Hi everyone,
I'm looking to buy my first 3D plane. This will be my third plane(one electric and one trainer). I had a 40 trainer but it crashed and I was looking to move up anyway. I want a 40 size plane capable of good aerobatics, but also resonably easy to fly. I have heard that fully-semmetrical wings are harder to fly. Do any of you notice a difference? What would be your recommendation for a good 40 size plane and what engine?
Thanks very much
Tom

if you are looking for a good 40 size sport plane, i would reccomend something like the gp easy sport or the hangar 9 ultra stick 40 or something like that. if you are looking for 3d, there are oodles of 3d planes out there for the 40 size class. i would reccomend the hangar9 twist 3d. read up my report. it is in this forum here on the first page. it is called twist 3d building/flight report. it was $92 at my LHS and is a great plane to fly. do be warned though that 3d planes are going to be harder to fly and less stable. little amounts of throw will send it into a wild tumble and they have a stability of 0. trainers you will have to fight the controls, a 3d plane will keep on going. i would reccomend going to something like an easy sport or something before trying to fly a 3d plane. i am not saying it cant be dome, tome down the rates and i am sure you will be fine, but it will not level itself out and you dont have to hold aileron during turns etc.

Try a Sig Somthin Extra its not 3D but it will do alot of things. Also it flies easy if you keep it on low rates, lands slow and soft. Pretty good in the wind. I love mine good luck on whatever you decide. Scott

There are several great 40 size profile planes that are made for 3D. Most are inexpensive and fairly durable. Take a look in the Fun Fly forum to see if it is something you would like. I got an Extreme Flight Edge ARF a couple of months ago and I love it. Don't let the giant control surfaces scare you. If needed start with mild throws and turn them up as you get comfortable.

Eric

thanks for the input. i was reading up on the twist 40. i really like that plane. i think i am capable of flying a 3d plane. i have flown my friends lucky stik which is somewhat 3d. i would definitely turn down the rates at first. i also do fly a lot on the simulator, which i don't know how accurate it is for 3d planes, but its accurate with the 40 trainer. also, my dad was telling me that i would need better servos,that i might overstress them in a 3d plane. i know i'm not going to try anything extravegant at first, but maybe down the road i will. i have a 6-channel futaba computer radio with 3004 servos which are rated at 44 oz/in. do you think i need better servos or do you think these will do. any input it greatly accepted.
Thanks
Tom

i know the extreme flight stuff is top class but for a 40 size aerobat the twist is much cheaper. i am awaiting the arrival of the yak myself. you would peobably be fine on everything except the ailerons. you will need more torque for those. i would reccomend getting some nice digitals because they will last you forever and in planes like those the added speed makes all the difference. plus they have enough torwue to fly in almost any model you throw at them. however you could get by with standarsd servos.

Thanks Spaceclam. I found high performance servos that are rated at 99 0z/in. they're not digital, but more than twice as strong as what i have. What exactly do digital servos do, all i know is that they're really expensive? For now, i'll probably get the high performance for the ailerons, but for at the stage i'm at right now, i dont think i need digital servos yet.
Thanks
Tom

i dont know the stage you are at, so i can not say you do need them. digital servos are extremely fast and have oodles of torque. for instance, hitecs 5925 digitals have a speed of .08 sec/60 degrees and yet they have about 120 oz/in of torque. i was only reccomending them because of the speed, and the ability to use them on any model you get to. I am sure you will be fine otherwise though. you may find however that when you get into actually flying 3d through that you will need some speed. you are saying those servos are high performance, but what is their speed? you will end up using them more on the rudder and elevator than on the ailerons. good luck!

the servos i found are futaba 3305's. like i said, they have 99oz/in of torque, but they're speed is .25sec/60 degrees. i know what your talking about getting the servos now, then using them in any other plane. infact, thats why i got the six channel computer radio with a trainer. but for now, i don't think i want to spend $100+ on each servo. i really appreciate your advice though since i was a little confused. i think for the rudder, elevator, and throttle i'll use the stock servos, but i'll get the high torque servos for the ailerons. if i decide later on that i want to do more extreme aerobatics, then i'll definitely get digital. should i get digital just for the ailerons or all the way around?
Thanks
Tom

I understand, but do be advised that hitec's 5925 digitals are fast (.14 sec/60 deg) and sell for $55. they are metal gear servos, and i really love them. i can understand going standard but i figured i would let you know of their existance first because they are a really good deal. if you want to go digital you will use them more on your elevator and rudder than you will make use ofthem on your ailerons. stuff like rolling circles and tumbles and such. this is a 3d plane, and when your wing is stalled like in a harrier or a hover, the speed of your aileron servos does not make much difference because the planes response will be slower anyway, but it is your tail feathers that will really make good use of it.
cheers