I know the standard advice on the forum here is to stick with the trainer as long as possible, but I really disagree. It is fun to watch a guy hotdog a trainer and fun to see how much you can get out of it for sure, but all of those maneuvers are easier with a sport plane. I recommend Ugly Sticks for second airplanes because they are so easy to handle. The Sig 4 Star is a close second and good for a pilot who wants to fly low wing scale planes next. Every one of the above mentioned moves is easier with a sport plane that with a trainer, so why handicap the student with a plane that fights him? I figure a student pilot should use the easiest plane to fly for whatever maneuvers he wants to do.