hi.... i'm kinda new to this hobby and i'm just getting started. for my first plane i bought a hangar 9 alpha trainer (ARF) and i'm almost done w/ it. i've been looking for a good second plane to fly w/. i want this plane to be able to do some cool areobatics and look cool too. i've been looking at the Extra 300S .40, in a kit this time b/c i really liked building and i want to do it more, but my friend recentaly told me that this might not be a good second plane. i'm new to this hobby and don't want to buy the first plane someone tells me is going to work good i want a lot of people's opionions. so i need everybodys help w/ this ? so please give me your advice. i'm new and want to stick w/ this hobby for a long time b/c i love it. thanks in advance and i hope u all enjoy flying as much as i do and stay w/ the hobby.

H9flyer, an Extra 300s is not a good 2nd plane IMO. Maybe a 3rd or 4th. There are several good 2nd planes on the market, but since you like to build, I would recommend a Four Star (40 or 60 size) kit. I built a 60 size last year and it is a very easy plane to build. Low-wing tail-dragger also. An Ultra Stick, Super Stick or Big Stick in the 40 or 60 are great second planes also. I have a Ultra Stick 60 and a Super Stick 40 (recovered) also, but they are not kits. The 4*40 or 4*60 will not be a dissappointment to you.

If you build a 4*, I would recommend having more power than what is needed. This really wakes the plane up. I have a YS .91FZ Supercharged 4-strk motor on mine. See photos below. This thing is a blast to fly, plus since it was a kit I was able to modify the plane some. Counter-balance rudder, larger rudder, larger elevator, dual servo elevator, front hatch, better built up wing brace, pull-pull system, etc...

Hope this helps,
DTB

Photo 1 = Four Star 60 (4*60)
Photo 2 = Super Stick 40 (recovered)
Photo 3 = Ultra Stick 60
Photo 4 = YS .91FZ motor on 4*60

I vote for the 4*60. Great flying airplane and a real floater on landings.

what company makes the four star .40 and .60???

sig?

Yes, it is a kit by SIG.

http://www.sigmfg.com/

or

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXFG06&P=0

or

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXFG16&P=0

I don't like 4 Star looks, sorry all. Thing looks like it's sqatting on the ground. Without kit bashing the thing is ugly. Now if Sig would quit concentrating on their ARF's so hard and mod the kit a little it would be awesome. Better landing gear. No bubble canopy. Something like the SE's would be good. Make it look less like the ugly duckling it is.

LOL, no offense taken. The plane may look like a ugly duckling, but it flys like an eagle.

The GP Big Stik 40 with a hot 46, 53 or even a 60 will take you a long way with learning flight skills. It’s one of those aircraft you can learn on and then keep as a fun fly aircraft forever. It’s a great long term investment and I’ve had a least one my air force for a gazillion years.

i would also recomend the 4* .60 it is a kit or ARF

thanks for all the help everyone i'm going to look into the sig 4 star .40 a little more now but if you have any other suggetions for a 2nd plane then please tell me. thanks

hi h9flyer, i have the same plane as you and i'm ready to move on to my next plane. I want a 3d plane so i can do all the tricks and from what i have been reading the U-can-do is a good plane for beginners if that's the type of flying u want to do. I've seen them at the field that i fly at and they fly great at low speeds and everyone says they are easy to handle.

The U-Can-Do is indeed a great flying plane and possibly could be used as a 2nd plane, but it is not a kit as H9flyer is looking for. Otherwise a great plane.

H9flyer, here are some other choices for a 2nd plane that come in kits that I would recommend other than the Sig 4*.

Goldberg Tiger 2 Kit .40-.46,61"
(Great plane, Just butt ugly)
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXDJC9&P=0

Great Planes Easy Sport 40 Kit .40-.46,59.2"
(I have flown this and it is great) (very acrobatic, but is easy to fly and land)
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXJ564&P=0

Great Planes Super Sportster 40 MKII Kit .40-.46,55"
(I have flown this and it is great) (May not be the easiest kit to build)
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXJ575&P=0

Lanier Stinger 40 Kit .32-.46,48"
(Close to a U-can-do, more of an advanced plane if 3D flying is your taste)
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXX397&P=0

Sig Mid Star 40 Kit .30-.40,64.5"
(Fly like the Easy Sport 40 above)
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXFG07&P=0

With the Lanier Stinger or U-Can-Do or any other acrobatic plane, make sure your flying skill is up to par. Some of these are point and go type of planes and does not try to correct itself when on it side, inverted, etc... Have someone at your field to teach you the correct way to take off and land a low wing, tail dragger if you take that route.

Have fun...

DTB

I have heard nothing but good things about the Fantasy. Supposed to be an excellent kit, and flys great. Thats what I have read anyways. I would love to build one of these, but alas, lack the room for a kit.

http://www.skysharkrc.com/fantasy.htm

I learned on several 2 to 4 channel trainer type aircraft (yes, this implies multiple "incidents" ) and after getting reasonably competent with a 4 channel trainer I went to my Tiger 2. Excellent plane (hey it's not all that ugly ). I had some help from my instructor when I first started flying it but I think if you're competent with a 4-channel trainer you'd do fine with the Tiger. Veeerrry smooth flyer, very solid in the air. With a 2-stroke .46 you can do some pretty cool stuff with it (it's not a 3D machine though, but the .46 makes it quick and gives nice vertical performance). I would say the Tiger is a good "medium" plane between your average 4-channel trainer and something like an Extra 300. Also good for learning inverted maneuvers that you probably weren't able to do with your trainer.

Oh yeah, it's also *really* easy to land, at least the tricycle version is (have not tried the taildragger yet, going to convert mine to taildragger soon).

-Matt Bailey

Goldberg Tigers are pretty good flyers. If you are headed the 3D aerobatic route you can get one of these low wing trainers then convert it to tail dragger. Then you'd be ready for an Extra or whatever...

I bought a sig 4* for my second airplane. I recomend that!!

The Tiger 2 & the Four Star are both good choices. If you go with a 4*40 -- buy the kit & build it yourself. Be sure to sheet the leading edges with 1/32 or 1/16 balsa up to the main spar. The unmodified wing is too flexy & the non-smooth shape of the unsheeted wing also affects the stall characteristics.

I noticed no one mentioned the Bruce Tharpe Enterprises Venture 60. From what I've heard, it's a nice .60 size plane. Bruce designed the 4*60 and the Venture contains his improvements. on the 4*.

I have to vote for the Venture 60 as well since I have one framed up and waiting to be covered. It is a design very similar to the 4* but it looks a lot better. The fuse looks similar to an extra 330L in the canopy area and yet it has a constant chord wing which is something to look for in a second plane. I am in the process of putting an enclosed cowl on mine as the nose is an open cheek type like on the 4* and this is the only part of the plane I don't like.

Now if I could just find the time to finish the darn thing!!!

that would be my vote also...

john

I would maybe look into a Tower hobbies uproar. I know they're not the prettiest plane around but you can't beat the price of $44. I'm building one right now. There is about 6 or 7 guys that fly them at my field and highly reccomend them as a second plane. And if you order by the 30th you can get $20 off on an order of $50 or more. So actually end up spending about $30!

That funny, when I first recommended the 4*, I thought about the Venture also but didn't mention it because it is a 60 size only if I remember correctly and H9flyer I believe was talking about a 40 size or atleast I thought he was. They are almost the same plane which would make it a great option also since Bruce designed both.

I still say the 4* and/or the Venture. If a 40 size is needed then the 4*40 is the way to go, but if a 60 is needed either would do the job equally well. There is a slight difference in small items between the two, but will still provide a great second plane. It comes down to personal choice now between the two in the 60 size.

When I was researching the Venture 60 I found that it has a following just as good as the 4* only it isn't quite as well know since Bruce's company is kind of a one man shop. The Venture is a .60 size plane so that may be a limitation depending on what you are looking for. It theoretically should outperform a 4* 60 with the same engine since it weighs about a pound less.
Take a look at Bruce's site if you are interested. He gives a history of his company and also has a comparison of the 4* .60 and Venture .60.

http://www.btemodels.com/

I have an Avistar and will probably go 4-Star 60 for Xmas as my 2nd gas plane

I still screw up on landings and get disoriented sometimes when the plane is coming at me. I just killed my electric Dandy GT because of this. This mistake really made me humble about my skills - I really liked this plane. I do not want to kill a more expensive plane. So... I am going to build a 1/2A plane - probably an edgeling and get better before I move to bigger stuff.

Also, I think the more advanced planes are harder to land and I would like to try flaperons to see if they make a big difference in landing.

Good Luck!