time to start thinking about a second plane. I would rather put a bit of thought into it instead of just buying the first bright and shiny thing that catches my eye, I figure I can take my time and build from a kit as I really get to grips with my trainer. It will have to be glow powered (O.S. 46 FX or ASP 52) as that is what I have and can't afford to be spending fortunes on engines and I think something with a scale look to it rather than a generic type low wing plane would be good. As to what sort of flying it will be doing, I am getting bored with going round in circles already!.

Any thoughts/suggestions greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Pete.

[casey g]

[YOUTUBE]nWzUdMEaeTk[/YOUTUBE]my dads second plane was a ultra stick from hanger 9
he still has it and has been flying it for about 7 months its a nice step from a trainer to a sport plane

my second plane was a funtana 40 i do not sugest this but i was ready for it and in the ultra stick he has a 46 evelution (spelling) awsome moter and power i think i have a short clip of me putin it in to a hover i will try to find it so u can see the power my sugestoin is a ultra stick and run a little bit of expo in it and u should be fine
casey g

[JimC-MD]

Many people get bored with thier trainers very quickly after they solo. I think that is a shame. Your choices in a second plane are limited by how far you can push the flight envelope on your trainer. If you are only able to fly the trainer around in circles and land, you are not ready to move up or are limited to one of the generic "second" planes that are common.

If, on the other hand, you have a trainer that actually has a little extra power, can have some more aggressive control throws and is not balanced with an encyclopedia in the nose, we can have some fun. Learn to push the trainer you have to the edge of it's capability. I do not mean just take it up and slam the sticks around. Fly with a purpose. Learn split s, stall turns, loops, rolls, inverted flight and anything else your airplane will do. (yes, the trainers I have helped people set up will fly all that and more. Not like an Extra 260, but you will know what the figure was ) Be able to make tight, short approach landings and stick them in the center of the runway with ease. Do your stall turn at the ends of the runway with the pull out altitude at 3-4 meters. Be able to do all this in both directions. If you use your trainer to that level your "second plane" choices become almost unlimited. I would be comfortable with suggesting anything but a scale warbird or a pylon racer to you.

[zoomer260]

I went from flat bottom top wing to - semi symmetrical top wing to - low wing fully symmetrical. I still have a ugly stick !

[Positive_Spin]

I agree with JimC-MD. You should push your training as far as you can. But if you looking for something new, then the SIG 4 Star Series are a pretty good second plane. It will move you up to a low wing and a tail dragger, pilot in the cockpit, etc. My second plane was a 4*40 that I built and covered it only took me a weekend to build her (first build) but a week to cover (first cover job). You could even take out the 1 percent dihedral in the wings to maximize aerobatics. They also have these planes in an ARF as well. The 46 engine will do very well in the 4*40 and you should be able to work your way up from basic to intermediate aerobatics, (I was even doing rollers with it). Well, that's my two cents.

Good luck with what ever you choose and keep us posted OK?!

[NZ Scythe]

Hi Pete,
I think the best way to answer this question is to look back and ask ourselves what we wish we had bought as a second plane if we were starting all over again...

I went from a .46 size great planes PT-40 which I outgrew quickly, then onto a SIG Kougar which I flew for a while untill I started learning rolling circles!
Next I started playing with 3D fun fly models (again using the same OS .46 motor) and then onto a 72" Edge 540 ARF. After them I moved onto a few 2m size aerobatic models which I think are a good next step, but the price difference is quite significant. I have just recently sold an 84" Wild Hare Extra 300 and I am in the process of sorting out my next model which will be a 100" Composite ARF Extra 300SX. This a a pretty big step up from 70 - 80" models and well over double the cost, but they fly considerably better.

I have always looked after my models and I think I have sold every single one (except for my poor Kougar) and used the money to fund the next project.

I think JimC-MD is 100% correct in saying you should push your trainer to the limits, you will become a much better pilot and even if you have a couple of crashes you will learn from your mistakes before you spend more money on a second model.

Of course it also depends on your style of flying and your interests, I have always been interested in Aerobatics so that is the way I went. I have played around with a couple of scale models but they are even more boring than a trainer...

I believe your options are either go with an ARF model that will use the same engine and radio gear you currently have - This will allow you to set up a much more aerobatic model at minimal cost and I believe you will have a lot of fun while at the same time becoming a better pilot. I would reccommend something like the Precision Aerobatics "Bad Boy" (Available in Chch) which you may have seen me flying at the Willows.

The other option would be to sell your trainer and motor and step up to a larger .90 or 1.20 size model, you could get a nice looking scale aerobatic model like the Carl Golberg Sukhoi which is a nice flying 1.20 size model. Dave Austin has one in Chch which I test flew recently, powered by a YS 1.10 it flew really well and would even be good for flying aerobatic comps.

Looking back myself, I wish I had done some things different. I think I should have spent a bit more time on my trainer - learning more aerobatics and really pushing the limits, then I would have liked to have moved onto a 1.20 size model straight away as I quickly outgrew the .46 sized sport model. (even tho I splatted it!)

Sorry for rambling on... but these are just a few suggestions.

Cheers,
Patrick

[zoomer260]

Good points. I have a 120 surpass sitting on the shelf awaiting a Golberg Sukhoi as we speak and I have flown many larger planes. But that one got by me back when and I've always wanted one.
By all means choose a plane that will use the gear you have in your trainer. Unless or course cash is not an issue. I would still recommend a softer step from a trainer than a full blown aerobat, after that the sky is the limit !

[zoomer260]

By the way, I crashed the doo doo outta my second plane with the semi airfoil after a week. That is something to consider also, when getting into "greasy" planes how much do you want to risk? My second plane was a doner, that's what we do where I'm from, donate the early cheap "learner planes" to other "ready" pilots. Chances are good they will tear it up but learn enough to get to next step.

[coaster]

Thanks Guys, all good advice. I am ceryainly going to hang onto the trainer and push it as far as it will go. I have been looking at a Goldberg Tiger, thinking that I can build it from a kit and take my time at it while I hammer the trainer. That Bad Boy certainly looks like fun though!.

How was the air race Patrick?.

[NZ Scythe]

The Red Bull Air Race was awesome! I'd reccommend it to anyone.

I might hook up the buddy box to my Bad Boy next time I go out flying to give you a an idea how much fun they can be. Cheers

[Imac Kiwi]

	Quote: Originally Posted by coaster
	Thanks Guys, all good advice. I am ceryainly going to hang onto the trainer and push it as far as it will go. I have been looking at a Goldberg Tiger, thinking that I can build it from a kit and take my time at it while I hammer the trainer. That Bad Boy certainly looks like fun though!. How was the air race Patrick?.

I can vouch for the Goldberg TigerII as an excellent 2nd model. I have flown about 40 hrs with mine and it is put away in a cupboard in as new condition.
You have a supplier in ChCh that supplies the AT40. He also has a low wing 46 size ARF that is a copy of the TigerII at a reasonable price.

[ampEater]

I had two second models as they were both finished at the same time. A Sig Four Star 40, and a Tower hobbies Fun-51. I still fly the Four Star 40 after 4 years, and the Fun-51 is being flown by another member of my club.