How do you guys feel about someone using a great planes cherokee 40 arf as a second plane?

Perfect, if you want to build, get a 4* 40 or 60. But the cherokee is a good flying plane that is not too fast or slow.

It not only makes a good second plane, but overall is a good flying plane for an everyday flyer. One of my students has one and it's a very easy flyer - I was quite impressed by how well it flew. It did loose the canopy while I was flying it, but that was due to him not gluing in the front canopy retaining dowels. Even with the canopy missing I couldn't tell any difference in the flight characteristics. His has functional flaps but I didn't have a chance to fly/land with them.

While the .46 AX is a perfect match for it, the one I flew has a .55 AX. Enough power for some good vertical's but no too much that its overpowering.

Hogflyer

It looks attractive, and the one I saw at a local hobby shop was quite durable. The tail surfaces are solid, and very strong. They bolt on, without having to do alignments or gluing. The only time consuming part of the kit would be the cowl. The strait wing, moderately thick airfoil, and tricycle gear indicates to me that this should be a very easy and stable plane to fly. The price is right for an ARF with optional flaps, especially compared with the CG Tiger 2 or Sig Four-Star, neither of which have that option. Since it's designed as a second plane and an everyday flyer, I'd buy.

NorfolkSouthern

It was designed by Great Planes to be a second plane/first low wing plane. Go for it!

Good choice, go for it.

RCKen just did a review on one and he loved it. I like how good looking it is for a small scale plane. I think you would enjoy it.