ORIGINAL: gaRCfield
I question the original statement about 'bad habits' - is this due to the particular airframe or just the style of plane? If the OP crashed a scale aerobat because of generic coupling issues, why are we recommending more of the same type?
Extras and Yaks are a big jump up from an Escapade. It's not that I don't want to see you in a fun aerobatic plane, I just don't want to see you posting about more headaches and crashed planes.
I would think something like the Venus, Reactor, U-Can-Do, and other capable yet user friendly planes would be a better step up.
Just because planes share a name or are based on a particular full scale plane does nto mean they fly the same. In other words, an Extra-300 from one manufacturer may be different than an Extra-300 from someone else.
Take the GP Extra-300 mentioned. It is about as neutral, and "honest" flying plane as I have seen. It has a
slight pull to the belly in knife-edge but that's it. It has no odd stall tendencies and lands nice & easy. I've flow other models of the the Extra-300 and they aren't always as friendly.
Same goes for Yaks, Edges, Sukhois, warbirds, etc. You can see quite a few design differences between planes even though they are modeled after the same full scale aircraft.
I think the GP Extra-300 or similar flying plane would be great for someone who can competently handle a low wing trainer like the Escapade. Same goes for the Skybolt, Reactor, a good Yak, the Venus (40 size is discontinued sadly), etc.
I've never flown the CMP Extra so I can't comment on it.
Still, you have a good point. If a pilot isn't ready for something there could be problems. That's where a pilot has to be honest with himself. I learned that the expensive way a few years ago.