Got a guy who wants to trade me a GeeBee profile .40 kit for a 5 ch. radio that I have. Are these good planes, it would be my first kit. I know its an advanced plane, so it would be atleast my second plane. I didn't really consider any profile planes for 2nd or even 3rd planes.

Is it the Great Planes profile Gee-Bee? That kit is out of production and gets some good prices on eBay. I definitely would not use it as a second plane. Profile/fun-fly planes are generally VERY responsive and aerobatic. Depending on how your flying ability develops, you'll likely be able to use it for #3 though. Just keep the throws low at first and remember that the throttle doesn't have to be shoved forward all the time. As you get comfortable, crank it up and watch what it can do.

I have to admit that I kind of like profiles. They remind me of some planes I had as a kid in the 70's. I had a Cox .049 powered Goldberg control line plane that my Dad put together for me. I think it was a Little Toot or Little Jumpin Bean. A little later, the very first airplane I ever built was a Sterling Ringmaster control line profile. The modern RC profiles have achieved a whole new level of performance compared to those old things of course.

Profile/Fun-fly planes do have a down side too in my opinion. They don't have nearly the same flight characteristics as most sport planes and scale planes. They have extremely light wing loading and lighting fast response. They don't land anything like most sport planes either. Not that there is anything wrong with this; it can be fun in fact. They can just teach you habits that don't work well on other types of aircraft in my opinion.

I'd look at eBay and here on RCU to make sure your radio and the plane are comparable in value before making any decision.

How much is the finished plane supposed to weigh? If it comes in weighing no more than 4.5 pounds and at least 600 sq inches, a standard .40-.46 will fly it with some gusto but it wont be a show stopper. Even with a strong .45-.50 like a Rossi or Webra, 4.5 pounds is the upper limit for anything ressembling 3D. A well set up profile with low wing loading and ample power is difficult to stall, making it a good choice for a 2nd plane. I wish they had come out sooner instead of wasting much of my learning years flying mediocre, run of the mill kind of stuff.

Man Led Zepplin is way hip to the younger gen. Good music and artists stay good. Drove 2500mi. to Vegas to see Jimmy Page. But he had hurt his back and did not perform. He was with the Black Crows. Don't mean the guys are not old though lol.

I live in a pretty hip town (Burlington VT), and there was a Lez Zeppelin (and AC/DC) cover band playing in the street the other night. No one has rocked this town for years the way they did. EVERYONE loved it, kids included.

Thanks for the Zeppelin history lesson, but it has nothing to do with a Gee Bee profile.[&o]

What if I told you I traded a GB profile to Robert Plant for his guitar? [8D]
I can't speak from direct experience with this plane, but if you build it and set it up conservatively, I'll bet you end up with a fun plane.
If you make the deal and never build it [like so many in this hobby do], then the deal will have [of course] zero value.

do the deal and stash the plane or sell it and do something appropriate for your level. I agree though, don't get it and do nothing with it!
Don't mention the plane kits I have in the shop ceiling waiting to be built!

You never mentioned what 5ch radio you are putting on the trading table... If it's an old 72 MGhz model then do it... If it's the new one from Horizon that is 2.4 GHz then I probably would not. Oh, and does your 5ch radio have computerized mixxing or is it just a standard radio... Is it an "extra" radio or are you going to have to replace it after the deal (were you planning on replacing it anyway?) Odds are good this guy wants to trade because he decided he would never build the kit himself. Will you? There are a lot of factors that we do not know.

I decided not to get the kit, its more than I want for a second plane, and I'm not a big fan of the profile. Thanks guys!

Hope you weren't scared away with any wild claims that 3D profile planes are touchy or hard to fly. It's all in the set up, they can be very easy and forgiving. If you have TRULY mastered the basic trainer before moving on, then get your hands on a GOOD 3D profile...you will be amazed at how much more difficult it is to stall and how much easier it is to land.

No, its just I want a more realistic looking plane as my next one and I would rather have the money from the radio.

My thoughts aren't worth a penny



Oldernut