Well, my SSE is pretty much done, and i desided that i might not want to crash it on its madien. So heres the question, about 5 years ago i was flying low wing fully symetrical aircraft fairly good. No crashes, we had to move on the drop of a dime for work, now that im settled back in im ready to fly again. So what planes should i be starting with/? Do i need another trainer, or would a scale cub, or stitson, or something with high flat bottom wing be ok for re learning. I wasnt an expert when i was flying but i knew what i was doing. I did total a p51d 40 size, but it was some idiot at the field turning on his radio on the same ch. as mine. It was on a really really low inverted pass, and i only took about 1/4 of a second to turn into tooth picks at full throtle at like maybe 4 foot off the ground. But thats the only time i crashed a plane. Including trainers, i did the RC car thing for years and everyone told me flying was hard, and you needed an instructor, i did have one. But i never needed him, i didnt really think it was too hard, use common sence.. But anyhow, im gonna be ordering another plane from tower today, help me deside on witch one, trainer, or high flat bottom scale bird. thanks again

Perhaps what you could do is go to a field with a qualified instructor, see if there is a club plane, trainer, around with a buddy box and then let the instructor tell you where you should proceed from there. If after only a few refresher flights, you are ready, then no need to waste your money on a trainer, unless you want one for those lazy day flying sessions. Then, after you are ready, maybe the buddy box on the SSE for a flight or two to get you accustomed to flying that vs. the trainer.

DS.

id suggest bringing someone who is an Ace with you just to keep an eye on you, a scale cub should be ok, a mid-wing could be good if you think your up to it

Thanks for the replys, i think ill get a trainer just in case my son or wife ever wants to learn to fly... Plus its a good refresher anyways.

Actually, most Cubs do not make good planes for beginners to fly. And especially scale Cubs. A lot of people will look at a Cub and assume that because it's a high wing plane it will fly like a trainer, but this is completely wrong. Cubs have a few bad habits that make them a "handful" to fly for even experienced pilots, and for beginner's it can frustrate them to point of getting out of the hobby. A couple of the worse habits associated with Cubs is squirrely handling on the ground and adverse yaw in the air when making aileron turns. When making turns in a Cub the pilot really needs to make coordinated turns using the ailerons and rudder to make for a smooth turn. Coordinating the two control surfaces is something that comes with experience and is usually a bit much for the beginning pilot. For these reasons I always recommend that Cubs be avoided by beginning pilots.

Ken

You could look at the Hobbico Avistar. It makes a decent trainer and an aerobatic type second plane all in one. Its a sturdy design advanced high wing trainer wih a semi-sym. type wing. I have watched lots at our field. As far as I could tell they would land about the same speed as a flat bottom trainer but could fly faster and be more aerobatic if you throttle up, and handle the wind much better than flat bottom trainers. I thought the plane would be too frisky for complete newbies but the ones that brought this plane out to our field for their first plane proved me wrong and learned to fly just fine. The plane is also a reasonable price. [8D]

Since you're ordering from Tower anyway, it's tough to beat the Tower Trainer 40 MKII RTF package. Good luck and have fun!

Given your past experience, you will most likely pick it back up again VERY quickly. I was out of the hobby for 17 years. When I started flying again I got out one of my old planes which was a semi-symetrical shoulder wing plane. On the first trip to the field I had the instructor take off and land, but I was ok flying it around. We ended the day early because the engine kept cutting out. I took it home and went through the fuel system, again. On the second trip to the field, I was doing takeoffs and landings, but there were again engine problems, so I didn't get in enough flights to "solo". After another session in the shop trying to figure out what was wrong, I took it back to the field. On this third trip to the field, the instructor (3rd one to help me) told me that given the potential issues with the engine that I should not play around in the air, just do what I needed to do to meet the requirements, which I did with no problems.

So, unless you really want a trainer, and there's nothing wrong with that, I would suggest looking at the intermediate planes on [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4537845/tm.htm]Ken's list[/link]. Once you choose one, use a buddy box with an instructor to get flying again.

The Mustang PTS from Horizon might be a good choice. After the training aids are taken off, I hear its a pretty good flying spot plane. I've never seen one fly though.

something to think about is getting a simulator they are very helpful and you can try various planes to see how much skill you have lost, or still have, and your wife can try it also with out fear of crashing that 300.$$ trainer you just got her the reset button is your friend.

my progression from trainer to warbirds was fast and efficient, I also took a extended break like 20 years but was surprised how fast things come back with a little practice I got the G-3 sim but there are several out there.

have a instructor go over your SSE and take it up for you and trim it for level flight, and buddy box it for you, if you flew before you can do it again.
I was bored silly with my trainer after just a little while, and had to have something more, so I built a little kit,tail dragger, symmetrical wing sport plane called a GIZMO , had a club member check it and trim it for flight for me, and the trainer sits in my garage getting dusty going to pull the parts soon from it and put it in something else.

the GIZMO is allot like a SSE in its flight performance mine is powered by a OS 46AX and its a rocket here is a pic. I also have a SSE in a box waiting to be built but I have a Top Flight P-47 on the table now already, so it waits.

Don't buy a trainer!

That's what I did when I got back after a long break once. I got bored with it after the first day.

Actually, your SSE will be a good plane for you, just have someone else maiden it for you, and bring it up to a safe altitude before handing you the Tx.

If you're still uncomfortable with that, get an intermediate trainer. Something like the Goldberg Tiger or Sig 4*

I don't often dissagree with Minnflyer but I will this one time.
You can never go wrong with a good trainer.
1.Like you said, you can teach your wife and son with it.
2.nothing better for some lazy, kicked back, flying.
3.they can make exellent float planes.
4.larger trainers, like Kadet Senior or Senior Telemaster, work well as work horses (tow plane, candy drop, aerial photography ect...)
There are a whole bunch of good reasons to have a good trainer laying around for even the most experienced flyer.

Good point Missleman

Will absolutely double the vote on the Kadet Sr. It is one of the most pleasurable planes to fly, period! Easy to fly, incredible to do touch and gos with, you can teach almost anyone to fly it, and it makes a kick-***** float plane as well. You can power it with a Saito 56 or 72 or whatever small engine you like.

I'm with Ken. I flew a 1948 J-3 Cub, and I own a H9 Cub. You better know how to use that rudder on your turns. Coordination with the rudder, ailerons and elevator is a must for a smooth turn.


Peter Dowling aka Luftwaffe Oberst
AMA District II # 865404
Aero Modelers Club
Pulaski, NY