Sometimes, it is good to know what not to by. My recomendation in that list is the Laniar Elplorer 40 ARF. It was more work getting the plane ready to fly than it would have taken to scratch built it. I ended up replacing ALL the hardware with the exception of the main landing gear and it was next on the list just before "The Crash".

I've heard nothing but good about the Sig Lt 40. If you can, I would go with the kit vs an ARF. It sounds as if you are not pushed for time, and it is always good to know what your plane is made of. By carefully folowing the build instructions, you will end up with a better plane than you'll get with an ARF.

I'll second the nix on the Hanger 9 P5t fts. A guy at the field has one and he and his instructor can't get it to fly right. It is really not a trainer.

Most of the guys at the field are recomending a 4 star or a similar plane for a second plane. The 4 star seems to be a good second and everyday plane. A couple of the guys have then and highly recomend them. I've got a 4 star 60 on the board now. The kit is incredable. It took me all of about 30 minute to build up a wing half. You just stick everything together and then use CA with a fine applicator and glue it together. The design almost eliminates the need for the plans as everything on the wing is self spacing and aligning.

One thing about living where it snows, is that you can really spend some building time in the winter. Out here on the left coast, Rain and wind are the only two things to stop us from flying, so building gets sandwitched inbetween. Most of my building time in the last six months has been rebuild time from crashes. I'm in a position now though that I need to finsih the 4 star as I lost my trainer Wed. Lost, like can't find it. I have two other planes ready to fly, but I'm not sure I'm up to either of them yet.

Don