Right now i just have an OS .40 LA engine and a Skysport 4 channel Futaba radio system. Im lookin into this plane right here: [link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXRF43&P=7]http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXRF43&P=7[/link]

I know the 40 will be overpowering it a little bit, but im okay with that. The only thing bothering me with that plane is that it has a semi symmetrical airfoil. I doubt many people have expirience with this exact plane, but do you think itll be very aerobatic and fly well?? Also, would you expect it to do any 3D maneuvers or no. This isnt the final choice on the airplane, so if theres a good .30 size aerobatic plane you like, please tell me thanks.

Not good for 3D.

Scale aerobatics, no problem and the motor should be about right for it.

Too much elevator on that plane and it will snap so fast it will make your head spin. And it won't be a radio hit.

What do you mean by not being a radio hit?? I found this other plane also: [link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXK422&P=7]http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXK422&P=7[/link] I know this is TOTALLY overpowering, but what do you think about the plane??

The same thing Ynot said for the first plane goes for this one as well. Its not good for 3D. I am sure it can handel some scale and IMAC stuff but just not made for 3D. Its gonna be hard to find a .40 sized aerobatic style plane that 3D's well. Its going to be twice as hard to find one that a O.S. .40 LA will pull around. If your looking for an aerobatic .40 sized bird then ditch the .40 LA and at least move up to a TT Pro .46 and try the new .40 sized Edge from Aeroworks. I havent flown it but it looks very promising.

To get an airplane to 3D you need to have more throw on the surfaces than is necessary to simply fly the plane. The problem is, if youset the plane up with 3D throws on a plain 4 channel radio it will be SO sensitive you most likely will bury it in the ground on the first flight. Snapping occurs when too much elevator is applied causing the wing, usually one side before the other, to stall and lose lift which results in the plane snap rolling to one side violently. All to often this happens on a landing approach when the plane is slow and appears to be under complete control, then it simply snaps and rolls into the ground with disatrous results. Until you have experienced this it's hard to not mistake it for a radio hit or mechanical failure or any other "it wasn't my fault" reason you can dream up.

If you want to 3D you are going to need a better radio that offers features like dual rates and especially exponential. You can the3n set the airplane up to be less sensitive with the flick of a switch(low rates) or much more sensitive(high rates). While in high rates most planes are hard to control and that's where exponential comes in, softening the sticks response around the centers and smoohting things out a bit.

Another issue is that of power and throttle response, the LA is pretty marginal at best on both counts. If you want to give this type of flying a try and save a few bucks do this:

Buy a better radio, something like the new futaba 6EX is a decent entry level computer system. For the airplane build a SPAD for 20 bucks and use the LA on it. NO, the things aren't fun to look at but they are duarable and CHEAP and can 3D surprisingly well.

WELL I WAS GOING TO RECOMEMEND A SPAD BUT I CANT NOW IF YOU WANT A CHEAP RADIO THAT WILL DO MORE THAN FUTABA BLAAAA[:'(][:'(][:'(] THE HITEC ECLIPS IS VERY GOOD I HAVE USED ONE A GUY HAD AND ITS VERY EASY TO PROGRAM BUT IF YOU WANT THE BEST LOOK AT JR 10X YOU CAN FEEL THE DIFERENCE OR THE NEWSOME KINDA FUNKY RADIO LOOKS COOL FROM TOWER IT HAS 12 CHANNELS I HAD TO ORDER ON E AND AM GOING TO TRY IT OUT WHEN I GET THE UPDATED ONE[8D] I DO NOT USE MY FUTABA 9 Z ANY MORE THE WARNTY IS RUNNING OUT IN ABOUT 3 MONTHES AND I HAVE NOT USED IT FOR 2 MONTHES AFTER I GOT THE 10 X THATS THE BEST RADIO I HAVE HAD ITS SO EASY TO PROGRAM TOUCH SCREEN AND ALL NO PUNCHING BUTTENS BUT IF YOU DONT WANT TO SPEND A LOT ON A RADIOI THE HITEC HAS A LOT TO OFFER AT A VERY CHEAP PRICE

I can agree that the Eclipse is a pretty good radio, I have one and used it all last year, excellent for the money. I moved to a 9C Futaba this year and it's pretty good too, has a few more features than the Eclipse but many will not need this much radio, especially when starting out and if money's tight.

Radios like the 9Z and the 10X, while being great systems, are a bit pricey for most of us, especially someone that is planning on recycling components out of his trainer!

im not gonna spend that much money on a radio! Thats crazy. Im getting the JR XP662. Today i just got a 1/4 scale Sig Extra 300 with a 45cc Zenoah in it. So im gonna get this small one to fool around with.

Your LA 40 will 3D a Modeltech Magic. Most of your hobbyshops have it available for around $99.00

Yeah i just got a 1/4 scale extra today with a 45 cc zenoah. I flew it, but crashed landing it ( not realizing you need a lot of speed landing one of these types of planes, unlike a trainer, it stalled) but ill fix it. I may get the magic or the funtana to practice on for a while. If i get the magic, ill put a OS .46 FX on it.

Check out the "Dazzler" from TH. Its $20.00 more and 1 lb. heavier but its got a 48" wing and a 18 oz. wing loading. The "tequilla Sunrise" has a 26 oz. wing loading. The .40 LA with some 25% nitro will haul that right up. Don't know what you can do with the radio. As you fly it and get used to it, just gradually keep increasing your throws until they're flappin. Is that Jr XP662 just for one plane? Joe