Hi all
I have been flying nitro helis for a few years now and after many flips and rolls and hard 3d have decided i would like a plane.
Most people say to start with a trainer but i dont want to buy 2 planes. Has anyone started out with a decent plane to begin with?
People say that helis are much harder to fly. After beeing on the sim i can fly all sorts of planes around.

Here is a link of a plane that i have my eyes on.
http://www.chiefaircraft.com/rcmsec/...ndowner50.html

Let me know what u think
Thanks

Is there someone at your field that you can try out a trainer or some electric foamy thing, just to see how your skills are? I'm actually jealous since I'm just starting to go inverted on my trex450, I am finding heli's much more difficult then fixed wings. Before starting with a pattern plane, ie. thin airfoil, why not try with Hanger 9's twist? It's a thicker airfoil which allows slower landing speeds before stalling and isn't all that expensive, not to mention can take some abuse. But first try out a trainer or something that you may be able to buddy box on before, at least with your heli skills you know all about the rudder and throttle management, just remember that planes don't have a negative pitch!! </p>

I will be heading out to the club on the weekend, i will see wat i can sort out. Yeh i started on a 450 size........ never went inverted on it but did loops with it. Once i got a 50 size never went back...... like a ferrari in ther air comapred to a 450 size.
There is so many planes out there compared to helis! so hard to make decisions!</p>

I know what you mean, helis have only scale and sport machines to choose from while planes have all sorts of categories to go: pattern, sport, profile, warbird, scale. But you'll soon find where you like to fly.

Before retiring your 500, you may want to bring it with you when you go flying. I usually will bring a plane or two and my 450 - gives me a chance to even things out a bit. Plus flying my heli really keeps me on my toes!

The Sundowner is a nice looking plane, but it may be a tad bit agressive for a starter.  You may want to get a few flights with someone and a "club trainer" if one exists where you fly (we have one in our club is why I say that) and get the basics down solidly before you move into a more capable aircraft.</p>

That Sundowner is a mid wing aerobat and as such, will have some fairly sensitive properties that may not be suitable for a beginner with fixed wings.  A low wing type, such as the Goldberg Tiger series (Tiger II or Tiger 60) or their Skylark 56 or 70 may be more suitable because they both are more forgiving but are very capable airframes.  I've flown them all and know that they can be setup as sedate, then after some time and familiarization, can be made agressive just by adding throw to the control surfaces.</p>

CGr.</p>

I wouldn't call the sundowner an aerobat at all. It's made for flat out speed, and cutting tight turns. It's a race plane with very small control surfaces.

thanks everyone... this is really helping.

CGRetired- I shall ask about a club trainer on the weekend. So most trainers are High wing? mid wing is less forgiving? (more aggresive) and a low wing would be somewhere in between am i right? I will research some of the planes u suggested.

brett65- Have u flown a sundowner? So a race plane..... wat the? didnt know people race these things. So being a race plane i take it u cannot do slow flying with it aswell?

once again thanks
Keep the replies comming