I've been Flying a trainer for some time now and I'm Fairly proficient though I wouldn't exactly say I've mastered it. Last week I bought a a modeltech P-47 Thunderbolt. I'm very anxious to fly it but i've invested quite a bit of money in it and I'd hate to crash it. Having never flown a low wing airplane or a tail dragger (other than on my sim) I'd like to buy a low wing trainer ARF to practice on before I start on the Thunderbolt. Are their any suggestions for a good 60 size low wing trainer tail dragger? Also, does anyone have the thunderbolt? I'd like some advice on the charcteristics of the plane and how it flies. Thanks for all your suggestions guys.

Your idea is a good one. As far as particular aircraft, there are many that would work. Here are a few that come to mind.

Goldberg "Tiger"
Great Planes "Super Sportster"
SIG "Astro Hog" or "Four Star"

All of these airplanes can be flown very slowly, (if built lightly) and can also be good introductory aircraft for aerobatics.

Thanks for the advice Mike. I'm glad you suggested the SIG Four Star because I've had my eye on it and just wanted a little confirmation that it was a wise choice. I wanted a 60 size so I could just pull my OS 65LA and radio equipment out of my Hobistar to use in it. But it's just so darn good looking that I think I'm gonna have to buy a new engine and a flight pack for it. Well, I'm off to order my stuff from Tower. Thanks again.

Good choice.

Get yourself a 4*60 they are great low wing trainers. I have one that I have been flying for about a year and it is my favorite plane. If you order it from tower get thier 60 size engine for it they are great too. My four star has a TT GP 61 on it right now and I am getting ready to put a Magnum 80 four stroke on it. If you can come up with the money any 91 size 4 stroke will really fly it good.

Rick

Unfortunately one of the best is no longer available... that is the Great Planes Skyvista...
The 4 star, and tiger II are good choices
I liek the Cloud dancer the better

World Models Super Sportster 40S. $99, and one heck of a quality ARF. You cannot go wrong. This was my second plane, and I had NO problems flying it...Cannot beat the price either.

I owuld steer away from the super sportster, as it is considered to be a more 'aerobatic' ship, and is certainly more than the sig 4 star. If the super sportster, you might also consider the Somthin' Extra then..

My choice would be the 4 star, as it was / is designed to be teh 2nd plane.

You might also want to look at teh GP 'Slow Poke sporty 40' another easy flyer, that's a tail dragger, and with no bad habits..

after flying helis for a year and some 200 hours on the sim, my first plane is a 4 Star 60 with an OS 61 Fx, it is a very easy plane to fly, I out-grew it in 1 summer,,, for your second plane I would say buy the Tiger 2 (60), it's a little faster than the 4 Star 60, and a little quicker on the sticks, we have some 5 Tiger 2 60s at our field, and I wished I started with one !!


jim

I would definitely hold off on flying the Thunderbolt for a year. That's one of my favorite planes too, and I wouldn't want to wreck it either. I made the mistake of getting a Great Planes Super Sportster 40 right after my trainer. That plane's way too hot for a novice pilot just like your Thunderbolt will be for you.
After I crashed the Sportster (I'll be able to repair it thank god!), I got a Great Planes Easy Sport Arf and put the OS Max .46 FX that I had in my trainer into it. I've never been happier! The plane is quick enough to teach you some things, but it's slow enough for a novice to be able to bring it back. I have crashed it a few times, but I've always been able to repair it and get it back into the air. The extra weight hasn't hurt it yet. The Easy Sport is a shoulder wing plane, but that's just as good as a low wing in some ways I think. I modified the arf to be a tail dragger instead of a trike, and I'm happy with that as well. I have replaced that aluminum wire landing gear with a good strong aluminum landing gear set since I took the picture below. I made it into a tail dragger because most planes have tail gear, so I figured I'd better learn how to fly a tail dragger sooner or later.
I just got a SIF Four Star 60 arf with an Evo 61 engine for my third plane. I'm putting it together now and can hardly wait to get it out there. The point is, I'm taking steps on the learning curve before I jump into my red hot Sportster. That plane is just to fast and quick for a novice. When I master the Four Star 60, then I'll repair my Super Sportster and attempt to fly it again, hopefully I'll be ready enough by then to learn how to handle that kind of speed. Then after the Sportster? I'm thinking a Kyosho Thunderbolt 40, or the Kyosho Messersmitt 40 or even an Ultimate 120 by World Models. That depends on how I feel then.
Great Planes Easy Sport 40 Mark II arf

Ohhhh, the good ole JUG! I agree, better get very, very, very proficient with a low winger before trying the P-47. That plane is unique and nothing would compare to it except another war bird like an F-4U or something that thick. It would slow down very drastically on final if you cut the power so basically you have to bring it in with enough power to sustain the AOA for landing. Anyway, the Super sportster, the Ultrasport, Ultra kaos, Tiger 2 are good low wingers and gives you the option of tail dragger or trike. Leave the P-47 for a bit later, its a gorgeous bird to see flying but its a bit tricky for inexperienced pilots. Happy flying

why not try a SIG Cavalier. I hear they are supposed to be a good first low wing trainer.

Once again I would like to say go for a 4*60. I have 2 of them and I love them both. One has a GMS .76 on it and I think that this is the perfect 2 stroke engine. It weights the same as a 60 and the extra power that it puts out really makes the 4* perform better. You won't have to worry about having enough power to do verticle manuvers. The other one that I have has a 91 4 stroke on it. This is the best engine for this plane as the 4 stroke engine lets you do any verticle manuver that you want to without having to worry about not having enough power. I really like how the 4*'s fly. I have other planes to fly but I always take my 4* with me to the field.

Rick

a tiger 60 should not be bad
i have a Tiger 2 and a magnum 46
i am actually training on it (its not finished and I messed up on CA Hinge installation but Quality is Excellent.
I am assuming it will be the same on the Tiger 60.

Note: if the Tiger 60 comes with Crap Hinges ( CA Hinges that look like a
__
/ \
/ /\ \
\ \/ /
\_ _/ )
DOnt use These! Use the Jet Hinges instead! They are square and MUCH better. I messed up on Aileron Installation because 1. Im a newbie. 2. I used the Crap Hinge!
(The jet hinges are virtually foolproof(They avoid the mistake of trying for 0 gap because it is so long.)

But still Tiger 60 should be good.