So I am sure this question has been asked, answered and argued hundreds of times but here goes anyway.

What do YOU think is the deciding factor for when to step up to your 2nd plane?

Just wanted to hear your input.

P.S. Just to answer the question right away, Yes; I am a noobie who recently soloed. And I will go longer before moving to my 2nd as my next plane after my trainers is a pattern plane. I understand these fly straight but land hot.

Thanks for your input

Del

I just went to the flying field today and met a guy that has been flying for over a year. He has a nexstar and a super sportster 40. He flew his trainer first and then the sportster. He said, that in 3 months of flying every weekend, he was good to go. If you feel ur good to go, then LEAP!

When you can fly your trainer with confidence, land at-will and no-longer bounce any landings, it's time for a stick.

Bounce landings? Ha.. I still do that on occasion. I just bought a Super Star 40 trainer as a 'club trainer' and the first flight with that ended up with a god-awful bounce on landing. Heck, even the 'club pro' bounces one on occasion.

I also have a Venus II pattern plane that I do not bounce on landing.. sort of goes with the territory, I guess (bouncing trainers on landing). But, you are right. When you can land smoothly on most of your landings (like 9 out of 10) then consider a new plane. My second was a Tiger 60, by the way, and I still have it.

I`ve been ready for a while, and just finishing up the 4 Star. To be honest , I have never liked the way a trainer corrects it,s self , but have made myself stick with the trainer. Setting the rates higher and moving the CG back has made the trainer a little more interesting , but it,s still not that much fun to fly any more. Must be time to move on. I have burned 1 case of fuel thru the trainer. and about a gal. each thru my Cubs.
Each person is different , some newbies take a long time to get the hang of a trainer and then some learn faster . You`ll know when your ready, there is only so much you can do with a trainer and when you get to that point , you`ll want to move on.

When flying your plane is a non event and now the speed of the plane seems slow and boring to you then its time to move up one level!! Btw, a Kaos is considered a good second plane and also a pattern plane and it will land as slow as any trainer!!

I was told that when I could fly the field patern inverted with my trainer I was ready.I also second the sugestion of a Stick as a second plane.The Big Stick in any size is a good choice.

Delbert,
Only YOU can decide when you are ready for a second plane. My second plane was a 60 size Spitfire. My first take off was a bit premature and wobbly, but I knew to get the nose down, build speed and fly the plane. After that I have had no issues. Each aircraft is different and you need to have an idea as to how it will fly. This is where a flight sim is really handy to have and practice on. Good luck and Happy Landings.

Newbees! You just don't understand. The second airplane is not that difficult. It's determining when the wife will let you get the 11th or 12th one that is hard

Seriously though. After your highwing trainer don't just jump into a full competision pattern ship with about $1200 - $4000 in it. Get a Sig 4 Star (Great aerobatic trainer with pattern charactoristics) and go with it. The 4 Star is available in a 40/60/120 size. Get the one that will best suit your 3rd plane. While I typed these as instructions or directives they are meerly a sudjestion

LOL
Once you are that deep into the hobby, wives tend to notice new stuff less and you can more easily act like you owned that new plane for while aready. Just like I don't always notice when there is a new plant or "antique" in the house.

I think people push the second plane off too far from fear. In reality, as long as you stick with a reasonable second plane (4*40 for me) it's not a big leap. I found the 4* to fly and land much easier than the trainer. And once you don't have to fight the self-righting tendancies, you can increase your skill that much faster.

I tell my students when the trainer becomes boring. the 4* is an excellent second plane.

I'm not disagreeing that some people stay on their trainer too long, OTOH, some people want to push the transition to a second plane before they have mastered some important basics. IMO, there's more to be learned on a trainer than being able to consistantly make bounce free landings. A few of these include:
[ul][*] Being able to handle a deadstick without panic. Only practice can overcome the desire to pull back on the elevator in an attempt to keep the plane flying longer. As one moves to more advanced planes, the ability to recover the plane after such mistakes goes down significantly.[*] Similar thoughts for spins, should be able to recover from them without panic.[*] Keeping the plane on the ground during takeoff, resisting the urge to horse it up too early, and then performing a shallow climbout, which may be necessary for planes with higher wing loading, such as warbirds. Might as well start learning these from the beginning.[*] Managing the throttle and using the rudder during landings rather than relying on the elevator to extend the glide and ailerons for course corrections. Learning these early could save a plane in the future.[*] Comfort flying the plane lower than "3 mistakes high".
[/ul]

After two and a half gallons of fuel through my Alpha trainer, I bought a Sky Raider II and transfered the engine and electronics over. Winter was approaching and I didn't want to start the next season on a trainer.

I opened my fourth gallon two days ago. In some ways the Raider is easier to fly. Landings are a little faster but no harder. I like this plane.

My second plane was a Seagull P-51 and the only thing that i noticed different from my arrow trainer was that i landed a little hotter. I had actually changed the control horn on the aileron servo out to the point that i could still have a faster roll rate with my Arrow than the P-51. I think a 4* is a great second plane and a SSE with tamed down throws wouldn't be bad either you would just have to use common sense with it.

Flyboy76

Let me use this analogy... You know how they say use 911 only for emergencies, that if you have to "think" is it a emergency or not a emergency; then it's not a emergency. So if you have to ask if you are ready for, or when a 2nd plane; then you are not ready....

I like this answer the best.

Master Chief,
Are you ever "On Line" on Halo 2? My Son's Screen Name is KILLERNATE1918 he is awesome at this game. If you or anyone else would like to challenge him add him as a friend, but you will be sorry you ever did. He kills everyone he meets.

Hi,

I agree with Piper Chuck ideas. I would add that in this hobby/obsession it always helps to have two or three models ready at the same time to allow for the "Murphs".

With regards to Type of model to choose when progressing from a "Trainer" I would suggest that you start experimenting with the types that will allow you to progress to where you wan't to go in the hobby? If you think pattern may be your choice try nearly any of the ARF sports/pattern types. If you are thinking scale one of the 60 sized ARFs are built so light they are very easy to land. With the ARFs you don't have the investment of time and emotion in something that for most will end up as kindling. Second and third models seem to have shorter life expectancies than Trainers!

I wouldn't suggest spending vast amounts of time in building the definitive scale model of what ever as your second model. Build it by all means if this is what you want but fly it as your third or fourth model when you are relaxed with most aspects of flying and weather such as cross wind landings in gusty winds.

Have Fun,

Colin

my 2nd plane was a 3 channel spad, I nosed it straight into the groung and took about ten miutes at home to fix. depending on the spad you build will make a difference of flight characteristics. I had another club member help me with set up, he maidened it then one day I had a buddy toss it up and trim it with my directions and was awesome, you worry about crashing it at first but after the third fight you start pushing the limits. with out rudder or landig gear you also learn that hey I could make that turn so sharp that I could do a figure 8 with 20 ft. of space. Lastly If its built slightly heavy it becomes a great wind fligher.

P.S. I will post pics tomorrow

Sorry, I don't play my XBox hardly anymore, cept Madden on occasion. I let my live account expire. I'm pretty sure your son would win 9 out of 10 games he played against me now. I do play Halo 2 on XBconnect sometimes because it's free.

When you crash your first !! Then get the Sig Four Star 40.

Every other person on this site must get a kickback from Sig. LOL. I have however seen a new Sig Kadet and it flies like a dream. The only down side I have seen is that it is a bugger in the wind. OK up to 8-10 MPH. At 15 it is reallllyyy tough to bring back against the wind.

Thanks for all the advice.

Del

Shhhhh! You're supposed to be quiet about that, or they'll stop doing it!