Here's a question,

I'm just getting back into r/c aircrafts after a very short stint about 6 or 7 years ago. Crash ended my career for a while LOL...

Anyways, I'm getting back into it and ordering an Arrow ARF sometime this week from H9.

I know I'm a little ways before I get to my second plane but I'm looking to get something that I can build. I have no experience building and because I didn't build my first aircraft I'm a little worried about getting something that will be simple enough but something also progressive from the Arrow which should take me into basic aerobatics. I had considered maybe a Stick or something along that line, or maybe something like a Sig Something Extra but I'm really not sure at all. I just want to kind of plan ahead and have something in mind. My fiance talked about maybe getting me something for my birthday in July so I can build it this winter.

To be quite honest, I'm just a little intimidated by the idea of building and then not succeeding and having nothing to show for it at the end of the winter so I do want something easy enough. I had thoughts of all kinds of aircraft but I want something as I mentioned that will be a little more progressive in my flying since an Arrow is already semi-symmetrical and barring a crash, I should be able to advance pretty good with that single aircraft.

I perfer the Sig kits when it come to ease of building,the manuals are well written and the kits seem to be more complete than others. You might consider a Sig 4 Star. GreatPlanes kits are good to.

A Sig 4* fourty is an easy build and results in a plane that is easy to fly and has a wide speed range. [8D]

I've put together a list of planes that make good trainers and second planes. All of them on the list are proven planes that are well suited for successfully letting students learn to fly, or advance to a second plane. Check out the list here
[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4537845/tm.htm] Looking for a trainer- what's available. (Updated 1-19-07) [/link]

Hope this helps

Ken

Hi Ken...

Yeah I've seen the list. The reason I asked my question was to find out not only what would be a good second plane but a good second plane that also is an easy build. Thanks for the info though.

The SSE is easy to build and easy to fly on low rates. You can increase the rates as you wish. The SSE would make a good trainer with the right instructor.

Hi Drew - Well first, welcome back to the hobby I 2nd what some of the guys above said, go with something like a Sig 4-Star. My first kit build after learning to fly on the LT-40 was the 4-Star 60. I like the size of this plane (71'WS), is a tail dragger, the parts are all lazer cut and fit and lock together really nice. It also lends it self to some easy kit bashing if you want. I put a Saito 91 on mine and it flew great!!

Well anyway, welcome back and feel free to keep asking those questions [8D]

If your interested, I even think I still have a set of build pictures on my little MSN RC website at - [link=http://groups.msn.com/PuttsRCHomePage/]Putt's RC Home Page[/link]

Thx all for your replies. I will keep looking into it all. One question, these planes that have been recommended. Are they a good step up from a semi-symmetrical wing aircraft like the arrow? Or more like equals?

Do you mean the Sig Something Extra? I had looked at that as well.

Give some thought to the Goldberg Tiger II. It's a pretty straightforward build and flies very much like a trainer on low rates. Increase the throw and it becomes a VERY capable aerobat. There are no bad flight habits. I flew mine with a TT.46 for almost 2 seasons before its demise.
I also have a SSE, and even on low rates, I would hesitate to recommend it as a second plane - more like a third...

Would you say this even if my first aircraft is in some people's opinions, a second aircraft because of the semi symmetrical wing? I do respect everyone's opinion and I'm sure it comes from experience, I'm just worried I'm going to spend time with a second aircraft that won't be that much different then my first.

I do have a computer radio which will help with the throws, that's for sure.

one thing I should mention, I won't actually be buying the kit for a while... Probably not until I even have 3 months flying with my first aircraft. In fact, if that's the case and I don't buy it earlier, I won't even fly the aircraft until next summer(2008) which means I'll have a whole summer with my H9 Arrow(if it doesn't crash)... Of course if my plane goes down in flames, this whole post is probably for nothing because I'll end up getting a second trainer anyways until I feel ready to move up.

Drew:

I built a Bruce Tharp Venture 60 for my second plane after my Arrow (which now flies better after multiple encounters with dirt!) than it did out of the H9 box. Must be the solid epoxy front end...

The V60 is sort of a second generation Sig 4*60, and it's very easy to fly. Bruce designed it to do low speed aerobatics, but it will float around the sky if that's all you want to do. Very stable, but still has decent roll rates. It's a tail dragger, but hasn't presented any bad characteristics in takeoff or landing. It's bigger than the Arrow, but it'll do just about anything short of all-out 3D manouvers that you can dream up.

As for building the kit, it's very straight forward, and Bruce's instructions are clear. Very high quality plywood and balsa are included, and I don't remember having to buy anything extra for the kit other than the fuel tank and wheels. I did go with the dual aileron set up just in case I wanted to play with flaperons, but it's not necessary. The kit's more expensive than a Sig 4*, but Bruce's operation is a small one-man shop, so he doesn't have the economies of scale that Sig or H9 do.

Fred

Thanks again to all who replied, one last thing... is a biplane that is an easy flier out of the question for a first time builder because of the extra build time or are there even bipes that fly easy for a second aircraft after a summer of flying?

There really isn't any bipe that I would recommend as either a first build, or a second plane. For the first build you don't want something that you're going to have to build two sets of wings on, not to mention setting the incidence between the wings. Also, most bipes aren't all that forgiving for a second plane. There are some bipes out there that are indeed tame for a bipe, but not for a second plane. One of the biggest things you are going to find is that most bipes have to be flown all the way to the ground for a landing. As you are learning to fly on a trainer landings are normally a matter of cutting the throttle and holding the plane steady until it glides back to the ground. If you try that with most bipes you're going to find that you have a plane that is stalled at ~10' or so above the ground, which means lots of trouble. For a second plane you're going to want a plane that's going to let you advance your flying skills along. Go with a Tiger II or a 4-Star and maybe you could go for the bipe as a third plane.

Hope this helps

Ken

I started a GreatPlane Ultimate 40 last week. The build is very straight forward,but you have to build 2 wings, and wings take time. Also setting up a Bipe is harder than a single wing, because of setting up the incadence on both wings.
I would recommend going with the 4 Star. Great kit and easy to build. Then if your not burned out with building ,tackle the Bipe.
When you do start building ,make sure you have a good flat building board. I use a 2ft by4ft 3/4in. piece of particale board shelving, then screw a 1/2 piece of sheetrock to it, then check the surface with a 4 ft straight edge to make sure it is truly flat. Some guys use acoustic ceiling tiles. but they don`t hold the T pins as well. I have used both, and if you make sure your surface is flat, both well work fine.

LOL What RCKen said.

ok, I'll definitely take that into consideration when I go to purchase the next aircraft down the road.