OK, I'm being stubborn here. We're still mastering our trainer and have no intention of a 2nd plane til we're landing w/o the instructor. But, when the time does come, I like the way these look! rcmodels rates the Thunder Tiger Giles G202 & Staudacher 60 "FOR EVERYONE". Also, Great Planes Cessna 182 Skylane is rated for NOVICE flyers. Curious about H9 Aresti and the Graupner Extra 300s too. Any chance of these when I get past my Alpha trainer?

I've always liked the looks of cessna's so I wouldn't fault you for wanting one also. I don't know if I would go the giles/staudacher route just yet. I think a plane like that will be a hanful for a novice pilot. I'm partial to my super sportster 40 (I didn't like the way it looked in the book but it looks much better sitting on the runway) and would recommend it to anyone. I also thing one of the "sticks" would be a good idea. Just my $.02

You might want to check out the Sig Mid Star 40 for a second plane,easy to build,great flyer and a confidense builder.And that would be my 2 cents worth.

Bill

The Mid Star 40 is nice, so is Great Planes Easy Sport 40 which is similar. Also there's Goldbergs Tiger II.

The planes you mention are really best left for a 3rd, if not 4th or 5th plane. Regardless of what the MFG says, While these planes may be successfully flown by an intermediate pilot, they are still very unforgiving in the event of a mishap. Plus, when you add in the fact that they are built light, and not "designed" for the intermediate pilot, when they do crash, they tend to sustain MUCH more damage than a plane that WAS designed for this purpose.

Even the planes I mentioned are not designed to handle abuse (i.e., bolt-on wings), but they are a bit more forgiving in the air then more advanced planes.

I like the Easy Sport 40 as a second plane but if your pocket book can afford it try a Tiger 60 with a Saito 91 four stroke. That will fly as easy and last you for a long time as well as aerobatics. Dickj

Is that the Tiger Trainer 60 or some other plane? Thanks all for the input. Enjoy the advice, even though I'm still feeling a little stubborn!

No it is not the Tiget Trainer. The Tiger 60 is the big brother to the Tiger II, both made by Carl Goldberg Models (http://www.carlgoldbergproducts.com/int_trainer.htm)
I learned on the originall Tiger (skytiger). And I had a blast flying my Tiger 60. She would slow down to a crawl, stalls were just a SLIGHT nose drop. But the real fun came when you opened up the throttle. It is not an unlimited aerobatic plane, but for a second plane it is quite fun.

The C182 Skylane is a HUGE project and is in no way a 2nd plane. Scale projects are waaaayyyy more involved than average. Make it your 5th or 6th plane.

You can always cover a sport plane in a scale manner. To the purists, this looks dorky, but I've seen lots of cool finishing jobs on sport planes.

I've been researching the same question and really like the looks of the GP Super Sportster 60 and the Sig 4* 60. Both are pretty sleek low wings and are supposed to be relatively gentle. I've been told that the 4* is much easier to handle of the two, and can have the wing cut down after you become used to it, which makes it even more aerobatic.

Good luck in your quest. Part of the fun for me is planning the next project. And the next.........

Heath

I've heard the Sig 4* series make great 2nd planes. I've seen a few at the field and they are great flyers. They look good, too.

No one has commented on your Aresti proposition. I might be biased since that is the only plane in my hangar. As far as flight characteristics go if you are completely mastered in a trainer, the Aresti could be for you. I has a minimally tapered wing with a light wing loading and is forgiving on landing. I picked the hobby back up after a 5 year absence with this plane and had no problem. And I think it looks better than your above mentioned choices (disregarding the scale staudacher look)

OK, I Could Live With the Goldberg Tiger 60. Also re-examined the SIG 4*, but prefer the looks of the SIG Senior 40. Is that ok for a second plane? And if so, what size engine is good in it? sdt22, that Aresti is beautiful, may just have to take the risk.

Actually, the Senior 40 may be too much that same as your trainer. The Aresti falls into the catagory I described earlier (a little too advanced).

Look at these, they are all outstanding intermediate planes:

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXDJB5&P=0

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXDJC9&P=0

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXJ564&P=0

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXFG06&P=0

Thanks MinnFlyer, the Goldberg Tiger sounds like the best choice for a second plane. Also noticed the Tiger Sport 60. I like the larger size, but noticed it has symmetrical wings compared to semi in the Tiger 2. Does that make a big difference or is it still manageable. For transportation issues, are the wings in 2 pieces or is that one long piece?