time from a small story from rob.

to start off i have been flying my superstar for about a month and with great success. my instructor only gave me 2 lessons to be able to solo myself and on my first solo flight i was able to do 7 touch and go + 2 full stop landings from each direction of the runway(according to some of the folks and our field this was really good). anyway sometimes i have problems landing on the runway in the wind and in S. FL it is windy quite often.

i was practicing just flying over the runway on presidents day when someone that was takin off with a trainer went almost vertical then turned into my airplane chopping off 1/2 my stabilizer, fin, rudder, and elevator. needless to say u guys can figure out what happened next. the ailerons still worked so i figured i would go down in style and so started the spiral towards the ground. i missed the pavement on the runway by about 6". consulting some of the more seasoned pilots as to why it is not a bright idea to fly over the runway practicing landing approaches when someone calls takeoff and suggestions for a 2nd plane. i decided to get a GP Super Sportster 40 ARF because they said it would be sportier then my superstar but also remain predictable. both good traits for a 2nd airplane.

Anyway my GPSS is about 80% finished all i have left really is too install the electronics and fuel tank. I will say however that building my first ARF is quite a daunting task. I took allot more time then i had anticipated. I had to buy a bigger engine for it(had a 40 LA) and decided to get a OS .46 AX. i can't wait to fire that thing up and hear what that new muffler sounds like. I will fly it sometime later in the week and will post pictures once i get the digital camera of the remains of the HCSS and my new GPSS.

With the 46 AX your Sportster is going to be a rocket compared to your trainer! I've been flying for about 8 years and have had two Sportsters, my recent one has a 54 four stroke on it and flys very well.

A club member had seen me flying mine quite a few times, and when he got his he asked me to take it up and trim it out for him. Well, he has a 46 FX (the AX is a newer version), and I was quite surprised by the speed and power the Sportster had with it. Very fast.

I think you'll like the plane a lot, but i'd recommend that you have your old instructor, or one of the guys with more experience fly it first to trim it for you.

Good luck, and have fun with it!

(Write again after you've flown her. )
Dennis-

I just got one of these myself. It is a good looking airplane. I just hope I can handle it. I've heard they land a little hot.

Hi,

I agree with DBCherry, when i first joined RCU i posted a question about a 2nd plane like everyone does, and i took his adivice and went for a GP Super Sportster and he was right its an excellent plane from a trainer and boy its a lot quicker i have a OS 46LA in mine and ppl at the club allways ask what engines is in it as the speed it flys full throttle is amazing for a 46LA.......... So keep your eyes on this one lol, it will probably fly 1/3rd throttle which will match the speed of your trainer full throttle.

Landing and take off's i felt were really easy, it lifts off in seconds and landings seem to be just like the trainer so im sure you will be fine with this plane... i may have to buy a second one as mines looking a bit worse for wear (or maybe im just too fussy)

Now im onto large Wardbirds, Spits, Mustangs etc......... when will this buying a new plane ever end ? ................ You start with saying ill be happy with 3, and now im on about 17 lol...... what a great hobby Good Luck with your GP SS Let us know how you get on...

I keep hearing that too, but to tell you the truth, I think mine lands as easily as most trainers and it seems to slow down just fine. Obviously it's a low wing plane with much less dihedral than a trainer, so it will stall at a slightly higher speed, but mine seems to land at a crawl when I want it too.

Once you get it into the air and trimmed, get the plane up high and slow it way down. Fly it slow, then keep slowing it down a little at a time until it finally stalls. It won't snap severely in the stall, so it won't cause your heart to stop, but will give you a better sense of the flying characteristics.

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with the plane.
Dennis-

A friend of mine bought a gpss as his second plane Boy what a nice flying plane whats been said here is so true. Just one thing he had to do was to remove the wheel pants. At that time we were flying on a grass field and cause the plane to nose over alot. See the pic. Caught with his pants off.

Ineter,
I just started flying my SS with a 46LA. It is neat and FAST!!!
The plane lands well but it is a little hot. I just need to make sure I'm at real low altitude
when I come over the fence or it ain't going to the ground. I can't seem to force it down like my trainer.

It is plenty fast and and does what you tell it NOW, and keeps doing it until you quit.
You'll feel like a newbie again with it. Keep it high so you can get out of trouble.
The recommended elevator throw, 1/2", seems light. If your radio has it, get your dual rates set up right away.

The dark blue can be hard to see, both with a blue and a gray sky.

Hope you have as much fun as I am.

KW_Counter

The GP SS is not really an ideal second plane for many of the reasons already stated. However, if your good with your trainer, you can probably fly the SS with some help.

The SS is fast, but very predictable. It's a blast to fly, however I encourage you to get some help flying it.

Not sure I can agree with that. It was my second plane and I didn't have any trouble with it.
Dennis-

Ineter, your Super Sportster will be a rocket with that engine! I have a .46FX in mine with the throws cranked up and it's fast and agile! One recommendation, use an 11x5 prop. It will keep the top speed manageable and also help it slow down nicely for landings.

One of the guys at my club has one with a saito and his landed pretty hot too but he started having RX battery trouble and put a new one in and when he did ha put it so the CG was slightly further back and now the same plane crawls in for a landing, I think this might be why there are so many conflicting stories on how hot it lands, It might just be they are CG issues. Nose heavy will make it a little more dosile BUT will make landing a little faster. Great flying plane too.

Dauntae

Dauntae makes a good point. Don't be afraid to have the CG at the back of the recommended range....the plane will still have no bad habits and slow down better. I'm pretty sure that mine it set to the rear-most CG range.

Got one as a third plane after an Easy 2 and an Ultra Stick. Flies fast and straight and responds to control inputs just like it should. I too put the battery pack (6V 1800 mah) in the back. Very sweet to fly, just keep it away from an occupied runway!

I have a really strong MDS .48 on mine and it is a rocket, at least to me.

Regards.

I've tried several different props on mine, and have settled on a 12x4. I'm running a OS .46SF and it has great vertical. It really slows down to a crawl with that prop, too. The CG is about as far back as I dare, and it still behaves normally. I've been putting mine into upright spins and it does them, but at a nose-down attitude. Just releasing the sticks makes it recover immediately. Great flying plane, just watch out for the wheel pants if you're flying off of grass.

Jesse

what do you guys think of one with a super tigre 51 in it? I was thinking of getting one as my second and putting in the 51.... is there a SS 60 sized?

There is, but it's available as a kit only.

Jesse

I agree with most of what is above. I had a SS as my second plane and man did I love it. I moved the CG back so far that I got it into a flat spin one day and it never came out!!!! It spun into the ground. I still have it, but I just haven't taken the time to rebuild it. It was a little much for me as a second plane, but you'll get used to it. And don't listen to these guys talk about it landing like a trainer. It WON'T. You will need to land with a little more speed than you did with your trainer. The first few landings with mine, I crushed the gear, cause I ran out of speed. Try to land fast, if you can't do it fire up the engine and go around again, DON'T STALL IT.

I find it interesting that so many people have found that they have to land their SS fast. I usually set mine down so that the roll out is no more than 10 to 20 feet. Of course, that's on a grass strip.

Maybe I don't remember so well anymore, but it seems my trainer use to require all of that.
Dennis-

About 30 feet with mine on asphalt, but I have a 12x4 prop and the idle is way low.

Jesse

Ive been looking at this plane also to be my first low wing and had read allot about it,they state to set back the CG and it will land at a slow speed,my idea was to build it as my first kit but the the little difference in price from arf to kit, it almost doesn't seem worth it but i have to learn some time .and this kit building looks like fun! my only trouble im having is for another $50.00 i can buy the TOP FLITE P40 GOLDEN ADDITION i have had some exsperince repairing my arfs so i feel im capable...... and i dont wont to build some thing i wont take out of my trunk.any suggestions

If you build the SS kit make sure you have a good razor plane and sand paper. You will definitely need them.

senza,
Save your first "kit" for something else. The Super Sportster is a terrific plane, but by the time you buy the kit and the covering, you'll end up saving about $00.25 per hour for you labor.

There are any number of good kits out there, but I'd say buy the ARF if you want a Sportster, buy the P40 if you want to build a kit, or buy both and fly the Sportster while you build the kit.
Dennis-

here are the pictures of my airplanes post crash and pre finish.

DBcherry Thanks for the advise ive been away from the computer for a few days the weathers been nice and ive been flying!