A Good Second Airplane
10-04-2005 | 12:36 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Lincoln,
NE
A Good Second Airplane
I just purchased an Alpha 40 Trainer and am learning on that. I heard that the SIG Four Star is a good second airplane. I was wondering if the Cermark Graduate and the Tower Hobbies Voyager are good second airplanes. I'll appreciate any help.
Futaba Owner
Futaba Owner
10-04-2005 | 01:11 PM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 281
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Cameron,
WI
RE: A Good Second Airplane
If your still learning, i hope your just looking around right now. When your sick and bored of your trainer, then you're probably ready for your second plane. The sig four star is a good second plane, as is the Great Planes Super Sportster. The better you can handle/fly your trainer, the easier you'll find moving up to your second airplane, and with that you might be able to handle a more challenging plane.
10-04-2005 | 01:41 PM
#3
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Petaluma, CA
RE: A Good Second Airplane
Either the Voyager or Graduate would be an excellent second plane. Their trike gears and big, semi-symmetrical wings should make for an easy transition. The 4* would fly about the same as those two, but take-offs and landings would be different (conventional gear). The Super Sportster would be more of a handful.
10-04-2005 | 02:12 PM
#4
Senior Member
My Feedback: (16)
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 12,942
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Locust Grove,
GA
RE: A Good Second Airplane
This article is 5 years old but still good.
http://www.geistware.com/rcmodeling/second_plane.htm
http://www.geistware.com/rcmodeling/second_plane.htm
10-04-2005 | 03:39 PM
#6
My Feedback: (14)
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 839
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: New York,
NY
RE: A Good Second Airplane
When i got "sick and bored" of my trainer, this is what i usually did. I took my trainer out and pretended its a flight simulator. MEaning, do anything you want, jsut be good enough not to crash. What that means is go to a high altitude and do anything you like. I tried hovering with my traienr and multiple times, it stalled and i had plenty of altitude to recover from it. When i realized i could do all that, i knew it was time. I chose the Great Planes Easy Sport. IT may look like a high wing, but oh boy are you in for a surprise. This plane is absoultely marvelous. ITs so aerobatic. THe landings are GREAT. I love this plane with all my heart. I havent took it out to it full potential becuase i didnt have time, but im sure im oging to make a low level inverted fly by the field some day, i already did it about 100 feet up in the air. Go for the easy spor,t you wont regret it. THe 4* has a flat bottom wing, and thats no good to go wild.
10-04-2005 | 05:15 PM
#8
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Stirling, UNITED KINGDOM
RE: A Good Second Airplane
Hi
Another Vote for the WM t 34 Mentor
I began RC flying in mid May with an Irvine Tutor ,a few weeks ago I got the world models t34 as a second model and can't praise it high enough.
Takeoff's with the t34 are very predictable even easier than my trainer, in Flight if just has " something" wish I could convey what I mean.
Good luck
john
Another Vote for the WM t 34 Mentor
I began RC flying in mid May with an Irvine Tutor ,a few weeks ago I got the world models t34 as a second model and can't praise it high enough.
Takeoff's with the t34 are very predictable even easier than my trainer, in Flight if just has " something" wish I could convey what I mean.
Good luck
john
10-04-2005 | 08:48 PM
#9
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Petaluma, CA
RE: A Good Second Airplane
Second planes do often seem easier to fly than a trainer. The main difference is speed, and if you've gotten to the point where you're flying the trainer at full power, the speed difference won't seem that great. Low-wing planes with minimal dihedral track better and have less roll-coupling, making them feel more responsive and sometimes more predictable.
10-04-2005 | 09:23 PM
#10
My Feedback: (12)
RE: A Good Second Airplane
ORIGINAL: Futaba Owner
I just purchased an Alpha 40 Trainer and am learning on that. I heard that the SIG Four Star is a good second airplane. I was wondering if the Cermark Graduate and the Tower Hobbies Voyager are good second airplanes. I'll appreciate any help.
I just purchased an Alpha 40 Trainer and am learning on that. I heard that the SIG Four Star is a good second airplane. I was wondering if the Cermark Graduate and the Tower Hobbies Voyager are good second airplanes. I'll appreciate any help.
10-04-2005 | 10:09 PM
#11
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Petaluma, CA
RE: A Good Second Airplane
Chuck's right--someone who's seen you fly can tell better than anyone here what kind of plane you can handle. That said, there really isn't a plane between a trainer and something like the Graduate. If you're not ready for the Graduate (or a Tiger 2, as another example), you're still flying trainers. OTOH, your instructor might think you're a natural, and may feel something like the Graduate will be too tame for you. So ask your fellow flyers.
10-05-2005 | 01:29 PM
#14
Senior Member
My Feedback: (79)
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Hampton,
VA
RE: A Good Second Airplane
Love the 4*.
My take on it all after 20+ years and several long periods away from the hobby.
Low wing with light wing loading and mostly symetrical airfoil is simply a ball to fly, and once you understand the mechanics of flight on a trainer
are a great way to progress rapidly.
Moving to anything else as an intermediate is really not necessary in my opinion.
After a 5 or so year off time I used a brand new 4*60 for my "check flight" at the local club I joined and was like riding a bike.
Smooth, predictable and a ball to fly.
I strongly second the "build your own". I fly lots of ARF, but I still have built enough to understand how all the bits go together
My take on it all after 20+ years and several long periods away from the hobby.
Low wing with light wing loading and mostly symetrical airfoil is simply a ball to fly, and once you understand the mechanics of flight on a trainer
are a great way to progress rapidly.
Moving to anything else as an intermediate is really not necessary in my opinion.
After a 5 or so year off time I used a brand new 4*60 for my "check flight" at the local club I joined and was like riding a bike.
Smooth, predictable and a ball to fly.
I strongly second the "build your own". I fly lots of ARF, but I still have built enough to understand how all the bits go together
10-05-2005 | 04:39 PM
#16
Banned
My Feedback: (4)
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 391
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: suncook, NH
RE: A Good Second Airplane
an inexpensive easy to fly 2nd plane with a 20 size engine that can handle a .40 size engine is the often overlooked skooter 2 from lonestar bals.we used this as a clup racer with a k&b sportster 20.was suprised at how well it flys plus you get a feel for conventional gear to help move on to warbirds.this kit uses foam wing and stick type fuselage.you can have it built in around 6-8 hours.
10-05-2005 | 08:57 PM
#17
Senior Member
My Feedback: (3)
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 896
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Davis,
OK
RE: A Good Second Airplane
The Four Star does NOT have a flat bottom wing, it is semi symetrical. I've got the 4* 60, and it flies great! If you build the kit version, and enlarge the rudder and elevators by about an inch, shorten the wings by one bay on each side, then put a good 4 stroke in the .91 to 1.00 range on the nose, it will do almost any maneuver you want it to do, even 3D stuff. But, I agree with those who tell you to seek the advice of your instructor and others at your field that see you fly all the time. They can honestly evaluate your skills and steer you in the right direction.
ORIGINAL: samolot
When i got "sick and bored" of my trainer, this is what i usually did. I took my trainer out and pretended its a flight simulator. MEaning, do anything you want, jsut be good enough not to crash. What that means is go to a high altitude and do anything you like. I tried hovering with my traienr and multiple times, it stalled and i had plenty of altitude to recover from it. When i realized i could do all that, i knew it was time. I chose the Great Planes Easy Sport. IT may look like a high wing, but oh boy are you in for a surprise. This plane is absoultely marvelous. ITs so aerobatic. THe landings are GREAT. I love this plane with all my heart. I havent took it out to it full potential becuase i didnt have time, but im sure im oging to make a low level inverted fly by the field some day, i already did it about 100 feet up in the air. Go for the easy spor,t you wont regret it. THe 4* has a flat bottom wing, and thats no good to go wild.
When i got "sick and bored" of my trainer, this is what i usually did. I took my trainer out and pretended its a flight simulator. MEaning, do anything you want, jsut be good enough not to crash. What that means is go to a high altitude and do anything you like. I tried hovering with my traienr and multiple times, it stalled and i had plenty of altitude to recover from it. When i realized i could do all that, i knew it was time. I chose the Great Planes Easy Sport. IT may look like a high wing, but oh boy are you in for a surprise. This plane is absoultely marvelous. ITs so aerobatic. THe landings are GREAT. I love this plane with all my heart. I havent took it out to it full potential becuase i didnt have time, but im sure im oging to make a low level inverted fly by the field some day, i already did it about 100 feet up in the air. Go for the easy spor,t you wont regret it. THe 4* has a flat bottom wing, and thats no good to go wild.
