Hi all. I've been flying(!) a NexStar sucessfully for a while, and am now taking the wing droops and speed brakes off. I never even used the AFS- unplugged it before the first flight. I have purchased and started building a Vans RV-6 from Experimental Aircraft Models, which I will take up when I feel more proficient. What I am worried about is this- is the ground handling of a tail-dragger that much different from a trike? What should I expect? And how do you get that all-important three-point landing? Its an RV-6 conventional gear ARF with an O.S. .70 Ultimate and soon to have a 9C, boy is my wife patient with me! Thanks

I don't have time to write a lengthy reply right now, but I want to bump this thread up.

I would highly recommend something other than the RV-6 as a second plane. I don't know this plane very well, but suspect that it will have some scale flight characteristics, which won't be a good thing.

Try to write more later, but welcome to RCU, and it sounds like you're addicted too!
Dennis-

Checked out the plane specs. Good news, the kit includes landing gear for trike which I would strongly suggest that you start with. Bad news, if you read the specs, that plane is almost at 10 lbs. ready to fly and has a low aspect ratio wing. This means the plane will be fairly fast and very responsive! In short, when you have finished getting the plane together I would find a safe place to park it for later and find another choice for a 2nd type plane. All 2nd type planes will fly faster and be more responsive than your trainer. The difference of this alone usually takes some flyers with low stick time by surprize. What makes a good 2nd type plane is one that can be slowed down with out stalling when you need to catch your breath and one that is not too tricky to land. I would suggest a plane such as a Goldberg Tiger 2 for now. The RV-6 is a beautiful plane. I would hate to hear that you crashed it!

Fastsky- it sure is a beaut! The painting is finished, I gave it a white on red triangle/wedge scheme like a Decathlon, top and bottom. Sweet! I'll post pics tonight. As far as going with something more forgiving, I'm sure you are right, and I would also hate to crash this bird. Heck, I could break the .70 in on something else, then go into the RV-6 with a solid, reliable engine.

Does anyone know about cooling issues for fully-cowled engines? The 70 Ultimate sits horizontally just inside the starboard air hole in the cowl, and the cowl vents out to the bottom rear. Will I need to sacrifice scale looks to give my motor some breathing space, or will the airflow be sufficient? I'll also include a pic of the cowling this eve.

Thanks!

Oh yeah, thanks for the welcome DBCherry, yes I am addicted. Actually been addicted for ever; started out flying helis (Hirobo Shuttle, Concept 30 and 60, and now am the proud holder of a single-engine land PPL soon to be Instrument Rated[8D]) I've been an aircraft nut my whole life. My first scale project will probably be the T.F. T34B...now that will kill a winter!

fly,
You just mentioned flying helis, which may make a difference in your learning curve. How did you take to the transition from Helis to fixed wing? You MAY just have the reflexes to fly that RV-6.

I'd still highly recommend a decent "second" plane, and the Tiger 2 is a good one. You also just might want to look at the World Models T-34 Mentor. It's being touted on RCU as being a very forgiving plane, and many feel comfortable recommending it as a "second" plane.

That just might kill 2 'birds' with one stone. Your warbird and preparation for the RV-6.
Dennis-

Thanks Dennis, I'll check it out. Here are a few pics of the RV for now. The transition to fixed-wing was easy, and although it has been quite a few years since I've done any whirly flight, I am an active private pilot and instrument student, and I also flew the heck outta the sim that comes with the nexstar. I think that the two forms of flight (model helis and full-scale fixed wing) combined with the sim really did the trick because I've never had a single lesson, heli or model planes. Whatever, when I finally do crash, y'all will hear about it! --Paul[sm=RAINFRO.gif]