I'm flying a GP Big Stik as my second plane. Ultimately I want to fly an aerobatic gasser. Something like the GP Patty Wagstaff extra 300. But my sensible side says I need to do one more small plane before I step up to the gasser.

I'm trying to decide between the GP Venus with an OS FS-70II, or the GP .40 sized extra 300 with an OS FS-70II. I like the venus and have heard good things about it, but on the other hand the .40 sized extra 300 would probably prepare me better to step up to a 1/4 scale extra 300.

Any suggestion on which of these would be a better third plane? Or should I just say screw it and go right to the 1/4 scale extra 300?


Thanks!

Doc,

I've got the GP .40 Extra ARF and love it. I don't have a plane like the Wagstaff Extra, but I hear the larger planes are actually easier to fly.

Carl

Larger planes are definitely easier to fly. They handle the wind better and are more stable in the air, as well as being less twitchy. Its only a matter of getting your mind around to that fact, as the cost factor usually adss to the flight jitters

Yeah Doc. If you can fly that Big Stik like you can drive a car. Screw it, go ahead with that Extra 300. You should do just fine.

ive seen someone with quite a large aerobatic plane, not sure what it was or the size.
Im pretty sure it was only his third plane.

Thanks for the input everyone. I really hemmed and hawed about whether or not to go right for the GP Patty Extra or not.

I ended up ordering a venus and a OS FS-70. I'm going to order the 1/4 scale extra this week. I already ordered a ZDZ-50NG for it. I figure after a few flights with the venus I should be ready to fly the GP Extra. The venus will be nice to have as a backup plane for the times that the Extra is being worked on.

Now I just have to explain to the girlfriend how I ended up buying BOTH planes!

Hey Dude you dont have to explain anything to girl friends, Only the ones that can divorce you & take everything you got (wives)!!!!

just tell her ,,,What if you CAN take it with you........Bwhahahaha....JW

I would have recommended going to the gasser and bypassing the venus.
My second plane was a 1/4 scale glow and even though I purchased two smaller planes, I never flew them and sold them. If you are going straight to 1/4 scale gas, I would recommend that. Unless you miss the smell of caster really bad, that venus will suffer a lot of hanger rash! [8D]

No actually the reason I'm in such a hurry to go to a gasser is because of my absolute hate of glow fuel. I feel like I need to be steam cleaned after a day flying glow models. I also hate what it does to the planes. Everything I own related to R/C has a persistent greasy feel that I just can't get rid of. I had a radio that I must not have cleaned up real good at the end of last year. It felt pretty greasy. And now the sticks feel all gummed up after sitting the winter.

Did I mention I hate glow fuel?

My biggest fear about going to the 1/4 scale extra right away was the I've never flown a tail dragger. You're probably right though. Once the extra is up and running the venus might not see much use.

Doc, my recommendation would be to sell the venus and stick with the gasser.
The real trick to flying a gasser is not to give it full throttle on take off. If you haven't done this then practice using the rudder on your trainer. Go out and fly in cross winds and practice getting on the rudder to get your plane to fly straight. It is easy to take off with a tail dragger. With this said, as you "slowly" apply throttle keep the plane going straight with the rudder. Just don't slam it to full throttle because you will have a tiger by the tail!