Thanks for the advice!
Yes I literally had NO problems with the trainer but only flew big racetrack patterns and figure 8s. I was able to keep the turns nice and coordinated with little to no altitude loss. I have not done a take off or landing with the trainer yet but plan to tomorrow. I have not flown inverted and don't think I will on this trainer, I think it wants to stay upright too bad...
My orientation is good (at least in upright flight) because of all of my parkflyer time. THAT I am confident of.
The guys reccommend that I be able to solo a few flights on the trainer before trying the UCD and yes I would certainly let someone else maiden and trim it for me as well as do the take off and landings for me the first few times.
Is there another plane that would have longer legs than a straight trainer that may be a bit easier than the UCD?
Thanks very much for the input!
FiveO,
Let's take a look at your response and I'll give you my opinion at the end.
racetrack and figure 8 patterns are a good start but BIG is not what the UCD likes to do. [sm=thumbup.gif]
Seeing that you have not landed or did any takeoffs is not good [sm=thumbdown.gif]
Trainers are designed to want to stay upright. The dihedral in the wing sees to this. [sm=thumbup.gif]
That's a good thing that you have orientation down well
The guys are giving you decent advice, not excellent but decent.
The are other planes that are just as good as trainers. World models makes a straight wing, fully aerobatic high wing trainer called the SkyRaider Mach II or Mach I for $70.00 bucks. It's a nice flying machine but it is built somewhat cheaply and will not take lots of abuse but are very aerobatic with a fully symmetrical wing. The other recommended planes like the 4 Star series and tigers are great 2nd planes. I have successfully trained students on the 4 Star planes but it does increase the learning curve to a degree.
Now for my opinion.
I recommend that you get a trainer and do everything you can do on it. Trainers will do aerobatics, but they will not be pretty or perfect. If you can fly inverted for 3 laps on a trainer then you definitely have good control as the trainer will fight you by trying to return to upright flight.
I will also recommend that you DO NOT train on the UCD. There is a good chance you will destroy it in short order. As was mentioned they are built to do one thing very well and that is 3D. They will not take the abuse that someone in training will dish out. Think about it, if you can do greased landing from your very first one and do them pretty much all the time then you are already much better than when most people on here were when they started out.
Greasing the landing on a SIM is not a good measure of how you will land in the real world. I know it's not want you wanted to here but that's life. You can be one that learns and picks things up quickly, I know I am but I did start out on a trainer, then went to a Twist and a 4 star 40 both in the same day. Everyone thought I was moving too fast but now they see me competing in IMAC.
Heck, my original instructor still smiles to this day when he sees me fly.
As RCKen said, the skills you learn on a trainer will definitely help on the UCD. We are not trying to discourage you or put you down. We are trying to help you see that making this kind of jump will lead to disappointment and more only to repair the UCD.
Here is a link to the World models planes I was talking about
[link=http://www.airborne-models.com/html/productdetails.asp?ProductID=16]The Low Wing Version[/link]
[link=http://www.airborne-models.com/html/productdetails.asp?ProductID=15]The High Wing Version[/link]
lease let us know what you end up doing and how you are progressing and as I said before, welcome to the addiction err hobby