Mthemadhatter;

My second plane was the Seagull PC9 with the Irvine 53, and was an excellent plane. I would suggest that you let an experienced pilot get it trimmed for you and give you perhaps a couple of flights on a buddy box before you fly it by yourself. I would not recommend it for a 1st plane however. Fact of the matter is, I have one sitting in the box ready to be put together. The 1st was a victim of a glitch about three years ago.

The Seagull PC9 needs to be flown a little faster when in the landing pattern and on final, holding 1/4 throttle until on final and over the fence before cutting to idle. It does land fast and you will have to fly it on final, but is will land like it was on a string, and will almost land itself if landed in this manner. I will tell you that I balanced mine at the mid balance point and that was just about right.

I do not know anything about the Phoenix PC-9.

I have learned one thing in life and in flying models; "Experience is a hard teacher. She always gives the test first, and the lesson some time later!"

Phillip