I havn't even flown my trainer yet, have to wait for the instructors schedule and mine to work out. I have been hitting the sim hard working on flying nice level laps and good landings. I know already I will get tired of the trainer fast. I am interested in 3D flying or just something more exciting.

I have a few questions about 3D in general. Do the planes need to be landed hot? What is a good kit build? Do you need to overpower a plane to get good vertical performance after a hover?

I am interested in a sig something extra but have read that it is not really a 3D plane. Are there others that I should consider? Which model is good for a 2nd plane? I am interested in .40 size planes.

Thanks,

DA

I haven't flow yet either, but I have heard good things about the ucando. I saw 2 of them at a feild in my area a little while ago. The guy flying said could almost be a trainer.
-John

Thats good to hear striderjg/

I have another question. Will a JR 6102 radio have enough mixes and options for 3D flying?

DA

These planes, because of their super light construction, actually land slower than trainers, but because of their low mass, need a fairly steep glide slope to keep that speed up. Also, the large diameter low pitch props used on these planes act like brakes when the engine is idling, you may have to have the throttle open a little to make a nice landing. These light airframes are not designed for high speed flight and putting a normal prop on the engine and flying with the throttle wide open is just asking for wing flutter. Those 12x3 or similar props not only give the thrust need for hovering manuvers but also effectivly limit the top speed of those planes to something that is safe for the airframe.
If you are looking at one of these for your second plane, reduce the elevator and aileron throws to about half for your first few flights and make sure the center of gravity is a little on the nose heavy side of the CG range. As your skills improve, you can increase the control throws and move the CG back.

A transmitter with exponential is a good thing to have if you are using 3-D control throws, rudder to elevator and rudder to aileron mixing is nice but not essential. If you use 3D control throws without exponential, you are going to have a plane that is very touchy in level flight.
Remember, you don't have to set the plane up with 3D control surface throws. In that case, a basic 4-channel Xmitter will work just fine.

DA,

Yes the SIG Something Extra would be a good second plane but no for 3D. As was mentioned the UCANDO series is much better for 3D. Yes the 6102 has enough for what you want to do. That is one of the better 6 channel radios out there. I know, I had one until I went to the 9303 but that's because I moved up to planes where 6 channels were not enough.

I would fly the snot out of the trainer first. At this point you are only flying on the SIM and really have not done the more advanced aerobatics. Yes a trainer will do them, they will not be pretty but that's a good thing because you want to try to make them look good.

I actually had 2 second planes at the same time. The day I went solo I bought a Twist and a Four Star 40. Took me a week to get the nerve to fly either of them. Once I did I still flew the trainer now and then and as an instructor, I like it lots when I get a brand new student that requires me to have to land and takeoff for a few flights.

ble is right about 3d aircraft but when he says about the steep descent for a landing I beleive he is talking about a deadstick landing because these planes are so light and so responsive that they can easily bleed their speed on a deadstick and stop in mid air and drop straight down. most of my landings are made with power on and harrier in to a gentle walking speed landing. Get familiar with the controls first before using one of these firecrackers because they respond very very quickly and can be upset easily by wind. they are good for windy days because you can counter wind effects rapidly with control movements but you have to be confident in your inputs. My choice for 3d aircraft is a profile plane from ohio model products. They have the edge the yak or katana. I own all three powered by a ys 63 running a 13x4w prop. These are tough fun little planes that I would ot hesitate to throw into the air and are easy to build and field repair. just take them out of the truck fuel it and go

http://www.airfoilz.com/index.html

Try something like this first, you're gonna crash learning to fly 3D, that's just a reality! After you've mastered your Trainer with an instructor, and you think you're ready to step up to 3D these are much cheaper to crash than a built-up .40-.46 size airframe. I say 7 or 8 out 10 crashes with a Foamy can be glued back together with foam safe CA & a quick squirt of activator right on the spot & you're back up & flying. I have real 3D planes but I won't fly them till I have the skills. They are a 1 mistake plane & I'm buying a new Airframe! I think these Foamies are the way to go for learning 3D. Not to mention alot of fun! Check out some of the videos around here of these things in action.

Thanks everyone for your posts. I think I am getting too excited about flying the 3D planes. I need to learn to walk before I can run! Anyways with that said I'm leaning towards a tiger 40 or similar plane.

DA