I have a Big Stik 60. I have flown trainers a lot, and had an Astro Hog for a year. The stabilizer flew off of the Hog and the fuselage was destroyed in the crash. I still have the wing. My stik is balanced slightly nose heavy and it is much more responsive than my trainers or the Hog. It seems like an animal compared to the other planes I've flown.

My brother got a Big Stik 40 as his second plane. We crashed his trainer shortly after he soloed. He tried to get an Avistar but no LHS had one and they were on backorder at Tower. He thought the Stik was a huge step up from the trainer. He had to move the CG forward and dial the control throws down for a good while. Admittedly he probably was not ready for a second plane when it was thrust upon him. He's lucky he didn't crash it on the first flight.

All any of this really says is that your club member needs to be VERY comfortable flying his first plane before moving to the Ultra Stick.