Right now I'm flying a stripped down Nexstar and feal real comfortable flying it. I've done in between 10 and 15 solo flight's with no instructor help. I wouldn't say I've mastered it yet. I don't want to get to cocky. Because then I will crash the next day knowing my luck. But anyway's I'm going to fly the Nexstar a little while longer. What would be a good second plane. I was thinking of either a Four Star 40, Tiger 2, or an T-34 Mentor from Hanger 9. I flew one of my friend's Tiger 2 and loved it. I like the T-34 because it is a Warbird. That is the direction I eventually want to go in. I eventually want a P-51 or a P-38. Also I'm not going to strip my Nexstar of it's engine and servo's. I want to keep it flight ready. Also I want a plane that is pretty fast. My buddy's Tiger 2 has an Evolution 46 on it with a 10/7 prop. I want something that fast or faster. So I guess which one of these plane's would best prepare me for my adventure toward Warbirds.

Glad that you're doing good. Don't give up the trainer yet. Too often people try to move up too quickly and wind up in trouble. You would be surprised just how much the "trainer" can actually do. Burn about a gallon of fuel doing touch and gos. When you can fly around your flying field inverted with your trainer then it's time to move up. As an instructor I see students all the time want to move up too quickly, and then find that they get to their 2nd or 3rd plane and find out they don't have the skills needed to handle that much of a plane. I know that you're really excited and eager to move up, but trust me, you'll enjoy it all much more if you make sure your skills are up to moving up.

When you do move up, the 4*, tiger 2, Great Planes Rapture all make excellent 2nd planes. I would hold off of the warbirds until at least your 3rd plane.

Hope this helps.

The 4* has to be slowed toa crawl to get it to come down. This is lousy warbird training. For warbird training you want a plane that not only flys faster, but lands faster as well. Having said that the Tiger 2 is a very good choice. The H9 mentor would be a big jump for you but if you want a World Models makes a nice 40 size T34 ARF that would also work as a second type plane. It flys about the same as the Tiger but is a great looking warbird and its inexpensive. [8D]

The 4*, T34 etc are great low wing trainers but if you are super confident with your trainer then go for the WM Super Sport 40, its much more aerobatic than the above mentioned planes and can come in slow enough for a confident new flyer. A few of my friends went to the SS40 after their trainers ... the plane will come in fast but if you flare her it will be very very manageable.

I built a 4 * 40 as my second plane and powered it with an OS .46LA (not the best engine). After I became comfortable with it, I made some modifications, and in a sense, it became my third plane too. I replaced the engine with an OS .50SX, removed 1 bay from each wingtip, and increased the throws. Now it's a lot faster and aerobatic. I will agree with the others that it really floats on landing, especially with the full length wing. Overall, I am really happy with my 4 *.
I have a warbird in building right now. Before flying it, I plan on adding weight to my 4 *. I may need to beef up the landing gear when I do.

Scott

I dont mean to sound like a jerk, but i dont see the problem moving to a Tiger 2. I am currently learning to fly on a Tiger 2(never flew a trainer). The people at my field dont think its "too much" plane for a trainer. I will admit that i did buy the kit and start assembling it before i even found a field but when i told them what plane i was building, no one hesitated as far as teaching me to fly. Yes its true that they would have suggested a trainer, but the Tiger 2 can be very docile. Dont get me wrong, i am not argueing to to a jerk, i just think that the 4* and Tiger 2 are suitable beginer planes adn they will keep you satisfied when you do start to learn because they are also quite nimble. In fact i would venture to say that the 4* and Tiger 2 are a couple of the finest planes out there

Get yourself a 4* or GP Rapture kit, dress it up in warbird colors, and knock yourself out! The 4* was my second plane. It is a floater, all right. If I had it to do over again, I would build the standard wing with hinges in each of the last three wing bays. That way I could easily trim off one bay then two to increase the wing loading when I wanted to.

I jumped froma Nexstar to a SlowPoke and a WM Sky Raider Mach II. I like the Sky Raider. It is cheap ($69) and really hauls with a .46 motor. But all the others are good planes also. Afetr putting the Sky Raider arf together, I will have to say I will probably end up buying WM from now on. I always like supporting the underdog.

Personaly I would aggree with tIANci, the WMSS40'S are superb second planes, I have had two. Both sadly gone, the last one falling fowl of a Kite, The only thing against them in your case is that they are trike landing setup not a tail dragger like the majority war birds so you would not gain as much experience for your future projects. But they are great fun and worth a look.

Dave

I am biulding a fourstar. It is a great and easy biuld. Still haven't flown it, but i am getting more trainer time...

My Friend had a GP Easy Sport for a second plane, and loved it. It was easy to take off. land, and fly, yet could be quite maneuverable. His next plane after the Easy Sport was a Kyosho Spitfire, and the transition was painless. This Spitfire was outstanding in that it was a very light plane, thus avoiding many of the problems of some of the war birds. Good luck on your progress. As other have mentioned, don't get too anxious. Lots to be learned with each plane.

Oh yes ... WM Skyraider Mach II is a good 'messing about plane', its great for pylon racing, light little thing that can go fast enough for a lot of adrenaline excitement.

didnt read exactly everything, but in your position, i would do keep the trainer. I have the tower trainer, and i am having a blast with it. I keep flying it because it boosts my confidence in my capabilities. I can try new tricks with it, its really that aerobatic. WHen winter comes, have fun and when the field is covered in snow, attach some skis on it, and have fun. Im soloing for quite a while now, and i could waste a gallon of fuel just taking of from my rummy field, but in a sense im glad i can do it. If you really want a new airplane, go for what im planning to, the Phoenix MODels low wing trainer .25. Small cheap and fun.

I have to agree with Sherman about the the GP Easy Sport. I built 2 from kits and 1 ARF. They all flew great and will do aerobatics nicely.

So why 3 EZ's. The first I flew until it was simply worn out, because after several years of flying and fuel absorbtion, over tightening the wing hold down bolts, numerous dings from not so perfect landings, etc. it was time for another. Number 2 flew great, but one day I didn't. Good bye number 2. The ARF also flew well, until I flew it into a high tension wire tower.

All that aside, it's a great plane (no pun intended) and is a really good flier. You won't go wrong.

DaveB

I would say the GP Super Sportster Arf. My friend had one and it was a really easy plane to fly, did aerobatics well, and we clocked it at 103mph one day!! It landed faster than a trainer but slower than a war bird and was a good plane overall. Check into it. for only 100 bucks, its a good deal!

try the sticks (ultra stick, ugly stick, etc...)

I bought the 4 Star 120 for my second plane. Havent started it yet, but plan on cutting two bays out of the wings. Power will be a Saito 1.50.

I give another vote for the WMSS40S. I have one and have flown the wings off it. With a .46 its very fast and easy to fly if you've mastered a trainer. I've flown it as a tri gear, tail dragger, and even off of floats. I'm currently switching it to a taildragger with retractable gear....but that's for another thread.

here's a link to the WMSS40S:
http://www.airborne-models.com/html/...p?ProductID=42

One way to move up is to build a symetric, or semi symetric airfoil wing for the trainer, and move up in horsepower to something like a WEBRA .50.

look into spads.

www.spadtothebone.com

THe second plane tends to be the one thats crashed the most since your off the buddy box, why not make it durable.

Try the Seagull Spacewalker II it has scale looks, is a tail dragger, and lands easily( but hotter than the Nexstar).

Dude I've never been on the buddy box and had never had to pass the radio because I was in trouble. (KNOCK ON WOOD) I'm thinking of either going with a Tiger 60 or a Fourstar 60 I think I'm going to put a bigger motor than what it calls for to. I've heard of people putting OS 91's on Fourstar 60's. That's probably what I will do. You know you can alway's throttle back