This is a great thread and I have read every post. Here is my experience. I started this exact time last year. My first plane was the Avistar Trainer with a OS46FX, I still have it and still fly it. It just happens to be in the shop right now. We had a real tough cross-wind at the field a couple of weeks ago. I landed on our grass runway (right next to the paved one) and the plane did a partial ground circle, hit the front gear that then collapsed. This will be my third time fixing the plane, but I am going to keep it till it won't fly or repair anymore. I consider it a trainer for flying, and repairing.

Now my second plane was a 4*60 with an OS 91 Surpass. I love this plane, it is stable in winds, goes where you point it, and is just the right low wing plane for me to step up to. It flies like the trainer (easy to control) but does allow me to step up to doing a little more aerobatics as I learn. And it is programmed for flaperons.

I now have a Ultra Stick 60 with an OS 61FX (hmmm a pattern here). It is set up for flaps and crow, and it is quicker and snappier that the 4*. This is also a fun plane to fly and helps to learn keeping the plane at the same altitude when doing barrel rolls, and is great for learning inverted flight.

So here is how I do it. First, I have not activated flaperons on the 4* yet, nor have I tried the Crow on the US60, but it is there when I am ready. Yes I have done some high flying with the flaps down on the US60, but am not ready to land. So yes I have 3 planes in the air in one year, but I use each of them differently. I will usualy try someting new starting on the Trainer, then move to the 4* and finally to the US60. Then, if I just want to go to the field and do some easy fun flying, the trainer fits the bill just nicely.

Now, I have a Something Extra on the bench that should be done in about 1 month. I am taking my time since it is my first kit, and I hope to learn covering on this plane. When ready, it will be used as an advanced flyer for me. Faster, quicker aerobatics and extremely manuverable. Every plane I use if for different purposes, learning something new, or trying to move up in my flying skills. I can either use all of their features, learn them, or do nothing but fly simple square patterns around the field.

I love this sport!