as long as you have to wait and save for funds let me suggest some good servos and motor if i may with out stepping on you toes. not sure if you have any higher C rated but with the right motor on 3 cells the plane will perform just as well as on 4 cells..
any items i do suggest if just some of my thoughts of items i have used with good results and if the items are in stock to.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...idProduct=4696 have these servos are in my ultra stick 25 and work great.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...dProduct=18121 i have this motor in a eflight ultra stick 25, with a 12x6 prop on 3 cells it gives over 500 watts and that will give the advance a nice flight fast or slow.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...dProduct=16231 i used this motor on 4 cell in one of my advances with great results, it was just easer to keep all my packs the same 3 cells is why i went backt

Hangar 9 gives the info you need to assemble most of their ARFs with electric power. One example, page 5
http://www.horizonhobby.com/pdf/HANP...Res_Manual.pdf

Thanks Carrellh, thats good to know and some great info.

So I just wanted to update you all, I've narrowed my choices down to three eFlite models... I'm really stuck for choice though so all opinions are appreciated...<div>
</div><div>1. The Pulse - my favorite to look at and from what I've read, a fairly decent second plane but I worry about it being too "hot" for me. </div><div>2. The Advance - seems like a great second plane choice, looks a lot like a Sig 4 star (popular 2nd plane), has tricycle gear and a semi-symmetrical airfoil. </div><div>3. The Ultra Stik - my least favorite to look at but evidently it comes very highly praised here, high wing but aerobatic and great for tail dragger practice. </div><div>
</div><div>I'd like to add again that I have Phoenix flight sim now and I'm practicing a lot with very different planes, mostly performing landing patterns with touch and goes in perfect conditions but I'm very confident with the high and low wing trainers, warbirds and much to my amusement, jets haha. </div><div>
</div><div>Anyway, still curious as to what you guys would suggest. </div><div>
</div><div>Thanks again. </div>

We have already made our suggestions. Just pick one and go with it!

I thought the Stik was ugly before I flew one.  After flying one, and every time after a flight with one of mine...they become more nice looking to my eye.

Definitely doesnt look like a "real airplane"...but they fly so nice.  I look at them in 2 ways...

1.  An advanced trainer
2.  A "windy day, go-to" plane.

Also...Ive seen more stiks take hard hits and come back to fly the very next weekend.  So...they are very easily repairable.  Which makes them a great choice for a 2nd plane, because your 2nd plane will take most of the abuse...because you will start pushing your flying limits more and more every time out to the field.

If you can get over not liking the looks...by your 6th flight you will be in love with that "ugly" thing.  LOL

I love the Stik. In fact, I ordered one this past Saturday!

Stik best choice hands down.

"Takes a lick'in, keeps on Stik'n!!! ".

I think ATVAlliance is correct in the statement that 'second' planes take a real beating.

Whatever you choose, ask a seasoned pilot to do the maiden flight and possibly even buddy box you for a flight or two. My second plane was the Sig Astro Hog in my avatar. Even though the Hog is one of the most docile models around, I thought it was an absolute 'beast' compared to my trainer.

http://www.hobbypartz.com/33p-solarservo-d656.html
http://www.hobbypartz.com/33p-solarservo-d658.html
Here is another place to get some servos, thinking of trying these myself for a 25 size plane i have in mind.

nice! The 26gram is priced right, i may order these. The video of the larger version of the same line looks great centering/resolution wise.
This guy does 3 diff sizes for a review

on the mini and micro sizes the solar servos center better than the hitecs ha!


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYpOxihKeEY[/youtube]