ORIGINAL: tele1974
I will quote MTK here, ''Guys flying in the lower classes always try to emulate what the top dawgs are doing and that's an expensive shame. Their costs skyrocket due to lack of experience in buying stuff they don't need. They wind up learning the hard way...we all learned that lesson. Many simply drop out on cost alone''
So how about some pattern plane recommendations for the rest of us. 1400-2000 for an airframe. Nope.
I totally agree with that quote. I have got caught up numerous times worrying about fine details that an experience pilot should be worrying about. In the lower classes, it's about getting an airplane and flying the sequence. Practice. That's it. These two planes will fly the lower classes as well as you can:
Electric: Sebart Wind 110 is an awesome plane for someone in the lower classes. $600, goes together in a day, very good quality, and flies great. Slightly limited on power options, but Hacker, Scorpion, and Neu all offer a motor that will directly fit. Whatever the plane is lacking, those of us in the lower classes could probably hardly even tell. Fit it together, strap in the power system, and have a contest winning plane ready to go.
http://www.f3aunlimited.com/sebartwind110.html
Glow: Great Planes Venus II is relatively CHEAP as you can get it with Tower discounts for $260 or less. If you are flying Sportsman or Intermediate, this plane can handle every maneuver gracefully. Flies great on an OS 120AX or a YS 1.10, and flies pretty good on other 1.20ish four strokes.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...p?&I=LXLHV1&P=
I had the Venus II first and really loved it, and kind of miss it! A very plane built very solid to handle the bumps and bruises a newer pilot will experience. Typical Great Planes assembly, takes a few days to do right. Not setup for electric conversion, which is why I sold mine and went with the SebArt. Venus really tracks very straight, especially after a few trim flights and some minor adjustments. Can do a nice slower roll, flies nice inverted, and easily makes nice round loops.
SebArt Wind 110 is a little more 'sporty feeling' - more responsive, slightly less forgiving, but still an easy and great plane to fly.