I am currently considering making the move from trainer to a low wing plane. I've always been interested in warbirds especially the Kyosho ones but wondering whether I should go for another low wing aircraft and become proficient at flying one of these first before attempting to fly a warbird.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
Mick

Absolutely. Get a Sig 4-star or a Goldberg Tiger II and fly them until you are completely comfortable with them. This will be excellent at getting you ready for a warbird.

Ken

I started with a Goldberg Eagle and then a SIG LT40 before moving to a low wing plane. I then flew both the Sig Four Star 40 and the Goldberg Tiger 2. I like the Tiger much better than I did the Sig. After three years I still fly the Tiger regularly and continue to enjoy it. It is my "go to" plane to "get back in the groove" if I haven't flown for awhile or am a little spooked by wind conditions at the field. It absolutely sticks to the runway on landing-no bounce at all. It has a precision and crispness that I did not sense in the Sig. From the comments of others in my club the general opinion is that the 60 size Four Star flies better than the 40, while the Goldberg flies equally well in either the 40 or 60 version. Just one opinion, I know, but I thought you might appreciate input from another novice.

I flew a $99 Phoenix Dolphin from Tower Hobbies for my first low wing plane. At first it felt pretty fast and nimble, but soon became to feel like the trainer that it really was. Point is that I needed that stepping stone in my progression. Warbirds have natural bad tendencies (of course some are better than others) so it is best to be proficient with a low wing sport plane first.

I went from a NexStar to a PZ Trojan T-28 foamie as my first low wing. It was and is a great, inexpensive way to get used to low wing characteristic differences IMO.

If you are totally proficient with a trainer, it wont matter to you whether the wing is mounted high or low. The progression has nothing to do with wing placement. It has everything to do with moving on to planes with higher wing loadings and less drag.

You might even find some planes out there considered aerobatic that are just as easy to fly as your typical trainer.

Tessmar,

Just curious, did you fly the Tiger 2 with trike gear or did you convert it to a tail-dragger? I'm looking at both the Four Star 60 and Goldberg 60 for a second plane but I'm leaning toward a tail-dragger. I'm going to build this from a kit and I know there is a td conversion kit for the Goldberg. All things considered, they are about the same but I noticed that you liked the Tiger better.

Thanks,
Bob

I'm at that point where im trying to move into a tail dragger. I started with a alpha 40 trainer then got a world model sky raider mach 2. I flew the sky raider low wing tail dragger about 6 times , once in the air i was fine but i just couldn't controll it after landing, so i wrecked it. I then got the phoenix sonic 25 low wing which has the tricyle gear. I have been flying the heck out of it and its easy to control when touch down after landing. baby steps for me i guess.

I suppose it woudn't be the worst thing in the world to start on the GB Tiger 60 with trikes and then migrate it to a tail dragger later on. However, I've also heard that in some cases ground-handling is easier on a tail-dragger. I guess I won't know until I try it!

I went from a high wing trainer to a Tiger 60 kit which I built this past winter as a trike. its an easy conversion to make it a tail dragger which I will probably do this winter. I went through the same decision making process and was told to buy the plane I thought looked better and that was the Tiger.
I like the sheeted wing on the tiger ( minor point, I know ) and dont really like the look of the 4* canopy.
Plus no one at the club has a tiger so I though something different was in order.

I' not disappointed with the Tiger60

Pop

Just build it with both. Put the front gear on as well as the tail wheel. Also include mounting locations for the mains and you have a fully convertible model from trike to tail dragger. Might add a little weight, but not too much.

Does that mean that if I build it I can't fly at your club as your guest!

Funny you should mention that though, a guy at my club was flying a Tiger 2 which was what temporarily pushed me in the direction of the Four Star, just to bring something different to the club. It's not his main though, he just brought it as a warmup.

What type of problems did you have with a Sky Riader Mach 2 on the ground? I've flow probalby around 10 if not more differnt SR Mk2's, and have tried to intentionally ground loop mine on many occasions just to see if it could be done and failed every time. They are so stable it's like flying a plane with a nose gear. I just hammer the throttle on take-off and it tracks straight, and on landing I 3-point it so slowly it rolls maybe 30'. Even on a high-speed landing they track straight with very little divergence.

For a secondary trainer (first low wing plane) I highly recommend the Sky Raider Mach 2. It's easy to fly and even easier to land. They track great on the ground and really slow down for landing. It'll handle an OS .46 AX (we race them with that engine), yet will fly great with a Super Tiger GS 40 and OS .46 LA.

Hogflyer

Bring it on down to Medfield!

I've got my Tiger in the truck and I'm heading to the field after work...

Pop

I still have to spend the winter building it, but maybe I'll take you up on that! Does your club have a website?

http://www.millismodelaircraftclub.com/

Its the Millis Model Aircraft club. I joined last summer mainly because they have instructors.
I see your just south of my work, in Brockton
Where do you fly out of?

Steve

My second plane was a Tiger 60. I opted for the 60 version because it was larger than the II version, thus more visible.

As far as warbirds are concerned, well, if you wish, you could move up to some of them. The PTS P51, for instance, is a "trainer" and many here have claimed that it is an excellent one. I have not flown one personally, but it is a "warbird" so this could be a logical second step after your trainer.

Warbirds are capable, and somewhat more difficult to fly because of their nature. They do not have 'irregular natural tendencies', they are, by nature, more nimble and thus require more focus and attention while flying.

As one poster said, if you feel you are ready, and can handle the wing loading and less drag, then by all means, knock yourself out. Just don't be afraid to ask for help on the first flight or two, which goes without saying for just about any second plane. I was on the buddy box with my instructor for the first two flights of my Tiger 60 and it was a great move. I learned the differences with some help. Heck, that plane sitll survives to this day!!!!

CGr,

I belong to 2 clubs actually, Wingbusters MAC in Halifax and Borden Colony RC club in Raynham. I mostly fly in Raynham though.

Ya I am in the same boat as you buddy!!!

I just graduated from my nexstar to a super sportster 40 MKII, you have to fly the plane a little more as it is not as forgivable as a trainer (low wing dehidral) and freakin fast!! (cannot figure out why so much difference in torque between an OS 46 FXi to a OS 46 MX)

the only difference is a little rudder and elevator control on take off , if you use rudder during flying then you should have no problem. Also let the plane land itself with a little speed control and you will land on the mains like a duck on a pond!!

Wish ya the best!!

I started with the Sky raider 2 and flew it around for a couple of months, a that point a club member sold me a Goldberg Tiger 2 with an Os 61, this plane flew great. But this was about 4 years ago and a lot of things have changed in the ARF world.

If I where going to make a suggestion for your second plane, I would suggest the Hanger 9 Pulse 60 with an Os 75Ax. This plane is extremely stable at slow and high speeds, it can handle anything you can throw at it. I have this plane with an Os 91 fx and I almost never leave it at home.

Check out the Sig Somethin' Extra. It has a "low" wing and makes a great second plane. Get as a kit and build it. That's half the fun right there to me and it will save you about half off the price.

"This is a Sport Aerobatic model and as such, it performs the entire standard stuff just fine( I am sure in it ) . Blenders, Climbing Flat Spins and other true 3D moves might be accomplished with it. this model was perfect for starting to learn aerobatics and for experienced pilots also. This model was able to do every figure with ease, and in the same time, a beginner to aerobatics could study flight of an Aerobatic plane. Also, Sig in USA and KAVAN in EUROPE provide a very good quality kit. I got great pleasure from building this model, it was great."

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=544821

Enjoy

Hey Mick,

You are going to love moving to a low wing configuration.

The Tiger 2 and Four Star are excellent airplanes for transition from high wing to low wing. Go with the .60 size when you make the move.

There is a "cheepie" low wing trainer at http://www.nitroplanes.com/nilosuaetr60.html, but they are often sold out.

If you are interested in Warbirds, you might check out the Top Flite AT-6 Texan 60 ARF. I haven't seen it fly before, but I think it would work well for a low wing "trainer".

Anyway that's my two cents worth. Best of luck!

Ben

Hey guys.  Just wanted you all to know that I plan on building the Tiger 60 with a Magnum 91 4 stroke.  I emailed Tower because I I had heard here in RCU that it has a retract option, but I could not find it in Tower's catalog.  They emailed me back that that option was not in production anymore....but they would send me the instructions if I wanted them.  Of course I said yes. I recieved the instructions today along with the parts list in snail mail.  Tower is a great buncha people.  I will buy the plane and start building in late August.  I also just got a digital camera today so I will post pics as I build it.  So.....if you wanna retract the Tiger, just email Tower for the instructions.

hey hampden tech i fly at wingbuster as well. You buy what ever plane that is considered a lowing trainer that you feel you would like to fly do not worry about having to many of the same kind of planes flying . The most important thing is that you like the plane because after all you will be flying the plane not the other guy! I started with a lt40 trike gear then went to another lt 40 i cut 6 in out of the center of the wing and took out all the (dihiedrile) not spelled right but you get the pic made it a tail dragger put a 55 ax on it it was my second plane. 3d was piper j3,4th mack the knife profile,5th will be my h9 p40 warhawk with 100 saito can not wait

Bill (bigaco)

Great looking airplane! I do like those colors in the air they are for me easy to see! My first low wing airplane was the Escapade it looks and flys very well! Bob





Remember it is easier to ask for forgiveness then for permission!