2nd plane-can't decide
 

Hi everyone,

Sounds alittle crazy but I'm looking for a second plane and haven't even flown the trainer yet! I believe I would prefer a fairly large, speed to scale, taildragger but I'll take your advise if it differs. I won't get to fly my trainer til spring so I fiqured I'll assemble the number 2 plane over the winter. I was about to order the Spacewalker 2 but I thought I'd better test that idea with all of you expierenced flyers. Whatcha think?

RE: 2nd plane-can't decide
 

Hmmm...interesting question and a tough one......

I can tell you this.... having just soloed a few weeks ago.... flying is VERY different than I thought it would be.... I plan on staying with my trainer for a while.....

Some people "get it" quickly...others don't....

IMHO I would wait until you have flown to make the decision as your goals may change.......
but a 4* is nice as a second....

Why no flying until spring???
Call up the instructor at your club...buy him/her some lunch and go to the field!:D

RE: 2nd plane-can't decide
 

Sig Four Star Arf
Hangar 9 Ultra Stick
Great Planes Super Sportster
Tiger2 **

RE: 2nd plane-can't decide
 

There are quite a few

Four Star 40 or 60. Based on the TTpro you have, it will fly the 40 really well with an APC 11X5 or 11X6 or 11X7. Mine has an OS46AX and screams [X(] with the 11X7 prop. This plane can land as slow as most of the trainers out there. Mine has the better part of 150 flights and it still makes me smile when I take it out, even though I've moved onto an Ultimate Bipe, Extra 330, Goldberg Sukohi, blah blah blah

Tiger 2, no experience with this plane but have seen quite a few fly.

If you come see me tonight at the LHS, we can chat more about it

Here are a few of my toys...Yep, the proud papa :)

RE: 2nd plane-can't decide
 

Listen to exeter_acres --- good advice

RE: 2nd plane-can't decide
 

I agree with the 4*40 or 60. I just love my 40. If the Space Walker II flies anywhere close to the S-W in the simulator, don't try it as a second plane. It has a very "hard" rudder that could get you into a lot of trouble. A friend of mine has a Space Walker and he says that the simulator is accurate, and even thought he has been flying for 35 years, he seldom uses the rudder. Don't know if this will help you.
Glen

RE: 2nd plane-can't decide
 

I just bought a Tiger 2 ARF for my second plane. It is assembled very well and very easy to put together. Seems quite a bit more solid than my alpha trainer in fact. I am putting a Saito 72 on it though to liven her up a little.

RE: 2nd plane-can't decide
 

personally I'm going with the [link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCZR8&P=7]GP Ultra Sport 40 Plus[/link] kit as my second plane, first kit. Flying a Superstar 40 now with the Evo TPS .45 and an Futaba 6EXA, and all equipment should transfer over nicely if I don't get a new flight pack and engine.

RE: 2nd plane-can't decide
 

luckeyned, I have done quite a few searches on what I should get for a 2nd plane recently, and have found that the vast majority of people recommend the Tiger 2 or 4*. From what I understand, the planes are quite forgiving but can go like he**! They also seem to land like a trainer. I just solo'ed a couple of months ago and plan on getting the 4* 40 based on the recommendations I have found in these forums. I'd go with either the Tiger or 4* Hope that helps!

RE: 2nd plane-can't decide
 

Hey, I'm in exactly the same position!! Flew my LT-40 for the first time this week and here in Montreal in a few weeks time won't be able to fly again until April once the snow comes! So i just bought a SIG Kavalier kit to build through winter. Picked it up on sale for $89CDN. I know its an old design and all but from all i have read it looks a great flyer and offers some "old school" building experience too. At the moment my goal is to get into scale and with this kit i am planning to do some cosmetic mods based on the looks of an RAF Tucano T1. I'd suggest getting anything you can use your existing engine in, the usual suggestion of a 4* 40 or Tiger 2 will probably fit the bill.

RE: 2nd plane-can't decide
 

I'm in the same boat as you 2nd plane. I just posted a few hours ago then found yours. I have it narrowed down to a world models skyraider mach2 or super sports. They are both under 100 and rate well. I would still like to get a sig 4 but a mach2 for 70 bucks!

RE: 2nd plane-can't decide
 

S! All

Thanks for all the suggestions on second plane. I kept searching to see what a 4* looked like but had no luck til BubbaGates squared me away with the proper search title..Four Star..lol. I got a front row seat, the same day, to his 4* with it's 4 stroke zipping thru the skies at one of the local strips.

My choice became too easy one one of the club members offered to sell me his SuperSport 40 for a song. I think I'll also try my 1st attempt at kit building with a 4* 60 kit..or maybe a SuperSport 60 kit..Hmmm. Thanks!

RE: 2nd plane-can't decide
 

Luckyned,

I was great talking with you on Saturday. Hope the wife wasn't too upset that you spent the better part of the day with me at the LHS and the field ;)

I have already replaced the 300S that the tree ate with a [link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Shop/ByCategory/Product/Default.aspx?ProdID=HAN2675]Funtana 90[/link] :D, now all I need is to put it together and maiden it next weekend.

I more than agree with the 4* 60 kit for a first build. The SuperSport will be fine for a second plane but you will need to land it slightly faster than what you saw my 4* do on Saturday. It's not bad though. You will do fine.

BTW... I remember telling you to remind me about something and neither of us did remember. The one thing you never want to say around your planes is: "Common, just one more flight". Planes have ears and trust me, it will be only "one more flight". I think I may have said that when we took off with the Extra 300. I beleive I said something about doing one flight with it. After I got the plane home. I started looking closely at it and the wing was broken in 33 places under the covering (gave up counting at that number) and the fuselage was cracked in 4 places, so we stripped it out. I checked and to get the replacement parts would have been more expensive than the plane was. I felt pretty stupid for a few minutes. Here I am giving you basic instruction and possibly instructing you when you are ready and I plant my plane into a tree. Oh well, after pulling the gear out of two of my planes and only totalling this one, I would say that's not to bad after over 500 flights.

looking forward to flying with ya.

RE: 2nd plane-can't decide
 

Wadaya mean wait for spring???
Just add a set of Falcon Trading floats or Du Bro snow skies to your trainer and your set to go.
Yes, you can use sea plane floats on snow, even grass.

Falcon Trading makes a kit that mounts floats on almost any tri gear airplane.

RE: 2nd plane-can't decide
 

I think you should wait until you fly your trainer a little; then you will have an idea of where you want/need to go.

I have seen people solo the first day out, and others need to break several trainers before they can fly and land consistantly; the majority of flyers are somewhere in between. Every one's aspiration for a second plane depends on their abilities and taste.

I don't mean to brag, but simply want to illustrate my point. I am one of the fortunate ones who soloed the first day: I learned to fly on a .20 size low wing plane called QB 20L made by Pilot (and I never crashed this plane). My second plane 5 months later was a Goldberg SKYLARK 56. My aspirations were always to fly aerobatics, and I never had a desire to fly warbirds, slow planes (like CUB), etc...
BTW the "quick learner" has a major draw back called over-confidence especially in your late teens, early 20's. I proceeded to crash many planes over the next few years by simply being cocky.

The bottom line is: try learning to fly the trainer, and look around to see where you want to go in the hobby; there are many areas of interest, and the guys training you may not steer you in the direction you want to go. Then you will have a good idea of what your second (and third...) plane should be.

RE: 2nd plane-can't decide
 

You can not go wrong with any of the STICK variations. My second was a SPADStick and I still take it out often. Less radio gear and engine, I only have about $20 and 5 hours to build. you can check it out the plans on

www.spadtothebone.com

Byrdman

RE: 2nd plane-can't decide
 

ISLANDFLYER - I ask for any tips/info you have about your QB-20 Low wing? I have one that I plan to use as a 2nd/3rd trainer - thanks (maybe in a different post?)

RE: 2nd plane-can't decide
 

my second was a four star 60. my first was an Avistar. they land similar, flying is a whole lot more fun with the 4*60 though. I did upgrade my radio to a t6 and that may have had something to do with the fun factor. I am told but I don't have any first hand knowledge that the tiger 60 is a much more capable aerobat than the 4*60 with the same forgiving characteristics.

RE: 2nd plane-can't decide
 

LuckyNed - is that the world models super sports 40 you're talking about? i have flown that plane and it is really an easy flyer. makes the pilot look like a champ (even if he is more chimp than champ :-)

RE: 2nd plane-can't decide
 

I built a CG Eagle 2 and have flown and landed it safely quite a few times. I recently purchased a h9 funtana 90 as my second plane. Even though i've got the plane and equipment purchased for the funtana, I'm now thinking it might be smart to put another more forgiving plane in between the trainer and the funtana. Any thoughts?

RE: 2nd plane-can't decide
 

I am one of the big fans of the Funtana 90. Make sure to use strong servos, remove any slop in the control surfaces (even if it means upgrading the hardware), inspect ribs through the bottom transparent covering (some had cracket ribs that needed fixing), and FLY IT 3D SLOW, or it will probably flutter and crash (according to some posts on the various Funtana 90 threads).
The two of us at our club fly the F 90 with Saito 1.50/APC 14x6, Futaba 9402 servos, upgaded hardware, and we LOVE the plane. Again, it's a light 3D plane, fly it slow and land it smooth to avoid dammage.

RE: 2nd plane-can't decide
 

Heres one that might intrest you,if you dont like the look of a ultra stick this would be the next best thing for a second plane [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/article_display.cfm?article_id=164]midwest aerobat[/link] but i dont think i could wait till spring! just add skis and go

RE: 2nd plane-can't decide
 

I heartily recommend an Ultra Stick 40 or 60 size as your second plane. It's a very easy to fly tail dragger and quite aerobatic. Stay away from the Spacewalker II as it's ground handling is a nightmare for the novice. Once in the air, it is nothing special. The Ultra Stick is the way to go.

RE: 2nd plane-can't decide
 

Great planes Big Stiks are a great second plane as well.. You can set it up mild and then increase throws and adjust CG and you have an aerobat!

RE: 2nd plane-can't decide
 

Right now I am planning to put a Saito 1.00 in my Funtana. According to H9, that is all one needs. I'm worried that if i go with a bigger motor, coupled with my inexperience, i'll over power it, flutter it, and ultimately crash. I'm also building it with the Hitec HS-5475HB servos that have about 76 oz of push/pull at 6 volts. Islandflyer - do you think this is enough servo for this plane? Did you seal your aileron/elevator hinge gaps, or did you build it out stock? From what i have read on the forums and in the manual, everyone recommends sealing hinge gaps, albeit not a step in the manual (was this a h9 afterthought that they through in later at the end of the manual?). Islandflyer - did you replace the servo arms on the 9402 or did you leave the stock arms on them for your funtana?

Thanks for the ideas everybody - I am luckily in a half thawed area of the country and the ground doesn't get covered up much with snow or ice in the winter. (knock on wood).