I got extremely bored with my trainer after two months, and I dont have the resources for moving up thru the ranks of lower trainers and the such....so.....I got an great planes extra 300s ARF. I've got very good skills, and I've done my research, and I know this will be a whole new ball game.....I only plan to fly with an instructor with me (to take off and land my new baby) But do you think I'll have a serious learning curve? And what can I expect. I know big stick movements are evil....and I know about tip stalls....and aware of what this plane is capable of.......

Been flying The kit version for about a week now that I dug out of the trash can and rebuilt. I recall its demise as almost the same experiance senario you describe played out. No cord and the instructor could,nt do much as the plane got pushed into an inavertant spin with owner trying to recover by holding it in a deep stall! Nice ship and Iam enjoying it now.


for what its worth,
John

If you "dont have the resources for moving up thru the ranks of lower trainers and the such" do you have the resources to have a plane go in on the first flight? What about the resources if this plane does damage to something or someone caused by your inexperience? Knowing about something and being able to control the aircraft are two different things. Theory is good but no substitute for experience.

Flying the different planes on the way are great fun to being a better pilot. Not only will this be a serious learning curve it could prove to be outright dangerous. Lets say we start out on a tricycle and get good at it. The next step should be an "INDY" car of course >> NOT!

Think about it and enyoy this wonderful hobby and sport. Thanks for listening to my opinion.

EXCAP232

I have a GP 300 extra which is my third plane. Stick with the recommended control throws and balance point and it will fly like it's on rails. On one occasion I had it flame out due to a bad glow plug and was too far away to make it back to the field. By the time I got close to the ground in the tall grass I was holding full up elevator on high rates (panicking a bit I guess) and the plane did not snap. It also handles well for slow landings. Again, stick with the high and low rate suggestions even though the elevator movement seems ridiculously small.....once you get comfortable with it you can experiment with higher rates. Good luck....I really love this plane!

Jeff

I moved from a trainer to a 60 size extra then to a 1/4 scale Sukhoi. You should have no trouble so long as you keep your throws to a minimum. Dial in the extra as you become accustomed to the increased sensitivity.

There's also another aircraft that might interest you. I think it's called the Extra Special. I've heard it's a great second plane and at the same time offers the opportunity to move up and give it higher control throws and it will fly with the best of the aircrafts.

Two months on a trainer isn't much flying or training,have you made it tail heavy yet,that will wake a trainer up quick lie and in a hurry,with atrainer you should be able to fly figure 8's,inverted,rolls,stall turns,split s,immerman,s,spins,and some what of a snap,should be able to crab in the air and on landing,if all of that is boring then yes it's time to think about another plane,the 300 isn't to hard to fly if you stay with low rates,it will not recover so you must fly it all the time,also it doesn't have the cross coupling of a trainer,does fly a little different

Have a goodun, John

Thanks to all that did not kick me in the ribs for the purchase of my Extra. To EXCAP232 (rib kicker), you're comment was heart felt. I know that the Extra is very capable.......does not mean I have to fly it, or even attempt to fly that way. I also drive a '99 Cobra, capable of 160 mph, but I only choose to keep it around 60 mph......for whatever reason, call me crazy, but I feel safer. I could do it but choose not to.(Plus Bubba's not a very good room mate, I hear nowadays - you know the whole jail thing - not cool) And as long as these man-made toys exist we are all in harms way at the field, experience is paramount, true. But we're all exposed to a certain risk. That's why it's good to never turn your back to the field, while anybody's flying. An experienced prop will hurt just as bad as a newbie's. And if I were to get good at a tri-cycle....screw an INDY...I want a top fuel dragster.....

Respect it......and it will respect you....Hmmm quite profound!

And yes, TerrellFlyer...I'm getting watery-eyed and sleepy just thinking about doing that with my trainer. You must understand that my second week of flying I was already going solo, taking off, landing, touch and go's, with my instructor present. It's so boring now I haven't flown in almost two weeks, I dont want to. And my trainer makes me sick with it's slow this and slow that And I was worried about buying something and getting sick of it 2 months from now. I rather have something I can grow with. thanks for you comment.

Well, I dont think you should have much problem. With an instructor by your side there should be no issue with takeoff and landing. If you have a solid 2 months of experience with your trainer you should be fine on the extra. My first powered plane was a GP Cap 232 (Pictured by my name). I still have it and it has never been wrecked or broken in any way. It is not like the extra is that much harder to fly than a trainer. In fact, you may find it easier to fly because it will not fight you stick inputs. I have never been happy flying a trainer and that is why I have never purchased one. I have flown them on many occasions when new people need a little help getting started and found them harder to land and not as much fun to fly. The extra will land slow but not nearly as slow as the trainer. Additionally, you need to know what to expect if you do in fact go below the stall speed. Just keep yourself from pulling full elevator, and causing a snap, and you should be fine.

Good Luck, Phil (Mesa, AZ)

Here is a picture of my latest project, a GP Extra 300S (60 size)

Pleasure to have been of service. Hope I'm not around to see when this thing bites you in the tuckus. EXCAP232

Now fokes,let's be nice ,this is supposed to be a fun hobby,and a legitimate question was asked,glad to see a fellow flyer doing so well and the best of luck with there progress.
Have a goodun,John

Asking and answering a question shouldn't be taken as not being nice. A legidimate question was asked. Valid answers were given.
If there was only one possible answer why ask the question at all? If you only want one answer why ask the question? The exchange of information is the learning curve. I only hope the situation is done with safety in mind. If you want to fly an Extra as your second plane consider the SIG Somethin' Extra. My handle is a combination of the Extra and CAP names. Love them both. Own them both. Neither was my second plane.
EXCAP232

Good luck with the new plane. I love to watch those babies fly. I too, was bored with the trainer, specially the fighting of the sticks.I wasnt as brave to jump to the type a plane as you have, I went with a 4 * 60. Still as I said, I wish you good flights and lots of fun......

Well, thanks for your input, from all. As I said in my original post, I will only fly with my instructor by my side, as if I were in essence, training again. Safety is not a factor I take lightly. I dont not wish to get bit in the tuckus. Fighting the sticks was one of my main complaints. But nice and easy will do it for me I believe. I plan to have our club's "maiden flight" instructor take her for me this weekend. I'll let you guys know how everything goes. Once again thanks for all of your input.


Only perfect practice.....makes perfect!

tretre:
you are taking a big step here, I can bet you your heart will pump like if you were catching a 500 lb black marlin.
excap232 may be right!!, the model is wonderful but not a 2nd plane!!, although if your skills are big... go big.
your instructor better keep the plane around 3 mistakes high, he will need it to save your plane if you fault.-
practice landing your trainer much faster than usual and flairing it just about to touch-down, this shall help with your new plane
good luck and enjoy

Ok, ok, everyone here is right! Thats why I love this place. Now dude, since you've already got it all figured out and are going to do it anyway let me offer a few suggestions. I'll tell you how to set the plane up as if I were flying a new Extra , the test flight.

1. Absolutely low rates all the way around. Look at what the manufacturer suggests. (especially the elevator).
2. Be sure the plane is nose heavy! When on balance measurement it should fall slightly foreward.
3. When you take off dont give it full throttle. You're going to go up against several things you've never experienced. One of them is "P" factor. No not the stuff thats going to go down your leg, its engine torque!
I remember the first time I took off with a tail dragger I gave it full throttle (to show off a little) and wound up cartwheeling it in the grass off the left side side of the runway. I had no idea what hade happened. As I walked back with broken pieces someone said: ""P" factor! ". Anyway, slow steady throttle and right rudder on takeoff.
4. I always intentionally put a little "up" trim in the elevator of new planes till I get a feel for what there going to do. Remember, this thing is going to go where you point it .. I mean when you get in the air its not going to fly level and flat like that trainer.
5. I got to go .. when you get ready to land, just land in the grass somewhere ..good luck, wish I could watch

Another good suggestion might be to droop your ailerons a tad (at least for the first few flights). They will act as flaps and give you just a little more lift to allow slower flight.

this plane hates to fly slow, with a fx .46 you better be above 1/3 T. all the time!!!

Keep us all informed......I myself am going the same route...with one SMALL change. (OS .91 FX!!!!!)

Yea, yea, I know...but it don't mean ya GOTTA run 'er wide open.

Best of luck

Beav

I don't like to hear that people are "bored" with their trainer. It flies too slow and won't do anything. I firmly believe that EVERYBODY should go back and fly their trainer every couple of months. After flying an Extra 300 or my Ultimate Bipe it really is fun to go back an fly the trainer that can fly so dang slow. Plus, a trainer can be a really good way to touch up on some skills that may need a little practice. You are moving slow enough to see the results of different stick movements, and a dumb thumb usually won't wind up in a pile of balsa kindling.

I'm know what I'm talking about because I'm pretty much the instructor at our field, so I get a lot of time on the sticks with a trainer. there are many times that after the students last flight of the day, I'll go back up for some air time of my own.

What I'm trying to say is that it's great to move up to faster better planes, but the don't ever knock the good ole trainer. Know matter how advanced you are, you can still learn something from it.

Let us know how things turn out. I was in the same situation you were in terms of being bored with my trainer after flying for about a month or so. Like you I too was soloing after my 2nd or 3rd time on a buddy box and many members of my local field were amazed at my progress considering the "trainer" I was flying was a tail dragger and was capable of MANY aerobatics due to a modified wing.

Anyway, one of the best things about this hobby is it allows you to do whatever YOU want to do. I now own a GP Venus and should have an Aeroworks 540 60/90 plane at my doorstep this week. Both should provide me with different flying experiences and that extra ooomph I'm after at the sticks. As other people mentioned on this thread just keep that GP 300's rates on the low side and don't even think about slowing the plane to trainer speed on landing and you should be fine. Best of luck and if you can submit some pictures of your plane as I've been thinking of getting one next year too

TRETRE,
Don't let the nay-sayers get you down. When I get my Sukhoi, I had less than 20 flights on a plane other than my trainer. The Sukhoi lasted 110 flights and was re-kitted due to structural damage prior to its final flight. (broken elevator).

Stretch your abilities. This is how you will become a better flier.

Ok...ok...ok...Everyone, I flew my Extra for the first time this weekend........and........it was an absolute blast. I stayed with the recommended lower rate, and even a tad bit lower with the computer radio(35%). My instructor took off and landed for me (as I do have common sense) It flies beautifully, and is very capable as my instructor demonstrated. It laughs at knife edge with no loss of altitude (it only has a .46). No, I wasn't out to do snaps, spins, or anything else. I had my instructor take me up 3 high and I flew ovals for about 10 minutes, and it was great. That was my lesson for that day, and will be for probably the next four weeks. I'm sorry to have dissapointed some of you. But ALL of your advise was good. Thanks!

Slowly.....but surely.....no rush to claims for fame......

What a gorgeous lookin' plane...I must say....I'll post pictures some time this week...