I do agree with most of what was said, but some people are ready to move up quicker than others.

I am not trying to toot my own horn, rather give an example of my progression:

About 8 years ago, I got a Goldberg Electra. I had an experienced pilot help me on the first 2 flights, then I was able to solo it. Had about 20 flights before I lost it due to dis-orientation due to darkness.

About 3 months later, had one sailplane, a Dynaflite Wanderer. 2 flights and the wing snapped. My fault for not building it properly.

2 years after that - bought and built another Goldberg Electra. Had 5 flights on it before a friend corkscrewed it into the ground.

Fast forward to fall 2003 - flew an Aerobird for a while before it finally died from crashing too much.

March 2004 - Completed a Thunder Tiger Trainer .25 - soloed it for the maiden, without incident. Compiled about 13-15 flights before the engine would not run well(I now believe there is an air leak somewhere, but it's sitting on the shelf anyways).

April 2004 - Bought a friend's Modeltech Magic after he let me fly it. I was able to handle it with no problem and after about 10 flights it met up with a soccer goalpost. I did have one crash with it, trying to fly inverted, got my thumbs reversed.

Completed my UCD .46/Saito .91 in the last week of May 2004. Maidened it on May 23rd. As of this afternoon, I have 64 flights on it. One crash due to me trying to harrier very low. I have also had the gear rip out about 6 or 7 times on not so smooth landings, and I tore the rudder hinges trying to do an inverted tail drag on the grass. I can do blenders, waterfalls, harriers(well everyone knows the UCD harriers like junk), low inverted flight, knife edge, and some limited hovering and torque rolling.

Had a .40 size H9 Cap 232, with a gutless Magnum .46(pirated out of the deceased Magic). I didn't like the way it flew after about 6 flights, so I sold it.

I have a Parkzone F-27 that I like to bomb around in my front yard with. Crashed it several times, more due to my own stupidity than anything.

I have a H9 Funtana .90 waiting for an engine, otherwise completed.

I will recieve my newest plane, a Wild Hare 28% Edge 540 sometime this week.

I don't believe that I am typical of the averege modeler. Some people take a lot longer to pick things up, and I have seen guys fly a 4* for months and not be able to handle it. I think that there are a few out there who could, even without a lot of stick time, jump to something aerobatic(above the level of a 4*, Super Sportster etc) and fly it successfully.

All I can say is if you think you can't handle it, don't do it! First time I flew the UCD, my knees were shaking, I was that nervous. Everything else I had flown was high wing, and I was worried that this thing would be so unstable that I couldn't keep it in the air. Not to mention I was maidening it without any help or a buddy box. Turned out I handled it fine and subsequent flights I became much more relaxed. If you have the confidence to do it, go ahead and do so. However, be warned that you could be in for a handfull, or worse a pile of firewood. Others here that advise you to take a smaller leap, are doing so from experience, either their own or from something they've seen. I myself do not recommend that you make such a big leap to an Edge or Extra, due to the fact that I'll assume you're like an averege person learning RC.

I guess I sound contradictory, but I take issue with some that say an aerobat-capable airplane such as a 3D mid-wing is a bad choice for a second airplane. Turned down to low rates, a Funtana or a UCD is docile with their light wingloading, and will allow the pilot to grow far beyond what a more limited low-winger would allow. The only thing they don't possess is self-righting charachteristics(anyone competent with a trainer should have this skill down anyways).


Good luck whatever you choose to do.