Hey guys! How's it going?

I had a few questions regarding me getting into flying. I currently fly e-helis ([>:]), and I'm loving it.
I'd like some variety though. I have flown a foamy once, and it was so easy. I flew a trainer and it was a joke. So my question is, can I jump to a 3D/aerobatic plane and skip the trainer?? I'm very very familiar with all orientations except inverted....Can do it all day long on the sim, but real life isn't the same. I have plenty of flying buddies who fly both helis and planes, so tuning the engine and set-up aren't problems. (how are the O.S. engines? )
Happy holidays.

Tommy

Before anyone jumps down your throat, let me be the first to say no.

There should be a logical progression in your flying, starting with a high wing trainer, to a low wing trainer, and then aerobatic planes when your skills permit.

Then the usual yadda yadda about finding a club and an instructor, etc.

Hmm, I can't even get away with skipping the 'high-wing' trainer?
I think it would be a waste of money because I will out grow it too fast. My friend (flies helis) bought a trainer and he has already grown out of it. Within like 2 weeks he had already done everything it was capable of. I don't mind taking those 3 steps, but why? Can I not tame down an aerobatic plane?

Tommy

Tommy I can sympathize, I bought a high wing and soloed now I am flying a low wing trainer a few weeks later, I think the high wing was a great investment , I am going to definitely keep it around as you never know when you will get the urge to fly it. I took the engine out for my low wing now I want to put it back in so I can fly them both.

How about the tower trainer arf, less than $70, you can load it with the electronics you want and a good .46 then you can just swap it all out into your next plane and you will have the trainer as a backup.

You could always buy a high wing trainer kit, flatten out the dihedral and add ailerons. You would still get some of the stability of the high wing, while at the same time getting a limited aerobatic capability. I'm doing just that with a Sig Kadet Jr I'm building from the plans

Thanks for the advice guys...
I think I will go with Chris's idea. Never would have thought of that.

Thanks.

Tommy

There are several members that have made posts her in the forum stating that 3d planes make wonderful trainers because of thier stable flight characteritics and slow flight capabilities. Try doing a search or speak to someone at your hobby store for more information..

Why not just get your buddy to loan you his trainer for enough flights to convince your instructor that you're ready to fly?

When you say you flew the trainer, and it was a joke, what did you do? Did you execute the complete takeoff and landing maneuver? Did you grease your landing? Can you do it without someone reminding you how to set it up? Did you execute any stalls? Spins? Rolls? Did you fly it inverted? Can you do an inverted figure 8?

These are all maneuvers you should try to learn. The trainer will give you a much larger margin of error than an aerobatic or 3D plane will.

The true test of your flying ability is not whether you trust yourself to fly your plane, but whether your friends trust you to fly theirs.

Brad

Ok, I'll be the one to disagree.

Tommy, if you're a good heli pilot, and you have stick time on a foamy and found it easy, then I would say that you could safely skip the high-wing trainer and go right to an intermediate trainer.

HOWEVER

No matter which way you go, it is VERY important to buddy box for a few flights just to be sure that you won't get disoriented and crash.

Take a look at the Goldberg Tiger II or the Sig 4* 40

Excellent advice by both Chris and Minn. My second plane was the Tiger 60 (I still have it), but buddy box'ed the thing for the first two or three flights until I was familiar with the differences between the high-wing and low wing type flying, and there ARE differences.

I helped Chris solo, he was a natural. He does well with what he flys because he heeds to his training to fly gently until accustomed to what he flys. Does a great job, by the way, and pays attention to detail.

DS.

Brad, I flew some figure 8's...I did the take-off and landing, but I'll admit the landing could have been better.
I'm about to be late to work...I'll come back when I get home and reread everything.
Thanks for all the help guys.

Tommy

I agree with Minn, you can probably skip a basic trainer if you want to. I wouldn't go straight to one of the 3D planes like the Funtana or U-Can-do. They are actually easy to fly on low rates, so I don't think you'd have problems there. But they can surprise you, espeically on landing, and they are built light, even a slightly fast or hard landing will tear them up pretty badly. The planes Minn mentioned are great flyers but with out the surprises and they will take a hard landing with out damage.

Keep in mind you'll also be learning how to run the engines (assuming your going glow), and that's it's own art form. Most of the 3D planes don't glide well.

One final note. Trainers are their own kind of fun. Guys who think they can't have fun with a trainer even after years of flying really don't know what they are missing. I keep one around because it's just too much fun. Like flying in a high wind and racing backwards down the field (keeping the nose level, no prop hanging, that's cheating). Or slipping down the runway and doing 1 wheel touch and goes. Bonus points for touching one main then popping up, reversing the slip and touching the other one in the same pass. . Move the CG back and increase the control throws and trainers can do some cool looking flat spins and a bunch of other things.

Cool, where can I find the Goldberg Tiger II or the Sig 4* 40?
And can I get a kit form and equip it with what I want? (servos/receiver, etc.)

I already have a 9CHP super, so I'm good there.
Thanks again everyone.

Tommy

Kits
[link=http://www.btemodels.com/venture.html]Bruce Thorpe EngineeringVenture 60 [/link]
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFG06&P=0]Sig Four-Star 40 Kit .30-.40,59.75"[/link]
[link=http://sigmfg.com/cgi-bin/dpsmart.exe/ProductsV5.html?L+Sig+ljsg7633+_Ddp_5fSearch1_02A_ 2dPlaneRCFStar60_01Search_02Index_01SubMenu_02None _01]Sig Four-Star 60 Kit 60-.75 in, 71"[/link]
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFG07&P=7]Sig Mid Star 40 Kit .30-.40,64.5" [/link]
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXDJC9&P=0]Goldberg Tiger 2 Kit .40-.46,61"][/link]
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXDJD4&P=0]Goldberg Tiger 60 Kit .45-.65,70"][/link]

ARF's
[link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=HAN2845]Hanger 9 P-51 Mustang PTS ARF[/link]
[link=http://sigmfg.com/cgi-bin/dpsmart.exe/ProductsV5.html?L+Sig+ljsg7633+_Ddp_5fSearch1_02B_ 2dPlaneRC_264Star40_01Search_02Index_01SubMenu_02N one_01] Sig Four-Star 40 ARF 40-.53 in. 59.75"[/link]
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCHY3&P=0]Sig Four-Star 60 ARF Red .60-.75,71"[/link]
[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXH755&P=0]Goldberg Tiger 2 ARF .40-.46,61"[/link]
[link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=HAN4100]Hanger 9 Pulse XT[/link]
[link=http://www.kyoshoamerica.com/airplanes/gp/11215BL.asp]Kyosho Calmato 40 Sports ARF, Blue[/link] , Also available in [link=http://www.kyoshoamerica.com/airplanes/gp/11215R.asp]Red[/link] and [link=http://www.kyoshoamerica.com/airplanes/gp/11215YB.asp]Yellow[/link]
[link=http://www.airborne-models.com/html/productdetails.asp?ProductID=16]World Models Sky Raider Mach II S[/link]

RTF
[link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=HAN2825]Hanger 9 P-51 Mustang PTS[/link]

Btw, I'd like to single out the H9 P-51 PTS. It's billed as usable as a basic trainer, but it really isn't very good in that role.

However, it's perfect for guys in your situation, where you might want a few flights on an easy handling plane, but it is quickly and easily configured to a sporty handling, sport-scale P-51. Not a 3D machine if that's where your interest lies, but it's a rather flexible package over all.

Wow, thanks

Tommy

The hanger 9 pule XT seems kinda good. My other flying buddy has a slightly smaller e-version. Very smooth.
Thanks again.

Tommy

Tommy landings are the most fun part of the learning curve, They will get easier with time. A good thing about the tiger 2 is it is equipped with a trike style gear from the factory and is more forgiving on hard landings, my tiger unfortunately tiger has been converted to a tail dragger. I haven't seen the pulse fly but I flew the tiger 2 very easy flight characteristic and cable of some fun
aerobatics, and I am sure the 4* is very similar.

I have a guy in my club that can land a brick with wings and make it look good, every landing is spot on and smooth. And he flys pretty good too but you should see him land