Hey I have a Hangar 9 Alpha 40 that I have been working on for some time( i'm young so I have to spend and earn for parts). I was just wondering if the U-Can-Do 3D is a good second plane? I am also getting a free 1/3 scale Space Walker I. I think it's the first so I lol. Anyways back to the U-Can-Do 3D, is it a good second plane such as lowering the rates so that it flies more like a "trainer" but then tone them up so it flies like a 3D as it is supposed to be. I really hope that it will be good for a second plane because I LOVE 3D maneuvers such as knife edges and harriering etc... Thank you!!!

I don't think it would be a good second plane, but as I said in another post, I'm more the slow learning kind of pilot 

Haha yeah most new pilots are. Or so I've been told!!! hah. Maybe i'll just fly the Space Walker when I step up to that level of the second plane.

My second plane was a great planes escapde. Its great, can fly real slow and precise on low rates or practically 3d on high rates. super fast with a os .46 ax great plane. Im in your same situation im senior in college. But you can get that arf for 100 i think the ucando is a bit more than that. and you can get easy pay on the os 46 ax engine i think. ITs a great combo.

Haha I have that engine. I really can't wait to fly something big like a 47% mx2

Do you fly now?

Just finishing my first trainer now. I bought the engine so that I would have it for when I start but I need a bigger engine mount.

Sig Somethin Extra

Have you flown the trainer yet?

Depends on your skills. My second plane was a full fuse 3D plane. I still have it and it has over 200 flights on it! But I know most new pilots might have a handfull with a 3d plane as a second...

If you're a good pilot and can fly it with your eyes closed I'd suggest a Pulse XT 40 as a second plane. I absolutely LOVED mine. Just a suggestion.

Ok thanks i've seen those in flight looks pretty solid.

No still finishing. I've got a supercub (haha I know what youre thinking) and i've had plenty of simulator time but it's on FMS which is pretty bad compared to say RealFlight but I have flown realflight and am a very solid pilot not to brag but I did very well on it. Landed every time no crashes.

Ground effects on the sims are far from real life in my opinion. I can grease my landings on my escapade, but bounce everything landing on the sims. In the air the physics are quite good, ground still needs work. The super cub is good but id still recommend having an instructor buddy box you. I thought i could teach myself and im sure i could have ( i soloed after 3 buddy box flights). But nothing beats not having to really worry bout crashing that first flight or two and you can concentrate on the mechanics of flying itself. Like my instructor would take control less and less, till he wasnt doing anything my last buddy box flight, but if something did happen he could grab it. I dont care who you are or how long youve been on the buddy box, or like in my case where i did everything in the flight, but the cord was still attached. Once he disconnected it on my first solo, it felt completly different. Having your first few flights buddy boxed is just pure peace of mind to say the least.

hate to butt in on the thread... but had a same question about a second plane....
Was thinking about going with a GP 60 cub, maybe a kit so i have more time with my alpha 40, Ive been off and on with it for almost 2 years....

Just wondered if the cub would be a good choice or i was eyeballing the GP Cherokee....

Thanks

Igot a cherokee as my second plane and it is very easy to fly and the most important in my opinion, it lands pretty much like a trainer, it floats forever!

The U-Can-Do is among the least likely planes to stall, due to the light weight, big wing, long cord, and thick airfoil. Plus the huge control surfaces. One of our club members allowed me to test his, and I found it to be one of the easiest planes I have ever flown. I was also privileged to try out a Seagull Harrier, which has very similar flight dynamics. Again, it's an extremely easy plane to fly. I also flew a Hangar-9 Twist, and there's nothing to it.

All this has convinced me that transitioning from a trainer to a tuned-down 3D plane is indeed feasible. The U-Can-Do will fly very much like the Alpha 40, and it will even take off and land slower. However, it will NOT level its self in flight. It will also fly just as well inverted and sideways as it does right-side up. And those are honestly the only differences I can see. You will have to get to where you can correct manually, without the "help" of your Alpha's self-righting traits. And when you think you're ready to go a huckin', you can move your CG back a little and bump the rates. One other thing before I finish: The U-Can-Do is designed for slower speeds. So racing it will very likely result in flutter, and another airframe if you're not a builder. Have fun!

NorfolkSouthern

I've had one buddy box flight before that was how I got into the hobby my sister's boyfriend has been flying for 16 years and is very good at it. He is really pushing me to get it done so that I can put it up there in the sky but money is till an issue with me seeing as I only have $22 at the moment. Flying in a simulator, though feels like a chore, is fun but nohting beats the rush of getting your plane in the air and flying of pulling your first loop (not an easy maneuver with a super cub I must say lol) Electrics are not really my favorite after seeing what they do on windy days and having my super cubs engine cutting out every time I climb. I will most likely just fly the Space Walker as a second or maybe have it as the third because as i've heard the larger the easier not only in sight but flight.

Sorry for the dumb question i'm a newb also. Electrics cut out when climbing? I didn't think electrics would cut out at all.

Thanks

Bad motor connector

Hi!
After having been in this hobby since 1975 I would not recommend a "You can do" for a second plane. A much better plane would be a more aerobatic plane in the . 40 size range , not a slow flying 3D plane like the "You can do" series (.40 and .60).

Look for a sleek low winged plane made for a .40-.46 two stroke engine. There are several in ARF to choose from but a old favorite of mine, as being a pylon flier at heart, is the old, original "Q-500" made by Glenn Spickler in in 1972. This plane has just a simple box fuselage and straight constant cord wing and doesn't look that good...but it flies real good ,is tough and can do any maneuver you want.
Top speed with a Webra .40 GT or ASP .40 using ordinary 80/20 fuel and 10x6 RAM prop is 180km/h.

A 3D model wth the rates dialed down is easy to fly and pretty difficult to stall.

However as they are lightly built they are more easily damaged on landing.

The U Can Do 3D has a bit of a mixed rep. Do a search here and see what the guys see. If you already have it then go ahead and build it but there are better 3D models around.

Exactly, hence my Pulse XT 40 suggestion.

I agree, a H9 Pulse XT or a GP Escapade make a fun, good flying, easy landing second plane when on low rates and 1/2 throttle. The thing about the Escapade is that at $99 it is almost half the price of the Pulse XT. I have been flying RC for 36 years and since last spring flying both the Escapade and the Pulse XT 60. I love them both.

Bruce

I'd suggest a Pulse XT as well since it was my second plane. Flies great, and is a very nice looking plane with a cowl and decent quality construction. Flies great with a 46 size Evolution engine.

On your budget and you seem to have some building skills.... I'd ask around for someones crashed plane that they don't want to rebuild. It might be more pot luck of what you come up with, but that's ok as it will give some experience with variety though you should stay within your category. A stick for example is a nice second plane but they don't knife edge well or 3-D so respectfully turn down something not withing your interest area. If fortunate, one within your suiting will pop up. The secret is to show a strong interest and those planes that guys have set back to maybe do the repairs on someday, will come out of the woodwork to help a young pilot in the hobby. After you've shown some commitment, post a request on the field bulletin board. Most fliers have one or more of them lying around.

Generally, teen age pilots progress very fast and I'd certainly not say a 3D plane isn't within the possibilities of a second plane though some of us that have been flying for 35 years might have trouble with one.