Hi,
I've flown the Slow Stick & E-starter and would eventually like to fly a P-51.
Could anyone recommend a good low wing trainer as a next plane to do some basic acrobatics before I move on the P-51?
Thanks.

G'day Mate,
Glow or Electric?
I would recomend the World Models Skyraider Mk2 for glow, I don't fly electric so can't help with that type of aircraft.

PC-9 all the way!

If you are comfortable with GWS electrics, the Formosa is hard to beat. It should fly OK on the stock motor if you keep it light or you can put in a 100 to 150W brushless.

Just make sure you get the fuselage straight, fix the torque rods to the ailerons well and make sure the canopy piece does not fall off during flight.

It is a predictable flyer but definitely not self-correcting like the E-Starter.

world models t-34 mentor- everything comes pre hinged all hardware included,flys well on a 40 to 50 2 stroke. @$129.00 fly slow or open it up.Trike gear lands and take offs are a dream. Just my opinion that and a $1.00 gets you a cup of coffee.........

If you want to move into a P-51 after this low-wing trainer, I would also recommend you also get a plane that is a tail-dragger. The Hangar9 Pulse XT ([link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Search/Default.aspx?SearchTerm=pulse+xt&CatId=]click me[/link]) is a nice plane. I bought the 40-size ARF version for my second plane after my trainer. It can be glow or electric and there's also a mini electric version from E-flight.

Overall, I've found this plane to be a great second plane and low wing trainer. It comes in nice and easy, but is fairly aerobatic. People that have flown my plane say it flies very similar to the highly endorsed 4-star, which is another great low-wing choice.

The H9 P 51 trainer is a remarkably good airplane it is also upgradeable with no cost to the student. It is a tail dragger but the main gear is well forward so it has very good ground manners. It comes in an ARF version or RTF so you can choose your own build parts.

Once you are comfortable with it and put a 2 bladed Prop on it it gets fast enough to wring out once all the training aids are removed. It does not fly like a real P51 but it does not fly like a high wing trainer either. It has very little dehederal and pretty high wing loading so most of the elements of a sport scale plane are present.

One of my favorite low wing trainers is the Goldberg Tiger. Since peacefulflyer didn't mention if he wanted to stay electric or go with glow, I can point out that the Goldberg Tiger is available in a variety of configurations:

Tiger 400 Electric ARF:

http://www.carlgoldbergproducts.com/tiger400.htm

Tiger 2 .40 ARF:

http://www.carlgoldbergproducts.com/tiger2arf.htm

Tiger 2 .40 kit:

http://www.carlgoldbergproducts.com/tiger2.htm

Tiger .60 ARF:

http://www.carlgoldbergproducts.com/tiger60ARF.htm

Tiger .60 Kit:

http://www.carlgoldbergproducts.com/tiger60.htm

Tiger .60 Deluxe kit w/ retracts:

http://www.carlgoldbergproducts.com/tiger60D.htm

Tiger 1.20 ARF:

http://www.carlgoldbergproducts.com/12077.htm

Tail dragger conversion kit for Tiger 1.20 ARF:

http://www.carlgoldbergproducts.com/115.htm

There are a number of wonderful configurations for this sweet-flying classic airplane in a variety of sizes and with your choice of glow or electric power systems. No other low wing sport plane has such a variety of configurations or such an enduring reputation for excellence.

There are a lot of great options for you with regard to low wing trainers on the market, but the Goldberg Tiger is in a league of its own.

Here is a nice article from the AMA's Sport Aviator website detailing the history of the Goldberg Tiger:

http://www.masportaviator.com/ah.asp?CatID=5&ID=110

Sport Aviator also did a review of the Tiger 400 electric ARF:

http://www.masportaviator.com/ah.asp?CatID=1&ID=113

A search of user reviews here at RC Universe for all of the Goldberg Tiger variations should be very illuminating. This is a fantastic plane that is a great low-wing trainer. Electric or glow, ARF or kit, you will love your Goldberg Tiger!

Hi all,
Thank you for replies. Sorry, I forgot to mention I'm looking for an electric plane.

Any thoughts on the GWS Formosa II vs the Formosa?
Does Great Planes/Electrifly make any good low wing electric trainer?

Trundle,
Which make would you recommend for the PC-9?

The Great Planes Super Sportster EP and Mini Super Sportster EP could be good choices. You might also find the Slinger or Mini Slinger flying wing ARFs to be a good second plane.

The Formosa and Formosa II are nice airframes, but they're pretty quick and very aerobatic. They're more of a third plane than a first low-wing.

That Goldber Tiger 400 should still be on your list. You might also take a look at the E-Flight Mini Pulse XT and Mini Ultra Stik models. These are available either as ARFs or as PnP models that are mostly complete, just add receiver and transmitter.

Formosa 2 is bigger than the original Formosa and therefore needs a bigger and more expensive power system. It also has bigger control surfaces, more in line with 3D stuff. The original is more like a miniature pattern plane. Mine ended up much heavier ( --> faster) than my E-Starter so the jump was pretty big. The Formosa goes where you point it and the weight of my big battery made my pointing a bit slow for the speed it flies at... I crashed a couple of times but some patience and glue kept it flying. And it is still flying.

World Models Super Sports 40. Rock solid flyer and great value....

Andy

Great Planes "SLow Poke sport 40" has been a great low wing trainer for me. Mine was a arf, not sure if its true but they may be discontinued. Have seen kits still advertized though for sure.

I know that there are a few electric PC-9s out there but if I were you and I had some cash I would get a Seagull and convert it to electric. There is plenty of space in there to stick lipos or nicads. I would have done so myself but I don't have the cash to do a one off payment on the motor/esc and lipos. After a while though you will save money over buying glow fuel and time over having to clean the damn thing every day you go flying. And if your moving onto a P-51 at least you will have some experience on a bigger than usual electric.

Might be a little more work than you want but my two cents goes to the H9 Pulse. If you've got the money do the .40 size electric, otherwise the Mini Pulse is an excellent choice as well.


A

Oh sorry, I forgot to mention I was looking at RC Boats....ROFL....ROFL