ORIGINAL: Kavik Kang
I plan on using a bi-plane as my second plane, but I am going about it in a specific way. I am very good at video games and pick up things like controlling these RC planes very quickly, so I have worked out an "accelerated" learning process to get me into a plane I really like as soon as possible. I got the simulator about a month ago and make sure to fly for at least an hour every day. I don't even plan to get a trainer until spring, so I'll have months of daily simulator experience by that time. Then I am am going to use the Arrow 40, which has a semi-symetrical wing, as my trainer. I am going to use that plane possibly all next year until winter before I get my second plane. After all of that, I plan on getting a Super Skybolt as my second plane. I've been told it lands very easily and is a reasonable choice if you think you will be a fast learner and have the patience to wait until you know you will be comfortable with it.
So I really think it might depend on who you are. If you know you are an ace at video games and other similar activities, you can probably go at a faster pace than the general recomendation. I think sometimes the "establishment advice" in this hobby has somewhat of a generational gap aspect too it.
As for the Ultimate, I haven't flown real plane yet but if the simulator is any indication that one may be a bit much as a second plane. It is seriously maneuverable...
Go ahead, but make sure that you order 4 of the biplanes that you want to fly. The simulator does not take everything into the equation. If you think that simulator time makes up for actual stick time on the real model, you are in for a rude and expensive awakening. That's why I said to buy 4 of them. You are going to bend the first one beyond all recognition (the term FUBAR is appropriate here). The second one will be well pranged, and you won't have any idea of how to repair it. The third one will get the gear torn off, and probably the engine as well. By the time you have gotten around to the 4th one, you might just get lucky. Do you think that we all get our jollies trying to guide you to do something wrong? Do you think that we feel that we belong to some exclusive club? We don't. The call went out for our opinions. There are probably over 100 years of aggregate experience that answered the initial question. Now someone who is a good gamer, and has never flown an R/C model is going to tell us that he knows more than do we? Have at it. Please do the first flights far away from me. I am getting too old to duck, dodge and hide.
Bill, AMA 4720
WACO Brotherhood #1