Well it may be a bit premature, but I'm thinking about my second plane. I'm learning on an Eagle II powered by an OS LA .46.

I want to learn aerobatics (the kind "real" airplanes do, not necessarily 3D), and it's been suggested to me that one of the "Sticks" would be a good second airplane for me.

I don't really want to buy another radio to go with my second plane, so I'd like something I can fly with my Airtronics VG600.

So far, I've found the Big Stick by Great Planes and the Super Stick by Hangar 9. Any ideas on which would be the better plane? What size should I get 40 or 60??

Do "flaperons" make short field landings easier - can I set that up without a computer TX? The landing strip where I am learning is 600' long and about 50' wide, but a friend of mine has his own strip at his farm, but it is only 100' x 25' so the ability to throw out an anchor on approach would be great.

Other planes that have been suggested are the SIG 4 Star, and the Lanier Stinger. The Ultra Star 40 + also looks really interesting but I will wait until a few people have actually flown them before whipping out the old Visa card...plus if I am going to build a kit, I want to make sure it's around for a while to enjoy, so I want to build up more experience first.

Any thoughts?

PS...having a blast, third weekend out.....nailed about a dozen landings, made a good save on a crosswind attempt, and just about gave myself a haircut on another crosswind attempt. My instructor later apologized for not taking the plane, but he thought I had things under control. I crossed the threshold waaaay on the other side of the runway, but it didn't stay over there! I also found out that the closer the plane gets to me, the slower my brain works!