Been learning off of a SupetStar 40 basic trainer. I want to go ahead and purchase another ARF to start flying a more advance plane than my trainer but don't know what the next best step is. Do I go with a high wing just like the trainer but semi-symetrical airfoil, low wing semi-semtrical airfoil, or what? Any suggestions would be great..

A Sig 4star would be an excellent choice for a second plane. Good Luck, Dave

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 12-20-07) [/link]

Hope this helps

Ken

If you want to move on to a low wing tail dragger, and you no doubt will at some point, you can`t do any better than a 4* IMHO. You might also look at the Hanger9 Pulse XT as well. I`ve flown both and they are similar. Both excellent airplanes. With either you`d probably want to start on low rates and/or minimal control throw settings. If you want a low wing but would like to stay with a trike gear, a Golderg Tiger or a World Model T-34 would be excellent choices. If you want to stay with a high wing for a second plane, the Avistar is great and the Goldberg Protege has received good reviews as well. Whatever you choose, suggest you seriously consider keeping your Superstar and keep it ready to fly. Everybody needs a backup and I dare say there'll be times when you`ll want to relax and " just fly ". I still have the Avistar I soloed on four years ago and have always been glad I kept it.

If you want a very nice low winger that's easy to fly, flys like its on rails, cuts nicely through the wind and lands like a baby try a goldberg tiger 60. The pictures below inspired me to get one and i'll never regret it! I converted mine to a tail dragger. Once you catch on to flying a high winger the low wing trainers are no harder to fly. Photos from MrMeticulous dossier.

An Ugly Stik derivative like the Great Planes Big Stik 40 or 60 ARF, the Great Planes Easy Sport 40 ARF/kit, or the Hangar 9 Super Stick or Ultra Stik ARF families are all good choices. The planes can be slowed down to land as gently as any trainer, but are far more aerobatic and quite fun to fly.

The low wing planes mentioned so far (Sig Four Star, Goldberg Tiger, Hangar 9 Pulse XT) are all good choices. You might also pop over to www.airborne-models.com and check out the World Models Sky Raider Mach II, the LA Racer 40, and the Super Sports 40/40S ARFs. Tower Hobbies sells the Phoenix Models Dolphin .46 ARF that is copy of the Sig Four Star for only $99.99.

There are plenty of other choices out there, and don't worry about picking out "the best" from this group. I'd happily fly any of these fine airframes and buying two or three of them isn't a bad idea if you can afford the cost and storage space.

I love my super sportster

Note: i dont suggest putting a .55 in is flying at full power 90% of the time (yes i can amange throtal but when your racing..) and umm ya doing snaps at the speed you will eventulyl suffer from a wing "problem"

Steven (a wonderful plane to fly mines is now flying onca again )

The Sig Four Star 60 is a sweet, sweet flying plane. I have one matched up with a TT91RFS swinging an APC 14x6 prop and it's perfect. Aerobatics are easy and it'll do just about any manuever you ask it to. It goes where you point it, floats in nice and slow for landings and from what I can tell, doesn't have any bad tendencies. I'd recommend it in a heartbeat.

I haven't flown the Goldberg Tiger 60 but from what I understand, it's a nice flying plane as well. In fact, I think they were designed by the same designer, may be wrong though.

You would probably be fine with either one. The Tiger 60 has tricycle gear and the four star is a tail dragger.

Best of luck.

The 4 star and the tiger 2 are great flying second planes very well behaved at slow speeds but able to perform fairly decent aerobatics. If you were real good with a trainer though maybe a sig something extra would be more your style.

ALL good advice so far. Many clubs generally recomend the 4*s but I am partial to ugly sticks. It is a classic for a reason!
An ugly stick is perhaps the simplest to build, fix, fly and repair GREAT FLYING plane out there...STILL.
I recomend it above all others for a first kit or scratch build. Although the SIG 4* line are really nice building kits.

I say 4 star or a supersportster (its what I had but make sure you can really fly your trainer). Your second plane will be so much more fun than your trainer. It opens a whole new world in aerobatics. By the way, Ken your list is huge. When you post your list I think it would be more helpful if you could also include which are some of your personal favorites. If one were to thoroughly research all the planes on the list it would take forever.
Good Luck
Dan

Also take a look at the pulse xt the plug and play option might be something you'd like...(the pulse xt is basically the same as the super sportster)

The World Models Super Stunts 40 is a great Stik-type model, and will fly well with any 40-46 engine. It's relatively inexpensive, too.

Would an ultra stik be good? When I see them fly there pretty amazing but are they alittle to much for a second plane?

If you equip the Ultra Stik with the recommended engine size (not 3 sizes larger, which is much more common) then the Ultra Stik is a terrific second plane. Put a .46 ball-bearing 2-stroke engine on your Ultra Stik .40 ARF, and it will be a terrific second plane.

when you say 4-star, do you recommend the 40 size or the 60 size