I ahve been flying my alpha 60 trainer for about a month on my own. I am looking at getting anouther plane. I am considering the Phoenix Models Giles 202 46 ARF from tower hobby with a .46 O.S. AX engine. I was wondering if this would be a good second plane any info would help
here is a link to the plane[link]http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXEDN9&P=ML[/link]


Thanks
Keith

Check this thread: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4825115/tm.htm

That might be a bit much for a second plane. The biggest problem you might have with a plane like that is that it's a "point and go" plane. Meaning that wherever you point it it's going to go until you change directions. Your trainer is designed to have some self-correcting features built in that will help you out. This plane doesn't have those. That coupled with it being a quick handling plane could cause problems. Maybe as a 3rd plane.

Hope this helps

Ken

I would agree. It also won't float much on landing. OK, it won't float at all. You have to fly it the entire time. I would suggest a Tiger, 4*, Pulse, or something similar. Maybe even an Arrow 40 high wing. Keep that Alpha though! IT's a great plane! I still fy mine fairly regularly. I just flew it yesterday in 35mph winds! What a blast!

K1,
That 202 is doable but she's gonna be a handful for quite a while. The biggest thing I can tell you about that 202 is when you go to bank it you will have to stop the roll to establish your bank. Your trainer does that pretty much for you. In a turn you may even have to hold a little opposite aileron to maintain that bank angle.
My recomendation would be go with a low flat bottom wing for your second bird. One of my favorites is the FOUR STAR. 60 or 40 dosen't matter they are great planes. They will do just about anything!

A VERY experienced flyer at one of my fields has that model. It's a real squirrel. Even he has some trouble with it on occasion.

On the other hand, you will never improve if you don't push past your comfort zone. (This would be a big jump. Try a slower transition).

AND ALWAYS seek the advice of SUPERIOR flyers. You can gab with the guys and hang-out as much as you like, but fly with people who are better than you are at this...as much as possible.

try the hanger 9 ultra stick w/ a os 46ax. talk to people at your field.i have been flying for less than a year and wish this would have been my first plane. let us know. russ

opps....... meant second plane............ russ

The Ultra-Stick .40 is an EXCELLENT second plane. I had one for a while till the wing came off in flight, (This was my error. I failed to insect the plane after a dust-devil banged it into a table just before I flew it).

The OS .46 AX would hover the ultra-stick. It's PLENTY of power for that plane. Just hover high since there is no pull-out unless you drop the nose.

Im not at the point were i want a second plane (well i do but dont have the $$) they are suggesting an extra 300. Would that maybe be sutable.

ps i dont know if this makes of difference but i come in hot with the trainer on my landing approach (which is short compar to other ppl aproches) i loose about 300 feet of altitude and keep a good 1/3 trottol till im over the runway(i hade a bad experence were i came in too slow and the plan hit a litte turbulance and there wasnt enough moovment around he rudder i almost hit my instructor[>:][:@] so yea that wont happen again

your insructor will prob. agree, you don"t need another plane at this point. what you need is a lot more stick time. the hanger9 ultrastick comes in very slow if you want it to. practice, practice, practice, with your instructor. russ