Hey everyone, beginner here wondering where to start. I bought a Supercub and I am getting the hang of flying it and next I want to upgrade to something bigger and more official. First, I will be purchasing a G4 flight sim to practice on for a few months. My question is, would it be advised against to buy a P51 Mustang airplane with a 4-stroke motor fresh out of using the flight simulator with lots of practice? What I'm trying to say is I really don't want a cheesy trainer airplane- if I'm going to spend the money I want something nice. I know alot about the hobby as I've been in r/c for quite a while, except for flying airplanes.

There is nothing cheesy about trainers, some with symetrical airfoil wings are quite capable aerobatic planes.
I would certainly recommend against a warbird no matter how much sim time you have.
Hangar 9 has a P-51 PTS which is touted as a trainer (I don't agree) but is ok IF you have an instructor to help.
No instructor? Get a trainer or carry a large garbage bag with you.

I've never flown the P-51, but from all accounts they tend to be a handful for beginners. Most people get a warbird as a 3rd or 4th model. Simulator time is great for providing practice but there is no substitute for actual stick time. Believe me, it's a lot different when you risk crashing a model in which you have invested numerous hours and several hundred dollars than when you crash a simulator model. At the top of this forum is a sticky about getting started in RC. You might want to look through the list of first and second airplane recommendations and see if there is something that appeals to you. If you don't already have an instructor, I recommend that you get one. He can help you avoid a lot of the first timer mistakes that result in frustration and crashed models.
Good luck

My advice for the first Glow Trainer is go cheap, it may or may not take a beating. Mine did, my buddys (who started flying with me) did not.

I dont know your skill level. I am assuming the cub has ailerons. If so you may be ready to move up to a low wing like the Sig 4 Star, or Pheonix Dolphin. They have a good list on the top of the thread list here on this forum.

If you have been flying a park flyer with rudder/elevator, you would be better served to get a 'cheesy trainer' and get a good motor and radio and move it over to a nicer plane (like the Sig 4 Star, or Pheonix Dolphin). Even if you get a used 'cheesy trainer' airframe. Learn how to fly with that first you will be better off in the long run.

Texas RC has a cheap low wing trainer. Check it out. I would not hurt your feeling so bad if you wreck it. $69

http://www.texasrcplanes.com/arfsptr.html

Can you spot land the first plane with power on and dead stick, do axail rolls, fly inverted with reasonable directional control? FEW people ever really master the trianer. Try some one wheel touch and goes!

The only problem with a sim is the engine are perfectly tune.
You might run into all kinds of problems with an engine. Screws coming loose...etc.
On a scale model you're not going to have easy access to the engine.
If you have experince. You might take extra measures to insure the engine will remain firmly mounted.
even so..you'll still have to take it apart. But having experince..you 'll do it faster and correctly.
An in cowl engine will also run hotter even if it's properly evented. Another issue to contend with..that a noobie might not be familar with.

The sweet silver looking on the ground mustange is pain in the butt to keep track of in the sky.
Your eyes adjusting focus to a flat PC monitor a foot away from you is quit dfferent than in real life.
I had headaches when I first started flying becuase my eyes were being strain from having to focus on a small flying object.
The more my eyes get tire , the more mistakes I'll make. I could only fly for 5 mins than hand the TX to my instructor, at first.

I suggest getting a duraplane...maybe even the aerobat. it's going to be a BRICK at the very least.
Just slap a flame job on it so it don't look too cheesy. I actaully like cheesy ugly beat up models.
They have those war scars look to them becuase I fly the hell of off them and crash the hell out of them too
They get more flight time and toss around more than my hanger queen mustange. I'm too afraid to fly my mustange...she's too purdy.

Anyway, if you ever had a cheesy trainer at wot making a straight path over the run way 20" off the deck for the first time in real life ...it's pretty damn scary.lol

I just started flying my nexstar and I had the G4 to learn on before heading out. It is still a handfull for a new flyer. I'm self taught about 2 months ago and I'm now looking at a second plane (sig 4 star 40) , my opinion would be too learn on a trainer first, if money is an issue then try to find a used trainer or plan on selling your trainer when your done with it. I'm very glad I started with something like a nexstar and didn't go for something like the P 51. I've never crashed or really come close but if you did crash your P 51 that you put lots of time and money into it could effect how long you stay in the hobby. Also something to think about is learning to trim and go over a plane to make sure it is ready for flight. More to flying then just the two sticks on the TX. I bought the ARF with the 2.4 7C and still have fun with the trainer. I'm keeping mine to train the kids and friends and to have something to fly should something happen to my second plane. Good luck.

PS The nexstar trainer has speed brakes and air foil extensions and after 10 flights I took them off because I was good enough to fly with out them. Well my trainer was so much faster it scared me enough to put the training aids back on for another 10 flights. Now with about 4 gallons thru the nexstar I feel I'm ready for a bigger challenge. I had no problem teaching myself to fly and the sim helped for sure but there is no practice for your first flight with your heart in your throat. LOL

A cheap "real" trainer will teach you 5X more about r/c flying than a simulator can. With a good instructor more like 50X.

I've been flying for a while now... and still fly a cheesy trainer every once in a while.... good touch and go practice...Ozmo is correct when he says few master a trainer...In WWII they didn't take pilots and throw them into Mustangs from the link trainers....they did the Stearmans or Texans first..
Good Luck and take the time to be a really good RC pilot

My first plane was a Hangar9 p-51 pts ( I did have a instructor) I soloed in two weekends. I would fly the p-51 on the G3 flight sim and the fly my PTS on the weekend. On the second weekend I soloed. Get what you want and if you are scared get with a instructor, but do not buy something totally crazy like a Geebee