I know what you mean, Stang. I started on a Smog Hog, went to a Kadet Mk I, MkII Swizzle Stick and Q-Tee Since they where all 3-channel flat bottom basic trainers I just lump them together as a first trainer - and I didn't crash any of them, just the occasional bump that was a simple fix. I jumped into a Bridi Sun Fli 4-20 with an OS .30 and 10X6 prop before I was ready. Scared the heck out of me on both flights. The plane was way a head of me. Some how I got it down in one piece and didn't fly it again until I was ready for it, then it was with a K&B .40 over powering it. While the Sun Fli sat, I took a step backwards to a Sig Kavalier that was demolished - it was caught in a sudden gust of wind on take-off that put it vertical at low altitude. Due to a lack of experience in flying right next to 100' pine trees in a pasture I didn't have the knowledge at the time on how to fly in the turbulent winds created by the trees. Other than that the plane was a perfect second plane.

I've got a.60 sized pattern style plane that scared it's pilot so bad he stopped flying. He jumped up from a flat bottom trainer and had no clue he was dealing with a 100 mph fire breathing monster (ok, a loud meowing kitten in need of a tuned pipe to reach it's true potential).

In the old days, you flew a 3-ch basic trainer, then and aileron trainer - usually with a semi-symmetrical airfoil, then went to a low wing trainer. The Sig method was the Kadet Mk I (replaced by the Mk II), then the Kavalier followed by the Kougar. Todays mindset is you learn on a trainer with ailerons and over powered, then move to a just about anything low wing. They don't know how to fly a plane on the wing, just on the prop. If people would move to a symmetrical airfoiled shoulder wing I think their second plane would probably last a bit longer. Also getting rid of the hang the biggest engine that could possible fit the nose mindset would help also. 5 lb. airplanes fly just fine with an OS 40 LA - they don't need to have a .46 AX stuffed in the nose. Part of todays instant gratification society.

Hogflyer