I'm beginning to think about a second plane. I've soloed a few flights now and am confident I can get a plane up and down without damaging it. I've got a Prankster at the moment but it's an ugly thing and I would like something a little nicer looking.
I am unsure just what to go for, though. On the one hand, it would be nice to get a reasonably aerobatic Wot4 or an agile acrowot, but would I be able to handle it? Alternatively I chould buy a balsa trainer, e.g., Rimpax Trainer 40, and then see how I get on.
I'm not quite sure just yet what to do, so any suggestions please.
Many thanks,

Hmmm I'd stick with trainers for a while. It all depends on your skill level and if you'll have an instructor beside you to bail you out if you get in trouble. I taught myself to fly, crashed a lot of planes along the way mostly because I bought semi-symmetrical wing sections before I was ready for them.

Does the Wot 4 count as a trainer? It's a high wing aircraft but I'm not sure. I know that many of the chaps at the club had Wot 4's as their second aircraft (a few have said I should have one next), but I wanted to get some more opinions first.
Thanks,

Personally, if it doesn't have lots of dihedral in the wings and a flat bottom aerofoil, I wouldn't class it as a trainer.
If you have an instructor who is willing to help ya out, go for it, I've never seen a bad review about the wot4.

how about a unowot?but if you want a wot4 get one,they are not hard to fly contrary to what some people may tell you.

I know this an old thread, but for those of you who are familiar with the excellent "Chris Foss Designs" Unowot and would like to consider an ARF version of this model, than look no further than the KMP F1 Trainer. (or ESM F1 Trainer in Australasia and I think the UK)

The F1 Trainer is basically a scaled up (to .46 size) Unowot with a Trike gear. Even the steel tail skid of the original is included in the kit.

I converted mine to a tail dragger, like the original.

It is the most placid model I have ever flown and I have flown many types. It's even better than the (N.O.P) Great Planes Trainer .60 that I learnt on.

It handles strong wind very well and can be flown at such a slow speed that all the Piper Cubs and Tiger Moths pass you. But open the throttle and it becomes a real aerobat. A 1st and 2nd plane all in one.

I don't think that KMP/ESM realise just what a superb model they have. They should promote it more.

A pic of my converted F1 (on the left) and the original Chris Foss Unowot (on the right) are below for your comparison.

I have to agree with Woody. I have a F1, I am only a beginner. It is easy to take off and as soon as you get it about 3 mistakes high you can throw it around a fair bit.

It glides forever! Have to take a lot of speed off for landing.

I also converted mine to a tail dragger after one to many hard landings on the front wheel. Still flies excellent though! I put even bigger wheels on it though and it can roll anywhere.

Enyaengine,
FlyingIreland's advice is good, if I may say so. Stick with the trainer for a while, yet. The time to move on is when you become BORED with it - i.e. when your flying abilities have improved beyond trainer level. Boredom with a model is a good sign of being able to move on to something more exciting.
The WOT4 is a good second model IMHO - it has enough trainer-like qualities that it will behave well in the hands of someone new to it, but it will let you grow into more complex manouevres, as well. It's also easy to repair after all but the worst of crashes.
ps put something bigger than a 40 sized engine in it. A 46 is OK and a 53 is ideal.

I would stay with the prangster for a while. Are you comfortable with full rates? Fly it and fly it, .If you want something a little less ugly , can I sugtgest the Kite,
ATs use them to train people and it's something you could stay with to get your B.
Hva e you got your A. If not then that is your first priority.
The A certificate is a bit like a driving licence. It's not saying that you can fly , it is saying that you are safe to learn the next bit without an instructor.
The Kite is now Kitted by flair it is indeed very strong a quite a bit bigger than the prangster, The 40 you have will fly it fine. Or why not go for a 46, that would be really good.
I can honestly say that they fly like a dram no vices at all a really good solid honest trainer, that will last a good deal of time.
If you want to go to a low wing after why not try the "Priory models Sillouete," sold at all the shows, less than £60 a very good kit with jig built fus and foam wings.
a very gentle plane that can be flown as hard as you want.
hope this helps

Hi guys

No the WOT 4 aint a trainer its an aerobatic trainer, i can honestly say they are completely excellent. Their aerobatics is limited to rolls, barrels, insides and outsides.

Its a excellent plane to go onto after the trainer. I have a OS 61 in mine, (Overpowered) but it does all sorts with that engine. The only problem with WOT 4s are you have land the right, they tend to rip the under carrage off if you get it wrong but if you use plastic bolts its ok. Its a foam wing so its quite strong.

Also as the WOT 4 is alomost everywhere there are quite a few colour schemes around Check Out [link=http://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=]Google Image Search[/link] and type WOT 4.

I would deffinately reccomend this as your next plane. Put it this way our club has about 100 members and over 15 WOT 4s in the club even the most experienced members have them.

However i would not reccomend the Acro Wot as a next plane, its a bit touchy at first but you need to really master the basics of landing and taking off, once you have learnt on the WOT 4 its the perfect companion.

My WOT 4 is also on My Gallery.

WOT 4 is deffinately a [sm=thumbup.gif] for me.

The WOT4 is an excellent second model and I would advise anyone to get one because they are so easy to fly. Enyaengine, for someone in your position I would first fly your prangster until you are sick of flying it on full rates.

The WOT4 on low rates and a smaller engine (40-46) will fly like an overpowered trainer. However with more power and higher rates it can be very agile but still forgiving.

I have been flying my WOT4 for several years now. Some good engines are :

OS46FX, Ample power, reliable but poor throttling
Irvine 53. Similar power to the OS46 but with better throttling.
OF70FS, Wonderful engine, loads of torque, and lots of power.
Irvine 53 with a Just Engines Purple Tuned Pipe, Stupid power (Approx 2.5:1 Thrust:Weight Ratio) and Good throttling assuming the pipe is set up correctly.

With the piped Irvine and large control throws the WOT4 is capable of the some advanced aerobatics in the right hands (not mine!).

Buy the WOT4 now, get building and in the meantime, get very competent with you prangster.

How this helps! Cheers

I've only got an old, low powered Fox.45 up the front of my F1. Had to put a bag of ballast up the back because of this. The Fox is a heavy lump of iron!!

I think something like an OSLA.46 would be better as far as balance goes.

But the old Fox is very reliable and just the model flies nicely on 1/2 throttle. Power wise it is a perfect match for this model.

Hi I have a second hand Wot 4, but no manual. Does anyone know what the CofG should be, I am thinking of sticking a OS46LA in it.