A few months ago I destroyed my flat bottomed trainer due to an rx failure. My beautiful new domino lost all control and nose dived at speed into the runway, the result was spectacular and catastrophic.
I then asked this rc community if I should move on to flying my Stik, a Great Planes Big Stik 40, or stay with a trainer. Some said go for the Stik others suggested I stay with the trainer until I felt more confident.
I took the more cowardly (sensible) route and bought myself an avistar (great airplane!) and have been training on it ever since.
But that stik has been nagging me and today I decided to maiden her. WOW! What a difference. The Stik is much more responsive, goes exactly where I tell her to and floats in to land just like my trainer. I love this airplane and cant imagine going back. Wonder if my wife will allow me to store her in the bedroom?
That said I am glad I waited. My stik needs much more concentration from this newbie and I have to consciously fly her every second she is up there.
Thank you all for your input when I needed it and Jester, you were right, the Stik is a fantastic airframe and flies great with my OS .46 fx engine.

Good flying all,

Ray

Good to hear that.

Did someone say STIK 40!

Stick 40

Metallica and a Stik? Sure you are a teen? Thought that was for us 30+ old guys

Thinking about going out and buying another one to build as a tail dragger.

Thats too funnt,lol..........

I've been so busy lately I almost missed this post. I told ya you'd love that stick! It hurts to hear about your bad experiences,but it sure feels good to hear about your good ones. Especially if they involved Big Stiks! Good job TZ. Its also good to know you didnt get too discuraged over you bad luck and have pulled through that to have some fun. I havent TOTALLY destroyed any planes yet,and dont know how I will feel about it when it happens (and it will).

But,yeah.....I dont know what exactly it is about my Big Stik,but its still my favorite plane.......guess its kinda like a good dog if your into dogs. Its loyal as heck and is always good to you no matter how much you abuse it and expect from it,lol.

Hope you are too busy flying Jester
Crashing does tend to discourage a new pilot and I paid my dues last year with a few big smashes even though I had a good instructor and a well set up airplane. Its getting better though, haven't come close to bending anything this year (touch wood) and I hope my Stik and I are going to have a long relationship.
I have a friend who started flying a few weeks ago and he seemed bullet proof, just wouldn't believe that anything could go wrong with his flight. Yesterday he attempted to fly his trainer inverted and when it started to dive he pulled back on the stick - ouch! He wanted to give up until I assured him we would fix his plane and get him up again by the weekend. This hobby can bring you back to earth in a hurry.
I am finding I am trying a lot harder with my Stik, maybe because I am a little afraid of it still, and flying more conservatively.
Good flying.

Ray