Good Second Plane
 

So,I have the hawk sky brushless trainer and have been doing well with it (other than landings, still working on smooth one's). Ican fly it with really no problems and it's quite fun. I have done loops, dives and such but as Icontinue to practice with the plane Iwas wondering what is a good SECOND plane. I eventually want to end up with an A-10 warthog, F4U corsair and finally an SR-71 Blackbird.

Thoughts, suggestions? Oh BTW electric only please.

RE: Good Second Plane
 

If you have someone to help you out, the Parkzone Corsiar could be a good 2nd plane. You'd probably want someone buddy boxing with you, but it would get your corsair fix. It is a great flyer with no bad habits.

RE: Good Second Plane
 

Ooooo, that's a good looking plane [8D] but couldn't you use two dx6i, for example, with a buddy and the corsair like say the one from nitroplanes?<div>I only mention that because I am looking into the dx7s or dx6i soon and will only be after plug and play or kit models after that.
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</div><div>Glad to hear they are a good flyer. </div></div>

RE: Good Second Plane
 

Anything but a Sig 4*.

RE: Good Second Plane
 

Why?

RE: Good Second Plane
 

Any of the planes you see flying can be electric powered. I fly with a number of people that have made the switch. Space Walkers, Sticks, 4*s, trainers and a number of pattern planes. Electric is just another power source, the plane choice is up to you.

RE: Good Second Plane
 

Why? x2

RE: Good Second Plane
 

Heck, the Sig Four Star is a great second plane. My second was a Tiger 60 and shortly after that, I bought and flew the Four Star with an OS 50 SX. It was a great plane. With dual rate and some expo, it was either as easy going as a low wing trainer, but with high rates, well, it would do some pretty radical maneuvers for what it was. I sold tht plane, and am sorry I did. It was a fun flyer.

CGr.

RE: Good Second Plane
 

If you like the park flyers, the Mini Ultra Stick from e-flite is a great performer. The aerodynamics are very forgiving of pilot error (no tip stalls) but it is much more maneuverable than the plane you are used to. I'd at least suggest getting a more experienced pilot to do the maiden for you and set up the throws to be docile. You'll find with it though that general flying and especially landing is much easier with it than on your trainer.

RE: Good Second Plane
 

That makes sense and it looks good but how does the balsa hold up with reguards to potential crashes or rough landings? Ilike the more advanced maneuverability.

RE: Good Second Plane
 

You know, there is one big advantage to owning a good Flight Simulator in that it gives you a lot of choices to fly, especially when trying to determine if something is within your capabilities or not. RF 5.5 I believe is the most recent version of Real Flight, has many electrics in the model selection, and all the older ones in their previous versions are available for free download and use within RF 5.5.

When we offer suggestions about various aircraft, often times that is offered based on our experiences. Not knowing your capabilities, well, that can fall flat if you are not up to it for the model that you may get based on these recommendations.

Not all aircraft are included in RF 5.5, but a good number are, and you get to see what they look like, and get to fly them the way they are set up for use within RF 5.5.

Just a suggestion to help you out in making a decision.

CGr.

RE: Good Second Plane
 

Thank you for that thought and I agree that a simulator helps alot and it has for me. I have the clearview simulator and I have gotten completly comfortable with it. It made my first flights a snap with my SkyHawk I was used to what sticks to use when including when it's heading toward me. I can fly most planes on that except the jets. I still need to get used to them but I fly them for fun anyway. I've flown both of the planes I want to do in real life eventually with no problem and wish they had an SR-71 somewhere to add to it but I haven't found anything.

RE: Good Second Plane
 

And, to answer your question directly, well, that all depends on if you want glow or electric. In my experience, balsa electrics are very fragile and do not hold up well to rough handling. Their glow counterparts are a bit more sturdy and do hold up better, but nothing will hold up to really severe handling and very rough landings.

The best thing to do is master the one you have, to the point where all of your landings are good, meaning, "the plane walks away from the landing"... :D Some of the recommendations, the Four Star 40, for instance, are balsa and are pretty tough. They are bigger and, thus easier to see. They are faster, too, but can be tamed down quite a bit, and, as we always seem to say when offering help, throttle management is always a good thing... they are linear (somewhat) and not on-off switches. Learning to land safely is all important, and encompasses throttle management and use as well as the use of the other controls.

Now, back to the question in hand. Some of the foam aircraft seem to hold up better to hard landings, way better than balsa electrics will. So, if you are looking for a tough landing aircraft, then I would definitely stay away from electric powered balsa and stick with foam. Once comfortable, move on up and give them a try. They are a true joy to fly.


SR71... [:@] Not a beginners aircraft at all. Maybe after a time, well, I've already said that.


CGr.

RE: Good Second Plane
 

Thank you again for the excellent reply. I should mention my landings aren't bad as in crashing landings but more in that I have them land in a different area than I want it to. Usually about 15-20 feet away from me instead of just in front of me. But no crashes.

I am definetly planning on continuing to practice with it, and then upgrade the motor and once I've gotten a good hold on that I will get the "second" plane I just haven't decided yet what to get but I am liking the park flyers I've seen so far. I even found a decent one on nitroplanes that is EPO foam.

The Sr71 is a far off goal, I only mention it because it's probably my favorite aircraft and has been since I was younger. I think my "third" plane would probably be the A-10 warthog, that's one I really want to fly!!

RE: Good Second Plane
 

I understand. My all time favorite is the Vought F4U Corsair. But that is a pretty hot aircraft and really needs to be flown.. meaning not a lot of trainer level flight with that one.

CGr.

RE: Good Second Plane
 

Why? x3

RE: Good Second Plane
 

Why x4. It must have been pilot error cause the 4* is a great second plane.
I have the Mini Ultra Stick with a Super Tigre .10 electric on it. It's a great flyer and has held up well to some less than perfect flying. To me, it's ugly and I sometimes wish it would die so I could get something else. Truth is, though, It's really a great flyer.

RE: Good Second Plane
 

I'd look at the E-Flite Alpha 450 Sport. Has some sport characteristics and some trainer characteristics. I have had a parkzone ultra mini T-28, parkzone t-28 and the Alpha 450. The Alpha is a MUCH easier plane to fly than the T-28 which is supposed to be easier than the Corsair. It also takes the same size battery as the hawk (but has a different plug). I love the plane and wish I had purchased it earlier.

I've never flown the hawk, so i can't really compare the two. If you can fly the 4 channel hawk, I'm guessing you can fly and land the Alpha 450 with out a someone to help you. As far as ruggedness, I don't know. Its so easy to fly, I've never had anything but lovely landings and flights.

http://www.e-fliterc.com/Products/De...ProdID=EFL2875

RE: Good Second Plane
 

what about the GP Cherokee ARF? it's a very nice looking plane, it flies great, at low rates it behaves almost like a trainer and it is designed for glow or electric power.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...XTXE1&amp;P=ML

RE: Good Second Plane
 

Always recommended the Goldberg Tiger 2 or Tiger 60. not sure if still available :(

RE: Good Second Plane
 

It would depend on your "balsa" plane. For instance I have a Gnat. It is an small old style pattern ship designed for a small glow engine. Converted to electric it is a fast and fun airplane. Very few airplanes will survive a crash. But in many cases a balsa airplane will survive better than a foam one. Hard landings with a properly built balsa airplane will just break a prop or bend the landing gear. A foamie will explode.

Any stick style would be a excellent choice for a second airplane. Including Falcon 56 and other similar style.

I also have a 40 sized Sig Kougar. Actually two. One is electric and the other is glow. My electric with a five cell 3000mah battery installed is a half pound lighter than its glow counterpart with NO FUEL. My glow flies longer but my electric is just as much fun.

What I have found is when you get above 40 sized airplanes it is not really practical to go electric. The weight of the batteries will become more than what is practical. If you fly trike gear airplanes you also have to swing a smaller prop.

Good luck and make sure you use good batteries with a spektrum radio system. I hear they "brown out" easily. Thus causing a crash.

RE: Good Second Plane
 

Here we go again. That was identified several years ago and addressed. If the pilot lets the battery drop to below what most would stop flying at, well, it will fail, just as all the other digital receivers will.

CGr.

RE: Good Second Plane
 

if you dont mind tiny planes the ERC micro stik is great fun and really easy to fly check out some videos of that.

RE: Good Second Plane
 

You asked about the durability of the Mini Ultra Stick, and my honest response is that the question is thinking in the wrong direction. A better handling plane will avoid crashes, which is the best way I've found to survive them. Your landings will be smoother and more predictable, and the plane will not be affected as much by wind gusts. As long as you have a smooth enough landing strip for the wheels to roll on withing binding or bouncing, you'll find that landing a stick (any stick) is an exercise in relaxation. That said, if you pull a bonehead maneuver and drill it in you will take it home in a bag. If you really want an indestructible plane that's fun to fly, I'd recommend a Parkzone Stryker. It can cruise as low as 15 mph and tops out around 70 in stock form. You can make the throws as hot as you want to as you get up the nerve, and since its a belly lander about all you have to do is flare it and try not to bring it in nose first. The Stryker is my park plane and general "don't worry about it" flyer. I've flown it in gusty 25-35 mph winds with no problems too.

RE: Good Second Plane
 

Why X5.............we're waiting for an answer/explanation

RE: Good Second Plane
 

It certainly depends on where you want to go in the hobby. If you are going to stay electric, are you also going to stay with "small" aircraft or are you planning on going larger?

I think if you plan on staying only electric but would like to move up in size. I would recommend the great planes electric stick. It is if memory serves around a 40 size plane. Bigger planes fly better.

If you are going to stay small and have no desire to move up in size I would recommend the e-flite by Horizon the T-34 mentor. It is a very nice airplane and is bind and fly.

Good luck in your search. There are many possibilites. You will certainly get a lot of suggestions. Bottom line is it all comes down to you. What do you want for your next plane?

Glenn Williams

RE: Good Second Plane
 

Parkzone T28 would make an excellent 2nd airplane.

RE: Good Second Plane
 

I must say I am thrilled with the enthusiastic responses and suggestions I've received so far. Alot of what has been said makes sense and was something I didn't consider in some cases but none the less I appreciate the time in helping me with this.

Sooooo, with that said I really like the pushers like the stryker but I figure it might take a different kind of getting used to to fly it compared to the traditional elevator, aeleron and rudder. I might still get one though sometime. I also like the cessna like planes that have been suggested. How much difference does an above wing vs below wing make as in the parkzone T-28?

As for where I want to go I'm thinking that I want to stay small/medium range the biggest would be the SR-71 in the distant future but I'm content with the size I've mentioned like the A-10 and Corsair or the like. I definetly only want electric I've avoided gassers/glow so far and I think I'm happy with that. I have all electric FE boats and I love them.

RE: Good Second Plane
 

Why not a 4*...

1.....that is the only answer anyone has for a good second plane.
2.....The 4* isn't for sale as an ARF anymore
3.....Why not get basically the same thing here...(http://ecsvr.com/abm/shopexd.asp?id=2926)
4.....The 4* is $87.99 for a KIT.....the MachII is 119 for an ARF.
5.....There are many, many, many great second planes. Like the MachII, Spacewalker, Escapade, Tiger, etc.

It's like going to big float fly's.......almost everyone has nothing but a Mariner, Neptune, Stick, or Seamaster with very little in the way of at least semi-scale float planes.

I guess I tend to shy away from....for lack of better terms....herd mentality.

Why x5..............kinda proves my point.

RE: Good Second Plane
 

1..... Because it IS a good flying plane.
2..... Good, I wouldn't want an ARF. A 4 Star "kit" was my 2nd plane.

RE: Good Second Plane
 

The 4* is an excellent aircraft, no ifs, ands or buts. If it wasn't successful, Bruce Tharpe wouldn't have built the Venture 60 kit, which is an improved version. If you've never built one, anything else is a chore. You just can't buy a better kit, or a better flyer. There is nothing wrong with a Tiger 60, or any of the Stiks. They are classic for a real good reason.

RE: Good Second Plane
 

I think the 4star would also be a good 2nd airplane. And building from a kit is an excellent experience. SIG instructions are great! Now they have a small electric version.

The Stryker flight characteristics are like any other aileron / elevator airplane. But, the radio set up is different, it is fast (especially when modified), and the hand launch takes a little practice. Probably not the best choice for 2nd airplane. But, if you get some experienced help, maybe ok.

RE: Good Second Plane
 

Funny, I was out flying all morning and never saw a 4*, guess the herd was in the corral today. I did see a few YAK 54s and Extra 300s but maybe those are a better breed? Several sticks but maybe they just found a hole in the fence??
I use the 4*60 to teach basic building to students wanting to learn the art of slathering glue. I find them just about the perfect second plane but there are others that fly just as well. Super Sportster is another one I have used to teach building. A bit better for stunt training.
I'm not an ARF person so I could care less if a plane is in ARF form or not.
If an ARF is needed for a second plane then there are a ton of good ones. How about a Pulse 60 from Horizon?? It's covered different and is really pretty but look at it a bit closer and what do you notice?? The Space Walker is in ARF form and as easy to fly as the 4*
People mention the 4* so much because it's a nice build and the plane is great in the air. It's so good it's one you will see mentioned for decades to come.

RE: Good Second Plane
 

I'm not going to get into a peeing contest with you but there is nothing wrong with a herd mentality when you are talking to beginners which is what this forum is and the OP asked what a good second plane was and the 4* is a good proven flyer. Also, the comparison you make between an $87 kit or a $119 ARF doesn't matter either. It is very good for a beginner to build simple kit to get acquainted with how these planes are put together and it gives them the skills to repair in case of a mishap. A lot of the guys at our field have never built a kit and cannot repair their ARF's when they have an accident. You may like to be individualistic and you may prefer ARF's because you may have been in the hobby for a long time but beginners need to be given straight simple answers so they don't get discouraged and I think the "herd" here will all agree that the 4* IS a good choice for second airplane. Of course there are many others but this is a stand-out design with a very good track record. By the way........I am a builder but I just bought an Escapade for everyday flying but it is a bit much for a second plane......it is very responsive and I would say that it probably a good third plane.

Cheers,
Andy

RE: Good Second Plane
 

The point is that is the only plane ANYONE ever suggests. And these days....building a kit in the have it now times. No wonder everyone gets bored and the hobby isn't growing like all the posts on here keep talking about. It would nice for a second airplane to be a kit, but you have to be real about how things are these days. I had a WM T-34 for my second plane which everyone said was a bit much for a second plane, but I feel I am a better pilot for not just getting a low wing trainer like the 4*. Yea with the rates high enough I can make a Nexstar dance too so don't tell me the 4* is something more than a low wing trainer. Glad people are learning how to fly trainers over and over.

Why always a 4*?...looks like the herd got em again.

RE: Good Second Plane
 

The Sig Four Star has been around for quite a while. It is an easy build for a kit and a quick assembly for an ARF. Both give you great flying with lots of fun and good learning experiences, plus an upgrade capability to make it more radical, if desired.

So, what's wrong with that? That doesn't mean there are no others around, I frequently recommend the Tiger series, Tiger II, Tiiger 60 (Especially the Tiger 60) and the Tiger 120.. if they are still around.

Yeah, there are others.. but the easiest suggestion is with something that we are comfortable with.

So, if you want to recommend something else, hey, knock yourself out. No one will complain. Just don't go and call a serious and solid recommendation "herd mentality". You say what you want and everyone else will say what they want. The original poster can decide what's best for him/her.

CGr.

RE: Good Second Plane
 

Alright, no need for anyone to get in a tiff here. I definitively feel like I have gotten lots of great suggestions and have alot to think about before I go for anything. But sill the models I have seen seem to be a great starting point. I will have to give some thought to a kit over a ARF. <div>
Assuming I went ahead and gotten one of the low wing flyers and mastered that how far off from the A-10 and corsair would I be as a "third" plane?
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RE: Good Second Plane
 

CG brought up a good point, I see way more Tigre series planes at the fields then I do any other. I have only built one 4* without clipping the wing but on the stock one the fellow didn't want anything more then a big floater. The same fellow has two of the small Space Walkers and I have flown the heck out of both of them. One is glow and he did one electric. Other then the sound {lack of} I can't tell the difference between the two when flying. It's also a plane you don't see a lot of. Once in a while a Super Sportster is seen at the field but not often. I can see the Pulse really well when in the air, love the covering job they used on it. It will fly pretty much the same as the 4* so the herd still has an almost 4* still in ARF form. The pulse also has some cool features I like a lot.

RE: Good Second Plane
 

My second plane was the Up-Roar. It wasn't really a hard to fly plane, it just did everything and could do it fast. Very easy build. I think after flying any of the Fun Fly type of planes for a while you could slip right into the A-10 or one of the nice TF F4Us. I'm talking glow powered planes, the little electrric A-10s and Corsairs are pretty easy to fly and take almost no real training after you have soloed.

RE: Good Second Plane
 

Gray Beard............my second plane was a Midwest Sweet Stik with an OS45FSR and I still have that combo in my hanger...........talk about a "herd", everyone at that time had either a Sweet Stik or a Contender.