Im looking for advise on a second plane, I know this is a preferance topic, but Hey, thats why we are here.
Im really looking at the hanger 9 Ultra Stick 40, but would I be better off with a Sig Mid Star, or even something like a Hanger 9 Arrow?
Thanks,
Goplaneman[sm=sunsmiley.gif]

it really depends on what your looking for .... are you thinking of another trainer? or a pattern plane, scale or just something . I'm not sure you can get this plane in the US but over here in the UK it is well known. It is a chris Foss WOT 4 here is his site [link=http://www.chrisfoss.co.uk/business.htm]Chris Foss[/link] and here is a few pics of a WOT 4



This plane is great, i had one as my very first plane, after one stupid crash i built another! i love this plane as it is very docile on low throws but can be fully aerobatic at full throws. This plane can float very well so if you do have a 'dead stick' engine failure then you can easily land without having to worry. the plane was easy to build and has a foam wing, my current WOT 4 has a irvine .53 and is over powered my first one had a thunder tiger .42 and that flew very well.

I won't tell you what to get, instead I'll tell you what to think about, then you will have the info to help you make a reasonable choice.

Once you have mastered a trainer, and want to advance to more precision airplanes, the next logical step would be to go to a plane with less lift, and less dihedral and in some cases, a wing that is lower than the "High Wing" configuration of a trainer.

So what does this mean?

Well, for less lift, you'll want a semi-symmetrical wing. In some cases, you can even go to a symmetrical wing providing it has a thick airfoil. This will allow for greater speed without too much "Ballooning".

The wing shape, combined with less dihedral and a Shoulder, Mid, or Low Wing will result in a less stable airplane. Does this mean it's harder to fly? No, this means it has less "Self-correcting" ability. But by now, you shouldn't NEED that feature (This is something you must also remember, if you get in trouble, YOU have to get out of it)

Because the plane is less stable, it is more maneuverable. Now rolls and inverted flight, which are the building blocks of aerobatics, are much easier.

The next thing I encourage people to look for in a second plane (or add to whatever they choose) is a wing that is held in place with rubber bands. Let's face it, THIS is the plane that you will be learning new things on. It flys faster than your trainer, and is less forgiving. Chances are very good that you will have a mishap with it. With Rubber Bands, that mishap can result in jerking the wing back into position, while bolts (even those that are designed to shear) can result in a split fuselage.

Of your choices, they are similar in capabilities, but due to the configurations, I would recommend then in the following order:

Arrow (Also look at the Midwest Aerobat) http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...article_id=164

Stik

Mid-Star

Good Luck!

I am recomending a profile as your second. As you said it is a preference thing and I a very partial to profiles. They build in a matter of a couple weekends. There is not much to them so repairs are always very easy. Even when I have totaled out a section (wing, fuse, tail) I was able to have it repaired and ready to go in a couple of evenings. If you dial it down they fly extremely slow and stable and are very forgiving. If you have 15 feet you can usually save the plane. They allow you to fly slow and close in which will allow you to progress in your abilities a lot more quickly than with something you have to have three mistakes high to feel comfortable about. And the nice thing with fun flys is that you really can't out grow it. Just keep increasing the throws and it will keep up with you nicely. The best pilot in our club has abilities that only God can grant, and he has a couple pro's in his stable to just beat the hell out of. The only problem I have is trying to find another type of plane that will fly as well as my profiles. Oh woe is me.

I have been very happy with my Venture 60. I didn't fly my trainer as long as I probably should have (I augered it in not terribly long after soloing). I went with the V60 because it has a low wing loading. I didn't want every aspect of my plane to change when I got my second one. If you want, the V60 can easily be built with one less bay in each wing. This cuts the span from 72" to 66". But for me, just going from a high wing tricycle gear flat bottom trainer, to a low wing tail semi symmetric tail dragger was a big enough jump. The plane weighs 7.25 lb. I put a Tower Hobbies .61 in it with a 12x8 prop. It doesn't have unlimited vertical, but it does do nice large loops, and can fly all of the pattern maneuvers.

Just my 2 cents

Kerry

I gotta tell you, if you like the stik, get the stik, you won't find a better flying plane, unless you go to the 60 stik. Build the wing flat, and you will have the time of your life. No dihedral that is. It will amaze you. You can't really do better. It will land very easy, and fly like a dream.

kerry

Put a GMS .76 engine in that venture and you will have great vertical. I have one on my 4*60 and it rocks. It will bolt right in where the 60 goes with no modifications. It weights the same also so it balanced in the same place. This engine really runs good and the plane really performs good now. The venture is a nice plane and the kit is top notch.

Rick

Stay away from the instant gratification ARF [BARF] LEAD SLEDS and get a MORRIS HOBBIES SUDOKOI. It is a nice looking profile if there is such a thing. The profile CAP looks good also but I don't have any first hand experience with it. Morris sells ARFS that are covered nicer than anything that I've ever done, but to fully appreciate the wisdom that goes into one of these planes you have to build it yourself. I had a smile on my face that I couldn't get rid of for a month after the first time I did a climbing inverted flat spin with the SUDOKOI/ROSSI 45 combo that they sell. That's my 2cents worth.

I got a Mid Star for my second plane. I was debating between that and the 4 * 40. Happy with it so far--Still building it!

Uh oh now I feel I shouldnt have gone Tiger II ARF for 1st plane.

Im afraid (its got Wing Bolts that the instruction manual did not say will shear) taht my fuse will get blown up.
I hope im not gonna crash

How do crashes happen except from uh frogetting to do Pre Flight Checks and crashing into trees?

Crashes happen when you lose orientation and can't get the plane back to where you know what it's doing in time.

Or, when you try something new for the first time, like inverted flight; you get it upside doiwn and it starts to roll out, so you give it aileron to level it, except you gave wrong sileron and the plane is continuing to roll, but now it's also in a dive and is still partly upside down and....

Or you're making a low pass and "dumb thumb" it into the ground.

Or you slow down too much while landing and it tip stalls and rolls into the ground from ten feet up.

Or the engine dies just after you get it off the ground and.... See tip stall above.

Or a heavy cross wind gust catches you off guard while landing, and something very similar to that tip stall puts it in.

Shall I continue?

But have faith. Instructors are usually good enough pilots to keep you from making those mistakes until AFTER you solo.
Dennis-

Yea!

Go instructors with High-Powered Computer Radios and Expensive Glow Fuel!!!

went with a midstar 40 on my second plane..i enjoyed it... but as others said..would be to go to a plane with less lift, and less dihedral and in some cases, a wing that is lower than the "High Wing" configuration of a trainer.

I got a World Model T-34 Mentor as my 2nd plane.. and as per more experianced pilots it is a great 2nd plane and sport plane..



AbuAnas

Thanks for the help. Not really sure what way to go, but some good advice.
Thanks,
Goplaneman[sm=sunsmiley.gif]

Would a Hobbico Avistar be a better 2nd plane than the Goldberg Tiger2 or Sig 4*40?

Somwhere back I read that the Sig Somethin' Extra can make a good #2 if you put it on low rates.

Check out the link on my site for a selection of second planes
http://www.geistware.com/rcmodeling/second_plane.htm

Thanks for the good info
Goplaneman[sm=sunsmiley.gif]

GOPLANEMAN! I can't stress enough about getting a 4 pound profile! If I had my young modeling career to do over I wouldn't have wasted so much time flying run of the mill, mediocre performing , typical 2nd planes. A MORRIS HOBBIES plane will take you from beginner to ''wild 3d hovering man" faster than any other. Most typical "second planes "are cute to look at on the ground, but a good profile will look better in the air. Go check out MORRIS HOBBIES web site

My second plane is the Great Planes Easy Sport. I couldn't be happier with it.

oink

get a 3D plane!!!

i went from a 3ch glider to a limbo dancer and haven't looked back since, my flying skills are veeerrrryyyyyy goood now! [>:]

How about the Tower Voyger, anyone have some input on it?
Thanks[sm=sunsmiley.gif]

OINK!! Sorry, couldn't resist. GOPLANEMAN, go to the MORRIS HOBBIES site, you will become enlightened in more ways than one!