If the striker and typhoon are no problem for you then I think you are going to be quickly bored with a typical 40-size trainer.

I will suggest something in my hanger a Phoneix Strega 40. it is considerably more capable than high-wing trainers but not something as challenging as a Sundowner. I think this might be something that you could have more fun with while not being overwhelmed. For about $50 more you could get an H9 Pulse which is just as capable and even easier to fly than the Strega.

http://www.towerhobbies.com/products/pmm/pmma0340.html

excellent advise here. the sd50 is a easy plane to fly for most folks, but not beginers. real easy to get into trouble. mine is plenty fast w/ a jett 90lx. wants to tip in on high speed sharp turns. very easy build.

ok ill look t doing something like that i am also trying to get one of the IMAC guys to instruct me at the field everyone who he has instructed is a gret pilot and thaught he ws a realy good techer

simmo

That is not the "Sundowner 50"
It is the "Sundowner Formula 1"

The Sundowner 50 http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=HAN4725 is a 63 inch model designed for a .46 to .52 cubic inch glow engine.

The Sundowner Formula 1 http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=HAN4500 is a 80.5 inch model that recommends a 35cc gasoline engine. I can see aa 50cc engine on this plane because here are some that are not a lot bigger or heavier than a 35cc.

I reviewed the Sundowner Formula 1 for RCU. I flew the plane with a Saito 180 4-stroke. After the review was published I got into several arguments from other owners of this plane because they said that what I reported as the flight characteristics was not what the plane really flew like. This discussion went back and forth until I figured out that reason. They were putting huge engines on this plane (i.e. 45cc, 50cc, and larger). This caused the overall weight of the plane to be higher causing higher wing loading. This is what resulted in the differences in handling between my plane and theirs. This extra wing loaded turned a plane that was very easy for an experienced pilot to fly into a monster that would reach up and bite it's owner with very little or no warning. IMHO this is one plane that does not benefit from putting a huge engine in it. If you look at my review you can watch the video of me flying it. You can easily see that this plane flies extremely fast with the stock engine (Saito 180). I sold this plane to a buddy that has the Evolution 35 gas engine on it and he has very similar performance as to what I did. There is no need to stuff a huge power plant in this plane, IMHO. You'll enjoy it more with the recommended power plants.

Ken

As per RCKen's post, that's probably what happened to the jet pilot at my field. He had a big 50cc gasser. And yes, it was a monster that reached down and bit him. Without provocation, of course. Thanks, Ken.

NorfolkSouthern

Norfolk,
Let me guess. He slowed it down and it snapped on him at low altitude??

Ken

I didn't actually see it happen, Ken. But someobody who was there told me that his engine died and he was about 100' or so up. When he tried to bring it around, the wing dropped and it augered its way in. I'm sure that had the ground been any softer, we would have a new fence post [:@] . He said it just dropped like a rock.

NorfolkSouthern

From what you said it sounds like it snapped. When the wing loading on a Sundowner is high it has very ugly stall characteristics. Instead of a gentle stall (like I got on my review plane) with light wing loading, the stall for a high wing load is a pretty severe snap into a death spiral like you described. These usually happen on approaches because the pilot tries to slow the plane down too much and "float" it in, instead of landing with a bit of power to avoid the snap/stall. In your case, he slowed on a dead stick and snapped/stalled at altitude.

Ken

That's exactly what happened, Ken. I'm assuming he was on his final leg and setting up to land, so he was going pretty slow to bleed off altitude. The dead engine just kicked the thing over the abyss. He offered me the carcass, but the damage was such that it would have costed me more to fix than to just buy another airframe anyway.

NorfolkSouthern

LOL i realy do feel stupid now carrellh LOL i was looking at the sundowner Formula 1 in the first place and then i seen the sundowner 50 and got confused sorry. they would both handle about the same they are both fast planes that will not fly very well with no power am i right ? will one handle beter than the other or is one better than the other ?
thanks

simmo

I have not flown either but I have flown some Pylon planes. I would say the big one would be a little bit easer, but any plane like these will not tolerate any mistakes. The older Q500 plane designs can be cheap and will give you the stick time you need to handle a more expensive plane with confidence.

ok that seems a good idea but where can i grab a Q500 airframe from
would i be able to go straight to one or still use the tainers to step up to the Q500 then a sundowner ?
thanks mate

This is one example:
Great Planes Viper 500
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXEUN4&P=0

I would still get a trainer, but you can transfer the engine and radio over to lower cost. It will save you money in the long run going through the steps. There is a local guy who only wanted to have a P-51 so he got the Hanger 9 .60 one. Crashed it, got another, crashed it; he did it 9 times; 9 hanger 9 planes; dont know how many radio parts or engines. Ego got him( and unlimited wallet); his occupation Big jet pilot. Thats $1800 dollars in recked planes.

Hey, save the next 9 he crashes for me, I'm sure I could build one or two out of the pieces!

yeah save me some crashes aswell LOL
i might be goin for a good look around at our field this sunday to see if anyone wants to sell me a plane and to just have a look round to see in real life what im getting myself into LOL
thanks everyone for your help it is much apreciated
happy flying

simmo

Sorry I get the trash first

LOL ok you can have the trash i will have the crashed airplanes