ORIGINAL: f_shawn68
Ive done a search and was unable to come up with an answer as to what would a good second plane be for someone who has trained on a low wing plane as their first plane...ie P51 mustang pts. I see you guys recommend a mid/low wing as a second plane. For someone who learned on a low wing, what would your recommendations be? I would like to move up to a .60 size and something aerobatic, yet not a full 3D. Im just curious is all. I still need to spend time on my trainer, but was looking for ideas so I can keep my eyes open for a possible sale and such. It will also be something that I will build gradually as I want good electronics in it. As much as I would like to, I dont have the time or space to build from a kit. Please, lets leave the "P51 mustang pts is not a trainer" out of the topic. I know it gets mixed reviews. Different strokes for different folks. I really like the warbirds, but im open to any suggestions. You guys with the experience know the hobby better than I do. I would ultimately like to get a large scale bipe, but I know thats a few years down the road. Something to work towards anyway.
Any input will be appreciated.
If you truly fly your Mustang P-51 PTS trainer to its full capabilities and master it's sport plane flying characteristics, you should be able to step up to a more aerobatic plane than what has been suggested so far.
I think the Extra 300S makes a great initial step into scale aerobatics. These airframes are available from a wide array of well-known manufacturers in various sizes, including a nice .60-size airframe from Seagull Models that is high quality and reasonably priced. The plane will land just a little bit faster than your Mustang PTS will with all of the training gear off, but should otherwise fly very nicely without the bad habits of some of the more challenging scale aerobats like the Cap 232 or Edge 540.
Another nice choice would be to check out some of the terrific pattern planes out there. These are more common in the .46 to .50 size airframes with models such as the Great Planes Venus .40 ARF, the Thunder Tiger Imagine 50 ARF, and the World Models Aero Pet 50 ARF, Groovy 50 ARF, and Spot On 50 ARF all being high quality choices available very reasonably. Like an Extra 300 airframe, these planes will land a little more quickly than your Mustang PTS, but won't be a huge leap forward to fly and land safely.
These kinds of planes will allow you to learn a much wider array of aerobatics than your Mustang PTS will, and they won't be much more challenging to take off or land.
Hopefully there are some suggestions here that will appeal to you. The aforementioned Pulse XT, Goldberg Tiger 60, and Ugly Stik (or variations there of) are all fine planes, but may not fly aerobatics noticably better than a Mustang PTS in full sport trim. The choices I've added can be flown quite mildly if left on low rates, but will do some pretty amazing things as your piloting skills grow.
Good luck, and good shopping!