All

At what point should someone move on from a trainer to their next plane, in my case probably a war bird like the P51 Mustang, Hellcat, Corsair or a Spitfire.

Is it a case of being able to proficiently control the trainer, and what about using the Flaps on the next plane when previously on the trainer, there weren't any?

Do I need to have a buddy system setup similar to the trainer for the new plane?


Cheers

Smo0

My second plane, after the high wing trainer, was the World Models Skyraider Mach 2. A rather inexpensive low wing 40, tail dragger. I put a 46LA on it instead of the reccomended 40 and have flown the mess out of it. A 46FX would be even better. The basic ARF was $69 at LHS, but has since gone up to $79. IMHO, I would learn to fly something along this lines before moving into something with flaps. This has been the best money I have spent on something in along time.....this plane flys great...had to add a little nose weight to get it to balalnce.....but for learning basic aerobatics, I couldn't ask for a better plane. Good luck with your next one.

A warbird would be a pretty big jump from a trainer. You need to consider an intermediate aircraft with greater aerobatics capability than a high wing trainer. There is a sticky at the top of this forum which recommends basic and intermediate aircraft.

A warbird will have a much higher wing loading than a trainer. It will fly faster and land hotter than a trainer. Give your reflexes a chance to "catch up" to high performance models.

Not saying that it "can't" be done but believe you'll have much greater success doing this in stages.

Before going to Warbirds right after your trainer, go with a good low wing second plane. If you have your heart set on a warbird, go with the Hanger 9 PTS ARF. It`s cheap and not a bad plane. Leave the Gizmos off of it and you`ll find yourself with a handful.. But it won`t be the plane a 4* or Tiger II or several other, of the great second plane made.
Have you set your throws up and set your CG back on your trainer ? If not, give it a go, you may find there is plenty of life in the ole trainer, you`ve missed.
Her`s a pic of my 4* , I would never have been able to fly the one hanging on the wall with the bent wing , without it

Hi all

I mistook the sticky “Looking for a trainer, what's available. (Updated5-6-07)“ as being for trainers only and not the next step from trainers as well.

This has given some ideas on which aircraft to proceed to next.

Smo0

Not sure if you're flying electric or other and is your trainer rudder or ailerons, whichever though do think it's a huge step up. I've 3 times destroyed a Mustang and am now flying a 3D plane on reasoanbly highish rates but it's probably more forgiving and predictable than the warbird. The time to move up a plane is when the one you're flying you've upped the throws quite a bit, played around with and moved the C of G back to make it more responsive and having made the changes you're "throwing it around" in the sky, ie pushing the plane to the limit but also not thinking but knowing if you've got it wrong you can correct it easily.
Are you rolling the plane / able to fly and hold it inverted with confidence and other aerobatics, if not you've probably got a lot of mileage / stick time to go and even then the warbird will be a big jump. I was at that stage with a Multiplex Minimag, decided it was time to try the Mustang again, 1st flight absolutely beautiful had me grinning from ear to ear, second flight don't know what caused the wing to drop, think as it was all happening so quickly I corrected the wrong way which made it worse and the panic was there, too many bits to pick them all up so just grabbed bits with motor, servo's and battery attached !!!!!!!!
Hope that's of help !!!!!!!

you basically want to stay with a straight cord wing type, not tapper
4*, contender, or even a sum'in extra.
i got my contender and ace4-40 both for under $100, built.
You might condiser building a kit becuase, eventaully you gonna have to
learn how to make repairs, if you build one you're have a better understanding.

A mustange is nice looking on the ground, but once to gets it up in the air, it's
a different ball game..you're going to have to really, really stay focus
becuase it's a lot harder to see.

They're also a little bit harder to take off, if your flying site is not totally perfect
or pave. Yes, retractes are nice to have, but you gotta makesure when it extends,
it extends forward enough of the wing so it won't easily nose tip during landing
or take off. Then you'll just spend time replacing props instead of flying.

You can go with a dura stick and learn how to land a brick.lol
Convert it to a tail dragger if you want.
I crashed one of mine many of times and just brush of the dirt and fly it again
and again. Good for doing touch and go, proceedure turns. The way i have set up
or extended cntrol surfaces, it get toss around enough.

I'm still in the training stages, but I'm already asking my instructor about a 2nd plane. He agrees with InsaneMoondoggie. He recommends the 4*. He said it can fly as easy as you need it to or you can cut up with it as much as you want.

UGLY STICK or any of the variants of it such as the ultra stick line. there is a reason its a clasic! they are simple and fly great.