Haven't checked in in a while...I've soloed my Sr. Falcon & flying almost every weekend. I actually bought a second plane already...chronologically, at least...my local HobbyTown had an 81" Miles Sparrowhawk marked @ 1/2 off, and I'm a sucker for vintage looks (i.e., Sr. Falcon).

But although the Sparrowhawk looks to me like a basic low-wing plane, I've been told that it flies more like a warbird & wouldn't make a great low-wing trainer. No biggie, I'll get to it whenever. But now I'm thinking about what WOULD make for a good trainer, but in the same vein as my Falcon is/was; something that might be a LITTLE more challenging than a basic trainer, but would make for a great plane I'll fly for a long time. Once again, I want an ARF, not a kit.

I seem to be drawn to [link=http://www.trentonrcflyers.com/pattern/pattern1.htm]60s-70s vintage 'pattern' planes[/link], probby because that's what I was seeing when I was growing up, but also because I just like the look. They sure LOOK like they'd make for good low-wing trainers, but I thought I'd ask. And maybe different ones are better/worse than others. I'm talking low wing ones ...I guess I technically have a pattern plane in my Falcon (but was the Sr. 'legal'?).

I like:

[link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/WTI0001P?I=LXZT80&P=8]Kaos[/link] but I'd like to get something more .50-60 size (if not bigger).
[link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXAYNV&P=ML]Dirty Birdy[/link] Maybe my fave, but I've been told it might be a bit 'hot' for a 2nd plane (then again, I've learned about this thing called a 'throttle'....)
[link=http://www.v-eastonline.com/products/WP-KWIK-FLY-MK3-.html]Kwik Fly Mk3[/link] pretty nice, a bit pricey, but not too common, which I like

Any other ARF pattern-ers out there (the bigger the better)? Also, it's not pattern, but I really like Space Walkers, and [link=http://www.espritmodel.com/spacewalker-50-arf.aspx]Kyosho has one coming out[/link] out that they claim IS good as a 2nd plane (maybe a bit different than the Seagull ones). Is tricycle gear really important here? I mean, you gotta learn how to fly tail-draggers SOMETIME, don't you?

OH, don't worry, the Sig four-star (60 and 120) and Super Sportster/Giant Super Sportster are also on my radar; I KNOW they'll come up as recommendations, and I do like them...but the Four-Star ARFs look to be impossible to find now.

Thanks for your input!