I want to know if a Big stick 40 would do for a trainer?

I have a couple flights on a Tower Hobbies T 40 and demonstrated
the ability to take off and fly the pattern.

I missjudged the trees on the other side of the field and now I need another
hi wing tricycle gear plane thats easy to land.

I like the stick because of better landing gear and bolt on wings, rep for easy
landings.

Jimmy

I think you will find the stick a little more to handle if you only have a few flights under your belt. They are not self leveling like a trainer. I fly an ultra stick and a super stick all the time and if will grab you if you fall asleep at the switch.

I think a Tiger might work a little better then a stik, you probably could do it with a stik, but I think a Tiger might be a bit easier.

If your teaching your self, I would say no. If you have someone that can/will buddy box ya for a while, yes.

You should stay with a trainer till it bores you, then move up to a easy to fly low wing. Something like the Sig Four Star or Hangar 9 Pulse.

if you can fly and land the trainer, I say do it. i went from a high wing trainer to a stik and the stik actually flies better than any trainer ever could. Keep the rates turned down to a minimum on the ailerons, rudder, and elevator and just remember there's little dihedral in the wing for self correcting tendencies. Buddy box it for the first several flights until you're comfortable. I think you'll find that after a few flights, you'll agree the stik is 100% better than any trainer. If I could do it over again, i'd have started with a stik instead of a trainer. Then I wouldn't have outgrown my first model so quickly. The stik is a dream to fly in the wind and basically slows to a crawl for landings. I think you'll very much like it.

As a plug, I'd recommend a Big Stik 60 with an OS 75 or 95. You won't believe how slow you can get it to fly and then rocket out like the space shuttle on full throttle.

My brother went from a Thunder Tiger trainer 40 to a Big Stik 40. He could take off and land without assistance but was still very new when he crashed the trainer. He tried first to get an Avistar but it was out of stock everywhere, so he bought the Stik. The first flight scared the heck out of him. He didn't crash but it was wild. He had to add quite a bit of nose weight, and reduce the control throws a lot, to be able to fly it. Over time the nose weight went away and he maxed all of the throws, but it was a wild beast (in the beginning) compared to the trainer.

A Big Stik makes a nice second plane, but if you still consider yourself to be a beginner and you're not on a buddybox, I would recommend not moving up to the stik, quite yet. If you're still on the b-box, or willing to go back on it for a few flights at least, I would say yes, go for it.

I can see both sides.  If you're not used to flying, you'll probably want to go back to a trainer.  Even once you get bored with it and move on, it's still always nice to have a trainer in your fleet to do touch and goes and play with on a lazy Sunday.  If you've got someone who can buddy box you on the first couple flights though, you shouldn't have any trouble with the Stik once you get used to staying on top of it like the guys say.  I buddy box my 17 year old son sometimes because he just comes out and flies with me every once in a while when he's got nothing better to do. (He's just not really into flying)  He loves flying a "Stick type" plane I have but can't stand flying the trainer because the trainer is too lethargic.  He likes the stik type plane because it does go where he points it.  If the landing gear and bolt on wing are your only problems with your trainer, just modify your new trainer.  <span style="white-spacere"> </span>It's not real hard to mount some blocks in your fuse, drill and tap everything and change the wing over to a bolt on.  And if you need "better" landing gear, maybe you should stick with the trainer 'til you can land better instead of counting on bouncing in on beefed up gear.  <div>
</div><div>This is the trainer I have:  http://www.spadtothebone.com/SPAD/Debonair/  That's the one that bounced out of the tree I mentioned in your other thread.</div><div>
</div><div>This is the plane my son likes to fly:  http://www.spadtothebone.com/SPAD/DasPlasStick/  That one was dumb thumbed down INTO some trees.  I had to pull all kinds of wood shavings out of the flutes in the wing tip (bark where it slid down the trunk of a tree) but other than that the plane was unscathed.  Good luck with your decision!</div>

Like he said.

If think you will progress quickly and use a buddy box ( as you've already indicated some proficiency and flying... ) the stick is not a bad choice though.

I've trained newbies on my Stik and many find it easier to handle than a trainer because flying is more consistent.

e.g. it does not climb like a trainer at high throttles, etc.

When I do this however I turn down the rates to make it a gentle flyer.


As DenverJayhawk said, looking back, I would have gone to the Big Stik 60 as my first plane instead of the H9 PTS P-51 Mustang.

The Stik can be far more gentle and easier to control for landings, and does not yaw ( AT ALL!! ) at takeoff like most tail draggers.

Yeah, that's one thing about a Stick.. if you tame down the control surfaces, it can be somewhat easy to fly.. but get radical with those controls, and watch-out. I had one that, with full elevator/flaps, it would just about do a loop in it's own length.

But, if the OP is at that point, then perhaps a Tiger would be a better choice. It certainly will do stuff, yet it can be as tame as any high-wing trainer and has a good future as a sport/aerobatic plane.

CGr.

Nothing wrong with the Tiger either.... it will keep your interest for a long time because of it's good aerobatic abilities.

Choices, choices... it's great to have choices!

I think the Big Stick 40 will be great. As has been mentioned, the larger versions fly easier, but if you keep the 40-size toned down, it will be a great plane.

I have owned several Sticks and flown many of them since I started flying powered models in 1950! If you use a ball bearing .40 or .46, the BS40 will come out nose heavy. Being nose heavy means you may run out of up elevator on landing. Pick it up under the main spar and if the nose drops, you're nose heavy. It the tail drops, you're tail heavy. The Big Stick 40 with a ball bearing .46 will come out nose heavy. I generally mount the rudder and/or the elevator servos in the rear fuselage so I don't need to add weight. With a plain bearing .40, you should be pretty good on CG.

Get your instructor to test & trim it. Take over while the plane is at a safe altitude and get a feel for the controls. If they are too sensitive, he can land and you can dial the controls down some. When the plane feels right, he can talk you through a take off and when you feel up to it, a landing. In other words, there is no need to go cold turkey flying the Stick. Remember, he should set the plane up where it feels good for you, not the way he likes it.

As for a "self leveling" plane, in my opinion, there are very, very few left. The best I have seen is a Sig Kadet Senior build for 3 channels (no ailerons and and flown with a small engine. With one set up like that, you can literally release the controls and the plane will level off on its own. On the other hand, it won't go fast and it won't do acro very well. Even the trainers today with a flat-bottom airfoil go too fast to recover hands off from an unusual attitude.

FYI:

On my Big Stik 60, ( ST .75 engine ) I ended up putting in a big ( and heavy ) 4800 mAh 6v pack well aft of the wings to help balance the plane out, moving the C.G. backward.

Last weekend after I had it in the air for 22 minutes non-stop, one person asked me of the fuselage had nothing but fuel tanks packed in.

I just ordered the stick 40 from my LHS.

I will put my Os 46AX on it from the trainer.

The guy's at the LHS said no problem as a trainer as long as
the throw's are low.

Thanks Jimmy

I think my Big Stik is easier to fly then my Nexstar.  I think you should go for it.  If you are learning on your own just take it easy until you are used to it.  Either way they are easy to fix. 

I'm sure you'll be fine with your choice. Post again after you've put a few flights on it and let us know how it goes.

Set the low rates LOW. And remember, when its coming toward you, LOW WING GETS THE STICK!

Maidened the stik today!

Took off flew around and landed in 1 piece, well I did break the prop
on landing but thats it.

The wind picked up so I thought Id stop there and take it home in
1 piece.

Jimmy

Congradulations on the successful flights! Glad to hear that the Stik is working out for you.

I love the sticks for a second plane. You can set them a little nose heavy with low throws and they handle like a trainer without the self-correcting stuff, and a few minutes shifting the CG and resetting the throws makes it an aerobat and sport plane. You can't tip stall it, It ignores the wind, and lands easily. What's not to like?

glad you went for it my second plane was a kaos 40 and i loved it if your trans has dual rates set it up high and low i found that i would use high rate aliron on take off and landing i would go to low throws when going fast after you get used to flying and recovering from unusale attitudes try going high and at high rates throw full up ellivator and rudder wala a snap roll go have fun and fly it like you stole it and have fun

Glad your maden went well, Im hopefully going to be able to maden my big stick 40 with a saito 72 this wed, weather permiting......I think this plane makes for a great second airplane..

Ken

Just got back from the field, had a nice flight.

This plane lands very easy, just cut the throttle and float er in.

I have 6 flights on this and after I lowered the rates allot its a very
smooth plane to fly. I dont see why this isnt listed as a trainer if set
up properly.

Jimmy

So much for all the nah sayers.....

Glad to hear your flights are going well, The stick has become my plane to take if the wind is picking up and also the plane I fly before taking the ultimate biplane up, it gets my thumbs used to quick movements....lol After you get used to landing the stick repeeted touch and goes are a blast..