Hey there! This was my first plane and I learned to fly on it. Does great.
Stable and tough bird. It really allows students to progress nicely and with confidence. I have modified the plane to the N'th degree.
I removed the brakes and droops. Faster and more nimble but still a stable flyer. I changed to a 2 blade 10/7 prop. Whooaaaah!!!! Climbs, rolls, loops, looks like a fighter. Of course I added the operational flap function which is not needed but sometimes helpful.
I would recommend this plane as a trainer for someone who knows they are in the hobby for the long haul or for the express purpose of flying sport scale warbirds. Don't be afraid to modify this bird. It is fast and fun with the right stuff.
Do be afraid to fly it slow when all the training stuff is off. Most the time it will cruise at fairly slow speed. Some of the time it will tip out and then of course epoxy is in order!
The wheels are a bit weak and the static gear bends on some not so perfect landings. Simply straighen the gear out and go up again! If the wheels break buy some light. wt. Dave Browns, drill the centers out to fit and slide em on. Get her up again!
Horizon is great with parts. I banged up the fuse twice. Once reapairable and once not. (Wings are tough on this bird fuse isn't) Horizon had a new fuse to my house in 3 days! Easy reset and I am going out in a couple minutes to try her out again!
Go for this plane as a trainer and when the time is right, fly it like you stole it!!!! Don't be afraid to modify........ I have a different prop, landing gear, added flap servo, added pilot figure, new tailwheel, 10" prop 11" prop, and different evolution .46 motor just to see the difference.
I love this plane! I have others to capmare to....due to the effective training on this plane I have a F4U-C .40, Me 109 .40, Sig Rascal .52 and a Long E-Z .40