Hi,
This topic comes up often, and thats a good thing. When have I mastered a trainer? And
When should I go to a second airplane? Two very different questions. And there are no answers that fit all circumstances. SO here are a few things to do with your trainer while that new second plane is on the bench. BEFORE YOU START HAVE YOUR MOTOR DIALED IN SO YOU HAVE A DEPENDABLE IDLE. ( that is supossed to be part of the TRAINING phase too)
1) Fly figure 8s one foot over the runway using the runway as a boundry. REALLY gets the throttle control down pat.
2) Touch and goes, But make the approaches LONG and Low again using the throttle to place the touch just where you want it.
3) one wheel touch and go...Yes you have to declair which wheel first! Harder than it sounds!
4) Experiment with techniques such as CRABBING, It is a good cross wind tecnique.
5) Reset the throws on everything to max if you have dual rates. Or just increase the throws some if you don't.
6) Axial rolls, requires coordinated elevator and rudder inputs on most trainers.
Then consecutive axial rolls
7) Fly a circuit without using the ailerons. My instructor made me do this. He actually disconected them, took off and had me fly, then he landed it.
8) Fly on days that are just a little bit windier than your comfort zone. You'll fly more often this way!
9) Add floats[sm=drowning.gif]
There has to be a bunch of others. Few people really master a trainer.
There is no end to the fun with good dependable trainer.
As for the second airplane just ask your wife, she knows when its OK[sm=lol.gif]