I have rfg2, am ok heli pilot have firebird xl.
Do I really need to get a crappy trainer or do you think it would be ok to just go get a 3d magic?

Thank s

I wouldn't hesitate to say skip the trainer, but a 3D Magic is a pretty big step.

The Magic would probably be okay for you to start out with since you have flying experience. I would just keep the rates a little low until you get used to the plane. Then crank them up and have some fun

The magic is a VERY agile airplane and thus should not be used in place of a trainer! The airplane does fly very slowly, but when it is at slow airspeeds, the large control surfaces can lead to overcontroling of the airplane making it very finicky! Also, the Landing gear on the magic is NOT strong, and will NOT take much abuse from a poor landing! This being said, I feel that for the money the magic is not a tremendously bad airplane if you stick with the recommended control throws. I actually was able to get mine to have a catostrophic inflight break up of the airframe. The reason this happened is that I had the elevator throw 1/2 again more than is reccomended. Also, if the magic is crashed, expect to buy a new one! They don't handle crashes, or hard landings well!
With all of this though, I would reccomend a trainer, but not a first flight type of trainer. You may want to try one of the low wing trainer types. The Sig Four Star 40 is one that pops to mind. If you have some flight experience, it shouldn't take to long to brush the rust off, and a good low wing or other type advanced trainer may be a good choice!

Reg

Magic 3D as a trainer - probably not. As a second plane ABSOLUTELY! Here is my experience:

Started RC last spring with a LT-40 trainer. Great plane because it is soooo big and easy to see. Got Tiger 2 as second plane but it never hit my sweet spot. I needed something that I could fly at the local soccer field. The Tiger is a great sport plane but in the hands of a novice like me it was difficult to take off (7000 ft) on grass and even more difficult to keep it close in to minimize the overflight zone. Tried the Kyosho Spree electric park flyer but it too did not excite me with the stock set-up. I also did not want to invest $200 or more to install a brushless powerplant with expensive batteries.

Long story short - I got the Magic 3D when Hobby People had in on sale for 79.99. Used all the hardware from the Tiger and got 12x4 APC fro the OS-46FX. The large 3D control surfaces had me pretty apprehensive prior to the maiden. Instead of using 25mm as a low setting I used 15mm on Ailerons and Elevator with 35% exponential. With stock set-up the magic will take off on grass in 15 feet and fly better than a trainer. It will land soooooo slow and fly around nicely at 1/3 throttle.

You will not be disappointed or overly challenged if you get this as a second plane and set it up conservatively. I can't keep get it away from the other club members who all want to fly it. Go for it!!!

I had a Magic Extra for a while and really loved it, but it wasn't my first plane. The Four Star line is a good way to go as indicated. I have a 4 Star 60 with an OS91 surpass on it and it is a blast to fly. I can tell you that it doesn't take much wind to start buffeting a plane the size of the Magic around. I lost mine in a 90 degree crosswind that took the plane and pretty much made a kit out of it. As said, any hard landing and you will lose the landing gear.

Under normal circumstances, I would say, don't skip the trainer, but, if you're very proficient on G2, I wouldn't hesitate to tell you to go for the Magic, or something similar. The reason I say this is because many times I'll be flying on G2, online with other people, and I've chatted with many guys (usually young guys) that are EXCELLENT flyers....then they go on to tell me that they've never flown a "Real" RC model! [X(]

Perhaps a 4*40 (or 60) would be a better fist step into fixed wing -- then the Magic Extra

This thread is about Magic 3D not Magic Extra. The Magic 3D is a high wing fat wing slow flyer.Because of the high wing it seems more stable than my low wing Tiger 2. I like the 3D more every time I fly it. I agree that the low wing Magic Extra will not serve well as a trainer.

Are you in a club? The reason I ask is you can have one of the instructors buddy box you on the club trainer. The instructor would be better able to judge your abilities than we can based on Have someone experienced fly with you for a few flights. They should give you a good opinion what type of plane to buy, before you spend any money.

Guess I should have been a little more clear. I was really trying to refer to the size of both planes and how they can be buffeted by the wind. For a second plane this can be a little disarming.

Midwest Aerobat or Goldberg Tiger 2.