I am bored with my trainer and am looking to move up to an aerobatic airplane. I really do not want to spend the money on a new plane that I may be bored with again. I would like to get a plane that I can do Aerobatics with and progress to 3D if I want. I was trying to decide between the new Great Planes Matt Chapman CAP 580 ARF .46-.61,55.5" and the Hanger 9 Funtana X 100. Are these planes to big a jump from a Trainer 60?

Let's just say it's going to be very exciting to watch, sell tickets. Pretty big step.

I have been flying a Seagull Spacewalker II and although it is actually my 4th plane I think it would make a great 2nd plane for someone that is very confortable with his trainer and it is aerobatic enough that you won't get bored with it anytime soon.
ARF is only $120

I have to ask if you are bored with your trainer what aerobatics have you done with it? Many new pilots give up on their trainer before they try aerobatics on it because they think that a trainer won't do them. This is a huge misconception. Most trainers will do a large amount of aerobatic maneuvers. So before you give up on it I would say to start flying aerobatics on the trainer and get some experience with that before moving up to a larger (and more expensive) plane that you may very well total quickly. Many experience pilots who fly some of the most aerobatic planes out there still go back and fly their trainers. I've been flying for 10 years and I still have my trainer, and take it out quite often and fly it. It's a total blast to go out and fly an entire aerobatic schedule with your trainer.

Remember, there are no boring planes... Only boring pilots.

Ken

Take all that gear from your trainer 60 and put it into a Ultra Stick. It will teach you new things your trainer will not teach you. This new knowledge will allow you to go to a Cap or Funtana.

Just so you know.......You slow down those birds for landing and you try to land it like your trainer by just pulling on the elevator, and those birds will snap into the ground somewhere between 10 and 20 feet high and you will SWEAR! that you got a radio hit.

The Stick is the way to go. And with enough power, its easy to hover a Stick, it's kinda the orignal fun fly plane.

If you have a 91 or 100 stroker motor, a Mojo profile will bring you directions you never thought possible. Anyone can jump from a trainer to a Mojo and look good doing it.

I have flown upside down (Hard to do with the trainer), outside/inside loops, figure 8, rolls and stalls. I flew the plane to the point where the wing actually broke in half. Had a ruff landing without a wing. I have the choice of getting a new trainer or moving up (Don't have the money for both), which I think I am definately ready for. The trainer that I had was not very smooth with rolls and flying upside down. I had to give a lot of down elevator to maintain upside down flight.

A friend of mine let me fly his 1/4" Extra 300. I was amaxed at how much easier it was to do all the amneuvers and others that I couldn't do with the trainer (Flat Spin). However he did not allow me to land the plane.

I was hoping I could get a plane that was great at aerobatics while upgradable to 3D if I want to go that way. The Funtana X 50/100 seems to land slow enough in the videos. I was wondeering if I kept the throws down if I could use a plane such as this. I also really like the looks of the Mat Chapman as well as the Extra 300, Cap 580 etc.. I like the looks of the pattern flyers.

Any planes out there that have the look but may be easier to fly?

Get a stick. If you rush things, plan on wrapping the RX in a folded trash bag to save time.

The stik is a wonderful plane that won't tip stall on you during a too slow landing approach, in fact it's hard to tip stall them on purpose. (snap roll)

If you just have to jump to an Extra, Edge, etc, be sure to start with the plane balanced on the forward edge of the recommended CG range and use low (trainer like) control surface throws at first. The recommended throws in the manual assume you are an experienced aerobatic pilot.

If you decide to step up, don't go for the Cap-580 or Funtana. They're great but still too much for a second plane. I decided I was going to fly a Sukhoi when I wasn't ready for it. I gave it a little too much elevator and it snapped. Unfortunately I was very close to the ground. You can guess what happened. Look at something like the Sig 4-Star, Phoenix Models Dolphin, Great Planes Rapture, etc. These will do more than your trainer but are still very stable, predictable, with good slow speed characteristics. As others have suggested, a stick might not be a bad idea either.

Don't be fooled by the high wing of a stik, it ain't no "boring" trainer. It's way more aerobatic than any trainer. It has a much faster roll rate and has no trouble at all flying inverted. Rolls, slow rolls, 4-point rolls, no problem. Inside loops, outside loops, no problem.
Weaknesses. Not the best knife edge flyer in the world. With that long tail and large verticle stab, it resists spins and flat spins. Great for keeping beginners out of trouble but not so great for people who do these things on purpose.
Ground handling as a taildragger is so friendly that you shouldn't even bother trying to make it into a trike.

I agree with RCKen fly the trainer to its limits of aerobatics ie. outside loops, inverted flight around the field, hammer heads, cuban 8's, etc. Once you can perform these manuvers with your trainer you are ready for somthing like a Sig Fourstar or other comparable aerobatic trainer. I have seen a lot of novice pilots at our field make the move to full aerobatic planes to fast with dissapointing results.

Instant gratification; many young beginner motorcyclist want to go out and get a GSXR-1000 or Hyabusa 1300 and end up killing themselves because they overestimated their own skill level. While you are less likely to kill yourself with an R/C airplane it is still posible. Think of your trainer as a tricycle and the Cap 580 and Funtana as a 550cc street bike. You need to go though at least some of the in between planes mentioned above first.

This is extremely true here. While you said you took the controls of your friend's 1/4 scale plane, there is a huge difference between "flying" the plane and "being in control". It's actually pretty easy get plane like that in the air and fly around a bit, but once you turn them loose and start playing with them they can get away from you in a heartbeat. Instead of just flying a plane like this you need to stay ahead of it. Many new pilots move up to planes like this too quickly and when flying them they are constantly trying to keep up and react to what the plane is doing, instead they should be at least 2 steps ahead of the plane at all times. The only way to get that type of skill is to practice, practice, and practice. Usually when newer pilots are reacting instead of flying the plane gets into a situation that they don't know how to handle and they will crash the plane. Most pilots that do this get frustrated and leave the hobby because they see their beautiful plane destroyed. But if you take the time with some intermediate planes you will gain the skills you need to stay ahead of the the plane avoid these types of situation.

And before anybody asks, this is the voice of experience speaking. My 3rd plane was a Lanier 1/4 scale Extra. I loved that plane because it looked so good in the air. But I never flew in, instead it was flying me. I was terrified of the plane because my skills just weren't up to snuff off keeping up with it. In the end the plane was utterly totalled. So I know what I'm talking about here, been there done that!!

In all honesty though, you will do yourself a huge favor if you get a different plane that is going to let you continue developing your skills before you move up to these more aerobatic planes.

Hope this helps

Ken

RCKen
What would your recommendation be for the next step up plane be. I would like to move up to a 4 stroke .82 or 1.2. Mainly because it is so much easier to see the larger planes. Eyes are not what they used to be.
Looks like the Big Stick .60 might be my best bet. I was wondering if there is anything else out there you might recommend.

Take a look at my list I've put together, there are a few good second planes on there.

[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4537845/tm.htm] Looking for a trainer- what's available. (Updated 1-19-07) [/link]

But recommendations about what you need. Sig 4-Stars are great, Sig Something Extra also make great second planes. Don't overlook the 4-stars, they are often under rated as aerobatic planes. They are forgiving as second planes, but can really perform well. And cutting off one bay off each wing really turns them loose. Ask Bubbagates, he flies IMAAC but he still has a 4-star that goes with him to the field all the time.

A Something Extra would be a great plane too. I've had 3 of them and they are great planes to start learning aerobatics one. They are quite capable of performing most of the more advanced aerobatic maneuvers, but can be tamed down as you learn.

The Sticks that others have mentioned here also make great transition planes for those wanting to move to aerobatics.

Others should be able to add more planes to the list of recommendations too.

Hope this helps

Ken

Thank you very much for your input. I will deffinately go with one of the suggestins I have recieved. maybe I'll be ready for the something more advanced by Christmas.

Thanks again for all your help. Thatincludes all the responders. Not sure how to thank everyone.

Kevin

Like many others have suggested, get a stick. I recommend the H9 Ultra Stick. I have a Ultra Stick 40 with a Saito 80. Put the servos in the tail and it balances nicely and has plenty of power for me to practice all the stunts so I can learn and practice the NSRCA Sportsman routine. Very easy to fly too.

One trick when building/assembling a plane where you plan to later cut off a wing bay is to add extra hinges near the tips of the ailerons so you won't have unsupported areas or a need to add them later. Plan ahead.

There are a number of good choices for larger aerobatic planes that are similar in handling to the Ultra Stik .60:

Sig Four Star .60 ARF/Kit or Four Star 1.20 Kit
Goldberg Tiger .60 ARF/Kit or Tiger 1.20 ARF
Goldberg Decathalon .60 ARF
Ace Cloud Dancer .60 ARF
Great Planes Giant Scale Super Sportster 1.20 ARF
Great Planes Big Stik .60/Giant Big Stik 1.20 ARF
Hangar 9 Ultra Stik 1.20 Lite ARF

These are all terrific flying, larger aerobatic planes that will help you transition from a trainer to a demanding scale aerobatic plane like the CAP 580 or Edge 540.

Good luck, and happy shopping.

For what it is worth to you, I went from a trainer to a Funtana 40. Sticks are great flying planes but they lack ALOT in the looks dept. I had no trouble at all landing the Funtana. I got it very slow too once I was use to it and it stll does not tip stall. Don't get me wrong it will if you go slow enough, but if the landing is the thing that is scaring you, don't let it. The Funtana can land as slow as, if not slower than your trainer.

WHAT???? Christmas??? You can be flying a 40%er by Christmas.

Some of the smaller and cheaper profiles can be fun too. I have a OMP Katana 70 and a TT Fun Tiger and have a BLAST with both of them. My next plane of choice is the Somethin Extra. But if you want to mix a little speed with some aerobatics, try a warbird ... P40, P51, Spitfire .... They won't hover or do harriers, but they're easier to handle at higher speeds.