Good day all your pilots out there,

I am in the final strectch of finishing my second plane which is a Tiger 60. Complete covering, electronic installation and then flying - cannot wait!!!

I am now thinking of what to get next. Ihave no experience flying taildraggers, so this is a possibility.
I would like to learn more about flying with flaps as well as reatracts.
I one day want to build a DC-3.

Any suggestions on what would be a good third plane with the above in mind? Ido want to build from a kit and not an ARF. Ienjoy the building process and watching something I have created fly. It also keeps me busy during the long winter months in the Northeast.

Thanks so much in advance.

Hmmm.. a third plane. This is when we (generally meaning those of us in the hobby) start to decide where we want to go in the hobby, be it pattern, scale, large scale, sport planes, war birds, sea planes, and so on.

I see that you want a DC-3 at some time in the future, so it looks like you may like doing something in scale. I would not go to two engines just yet, though, but if you do decide that you want to go that way (the DC-3, after all, does have two engnies), a good one might be a Twinstar or something like that. Keeping in mind, of course, that this would be some time in the future because they are different to fly than a single engine plane.

I wanted to try pattern, so I bought a Venus 40 and practiced with that, later on I bough a Venus II and an Excelleron 90, neither are two meter pattern planes, but almost at that size. I still fly them both and love them. But, I lost interest in pattern and fly for the sport of it so my favorite plane is my Skylark 70 which is a tail dragger low wing sport plane that is fully capable of doing the pattern maneuvers, but a much simpler design and very relaxing to fly.

Fly that Tiger 60 of yours and work on your flying skills, aerobatics, and especially get your landings down to the point where you can almost land it in your sleep and have it come down right in front of you.. all the while thinking of what you might really want to fly next. If you do go scale, there are a lot of great options to choose from, and that too depends on if you want war bird scale or something like a nice scale Cesna or similar.

CGr.

Ultra Sport 60 - Get one now before they are gone!

They do not have flaps, but it is an easy modification which I highly recommend.

You'll find many threads on the US 60, here is one I did:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_68..._1/key_/tm.htm

http://www.airborne-models.com/html/...p?ProductID=36

This was my second plane.. It has no flaps but with a flaperon set up and some practice, you can set this plane down and have it stopped int less than 20 feet.. FUN FUN airplane to fly.. I really pushed mine to its limits and had a ball.. I should also mention it was my stepping stone into more scale warbirds as the profile was fairly appropriate and it had the retracts, which, for the price, are magnificent.<br type="_moz"/>

Yea, but that is an ARF, He distinctly said, "Kit"

Go to Sig's website and take a look at the Kougar and King Kobra. Both where designed as a 3rd plane in Sig's training line. They are not difficult to build and will expand your building knowledge by teaching you how to work with a foam wing.

BlueJay models is producing the old Bridi line of planes. The Kaos and Super Kaos will also make a great 3rd plane. Besides being classic pattern planes, they also make great sport planes.

Hogflyer

My thoughts also went towards something like the US 60 but I like the Bridi designs better. You can go to the Blue Jay site and look at some of them and see what you think. No flaps but retracts are an easy install and work and look great on them.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I do plan on flying the Tiger a lot and practicing ladings as much as I can.  The reason for looking now is to get ready for the winter.  Winters in update NY are long and I am not yet used to the cold to go out and fly in it.

I knew there were a lot of options out there, but I did not realize there were so many as CGRetired has mentioned.
I think that out of choice right now I would go down the scale line.  I do need to still put more work into my detail on the building, but if I have a goal to work for, then I think it would not be a problem.  I have always liked the Cessna 172 look, so perhaps as mentioned I should go for a scale Cessna and really put some effort into it - i.e. landing lights and things like that.  I know it does not have retracts, but it does have flaps.

I also like the look of the US 60, so I am going to research where I can find that.

Another question entirely different:  Are kits slowing being removed from circulation?  If this is the case, then I may have to get a few kits to keep me going for the next few years.  As suggested, I am going to stay away from twins for the time being.

My ultimate plane to build and fly would be a 737 type aircraft.  I am not even sure if such an animal exists.

Thanks again for all the suggestions and help.

HI Brad.

Yep, they exist. Anything that has wings has some sort of model. It may be scratch built with plans, or it may be a kit. But, anything is possible.

The Tiger 60 is a fine aircraft. I loved mine.. past tense because I sold it to someone that really wanted it. I still have my Tiger 120, though. Either way, set up properly, it flys just great. The size is perfect to see as you do things, such as landings. You can clearly see what happens when you flare, for instance. I keep mentioning that because after I solo'ed, I took it for granted because it did something when I used the elevator. With the Tiger 60, though, I was coming in for a landing, slowly, and was really focused on the plane. When it was just above the ground, I just "tapped" the elevator. The nose came up slightly and the plane just settled in for a perfect landing. I was really psyched over that.

After that, I kept doing it just to see it flare with elevator input while at the same time, I was improving my landing techniques.

The Cesna 150 is a really nice plane. Another one that many may suggest is the Cub. Take a look at that one too.

I don't know about your kit question. I'm sure someone will answer that for you.

CGr.

CGr, thanks for all your input and help.

Tower sells the US 60, YOU REALLY LIKE HOW IT LOOKS???? I don't know how something that ugly can fly so well!!!Kits aren't going away slowly, they are going away at light speed. If you have a favorite kit plane and you see it come out as an ARF you better buy the kit right away. You may want to buy the DC3 now and just hang onto the kit until your ready for it. For me to build the planes I want these days I usually have to buy plans and cut my own kits. It isn't hard at all but kits are easier.
YOU LIKE THE LOOKS OF THE US 60!!!!!!!!!!!
The US was also discontinued but Mike and Ken started a campaign a couple years back and GP started cutting the kit again. It is one of the good ones. Just really too ugly for me to bother with. Friends don't let friends fly UGLY planes!!!!

Them's fightin' words Gene!

The Ultra Sport is THEE BEST airplane ever put in a box!

[link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJ584&P=SM]Click here for Ultra Sport 60[/link]

Also the Ugliest!!!!!!!! I would need to drink a lot of beer just to fly one!!!!!!!

No doubt, about as ugly as they come, but I did see one where the builder moved the canopy back so the front of it was about mid-point on the wing and it completely changed the whole look. Actually looked very good, sleek, mean.

This is NOT an ugly airplane. To say so would be downright... Un-American!

(Note the flap mod)

It's just a Wannabee no mater how pretty the dress.

Hey MinnFlyer, if you're only going to have one main gear, shouldn't it at least be on the center line?

That's stealth technology at it's best. It's so good, you can't see the other main gear!!!

Im glad somebody admitted ultra sports are ugly...I have one but I think my other planes make fun of it down in the shop..I hope it flies better than it looks..

Geez - you guys really know how to make someone feel bad!!!  Perhaps I should move onto cars instead......just kidding.

I really do not think it is that ugly at all - dare I say that???  I think the STIKS are uglier than the US60.  The STIKS fly nicely, but it honestly is the worst looking model plane I have seen around.

So the question is:  why are kits being discontinued?  I understand about an ARF and the need to fly quickly, but what about the building guys?
The trick is to convince my wife that kits are being done away with and I should buy a few and keep them until I am ready to build them.  I can just imagine how that conversation is going to go!!!  I think I will just tell her that all of you said I should and not everyone can be wrong and I should take the advice.

If so many pilots  are against the US60, do you have other suggestions?  Looking for a kit plane with flaps and or retracts.

Another question:  where are places to buy kits other than towerhobbies?

Thanks

Sig

Balsa USA

AMR-RC

BTW, there are not a LOT of people who think the Ultra Sport is ugly - In fact, there are only a handful of people who do... They just all seem to be in on this thread

Most people with any sensibility think it's a great-looking plane, as witnessed by the 41-page long thread devoted to it:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_9687514/tm.htm

Oh yea, and it is still the best flying plane you will ever own!

@MinnFlyer - I think I may have to get one.  It can be built as a taildragger which I like as I do not have a taildragger yet as well as retracts.
Is it difficult to add in the flaps as well?  Is it just a matter of cutting the ailerons and giving them a servo, right?

Me and a couple other guys in our club built Top Flite Contenders over the winter. It has a center flap and we built them as taildraggers with retracts. Still, as long as you can get past it's looks (or just move the canopy), I'd recommend the US 60, it's a more honest flying plane.