RCKen's "Looking for a trainer, what's available. (Updated 01-03-2009)" thread http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4537845/tm.htm has a section for second planes. All would be good choices. I'm sort of surprised that none of the "Stick" airplanes made the list.

Prices for the listed ARFs range from less than $90 to more than $200. Chances are a $200 ARF is better quality than one that costs $90 but that does not mean you will like the way it flies better than the cheaper model.

The question you asked comes up fairly often, and it probably will come up as long as RCU is around. Everyone can offer opinions based on what they have flown, but, it really comes down to what you want and how much you want to spend.

Based on my personal experience, I recommend a Sig Astro Hog with a .70 four stroke. That was my "second plane" after three trainers. It was more responsive than my trainers but not twitchy. The downside: it is a full kit build and the kit has not been updated in probably 30 years. Comments like "be sure your chainsaw is sharp" are often used to descibe the build. I paid a guy to build mine.