Hello to everybody! As you can tell I am brand new to this forum. This forum seems to have quite a diverse group of people which is great. I've done some unsuccessful back field flying when I was younger with my father but now have joined a club in my local area and am progressing nicely with my Avistar with the help of coutless hours on Real Flight. I got a question for you all. I received a Great Planes .40 size P-51 as a gift a few months ago and I was wondering if I should go into a mid wing or a different low wing airplane before attempting the P-51? If so feel free to please give me some ideas of different models. Thanks fo you all.

My opinion would be to first keep flying your Avistar until you are extremely comfortable with it. Then you could move on to the GP Mustang if you had a very experienced pilot fly it with you on a buddy box. That way you can gradually get used to it's characteristics. I have seen so many just solo'ed pilots jump into a hot second plane and then smack it into the ground because it was too big of a step up. I have heard that the Mustang flys very well for a semi-scale plane. Just ease into it, and good luck!

Keep,

The Avistar is a great trainer in that it is more than a primary trainer, a good stable plane that will still do a lot of aerobatics if the pilot does his part. Normally I'd say that a P51 as a second plane is the classic beginner mistake, only to be outdone by the "P51 as a first plane" beginner mistake, but IF you fly the wings off that Avistar (say 5 gallons thru it) and learn to fly it well, you might get away with the P51 as a 2nd plane. Notice the "IF" and "might"; it's still not recommended. Something like a Kaos or World SuperSports would be a better second plane http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXZT80&P=ML http://www.theworldmodels.com/para/p...?airplaneid=51

There are a lot of good 2nd planes out there; these are just two proven ARFs at a good price that go together quickly, especially the SuperSports.

While a scale P-51 would be a no no, the GP "Sweet Thing" uses a version of the Original UltraSport wing (Which is a version of the original Kaos wing).

Can you do it? As herbert eluded to, maybe. It depends on your personal skills, but I too would strongly recommend having a skilled pilot on a box with you.

If you have any doubts, get a good low wing intermediate trainer first like the Tiger II, the Sig 4*, or the GP Rapture.

The Avistar is more of a 2nd type plane rather than a basic trainer. If you can handle it well then the GP P51 shouldn't be too hard to catch on to. I would try to buddy box it for a couple of flights just so the differences don't cath you off guard. Make sure that its the kit version, not the ARF. The kit uses a Kaos wing which has a very wide speed range. In other words it will fly fast but it can also be slowed down so you can catch your breath and land at a walking speed. [8D]

Thanks guys for all your input, all the advice is great. I just got back from flying the Avistar on a fairly breezy day and it was a blast. I really agree with you all when you guys mentioned how I should go into something more subtle than the GP P-51. I'm not looking for any classic beginner mistakes here. The Avistar is fairly easy for me to fly even though I only just finished up my first gallon of fuel with it. I must say though I'm no where near bored with it! I still get the occasional adrenaline rush when the wind grabs it and pushes it around. So for now I think I'll shoot for the 5 - gallon mark as Hebertjj mentioned and see where I'm at. BTW does anybody have any input on the Goldberg Super Chipmunk. Somebody mentioned to me this is a good beginner low wing with the right throws then a great aerobatic aircraft later down the road. Is this true? Thanks again for the help.

I would hold ff on the P-51 until the 3rd plane. Something like a SIG 4* or World Models Rambler, or GP Sporster would make an excellent 2nd plane. FWIW - World Models has 2 versions of the Rambler. The Rambler 30 is a fixed gear, while the Rambler 45 is retracts. Both use a 46. The Rambler 45 MAY be a better choice if your P-51 has retracts.

The Great Planes p-51 could bee a great second plane. Mine was number 3. I you are a skilled beginner it could be a OK plane. My second plane was A Thunderbug from Balsa USA, it was a very good low wing trainer.

Here are some pictures of my P-51 and my Thunderbug

I recently graduated from my trainer (also an Avistar) to an Ultra Stick 40. This was a great 2nd plane for me. It is relatively easy to fly and land as well as being able to do some decent aerobatics. Its a tail-dragger configuration and you can set it up for flaps if you wish (you might have to upgrade your radio of course). I would agree with the other guys - keep your P51 for your third plane.

Ian

I don't get why there is so much talk about the difference between tail draggers and tricycles ... for me both are the same, even when I was learning. Try the WM T34 or Super Sport as a second plane ... its pleasant and agile.

I did the same thing. Ultra stick 40 is a good 2nd plane. Much easier to take off and land than a trianer. Much more stable in high winds. Very durable and light weight ARF (5 lbs with 46FX). The best part is that I have 7 planes now and I still like flying the US40. I never get tired of it. On low rates and a sport prop flies better than a trainer. Up the rates, move the CG back, add a 3D prop and you can hover all day long.

I would reccomend a TigerII or a 4* as your second plane. They are good second planes. Set them up as tail draggers. Then move on to your Mustang. The other posters are right. It is semiscale. But I still think the robust construction of a 4* and it's flight charicteristics would be desirable.

Mark Shuman