RE: Not for beginners?
 

I fly the .40 sized version every single day (I keep it in my truck). The flaps and 'crow' feature are not only useless, they are a waste of 2 servos. I ended-up 'Y-ing' the servos together for one HUGE aileron (about a third larger than the single ailerons included with the ARF). Rolls faster than most non-industrial ceiling fans.


To the point of this thread, the sticks are great second planes. Get used to landing a tail-dragger and move to a small bipe Then, once you can correct for wind gusts and recover from any unexpected circumstance without losing altitude, you can move to the larger stuff.

The larger planes are simply better. I don't know why, (Yes Reynolds number was explained to me, but still....), but the larger planes are just much nicer flyers.

RE: Not for beginners?
 

Earlier this year, one of the new guys who had solo'd his Alpha Trainer a few times was letting one of the "hot shot pilots" fly his trainer asked, "When will I be ready for Mustang?" The hot shot pilot proceeded to fly the trainer inverted about 8 feet off the deck and said, "When you can do this with your trainer."

RE: Not for beginners?
 

I started on a Sig Senior without ailerons. I thought that being slow to respond to inputs would be a good thing. Ended up busting it in half when I got disoriented.
Repaired it and later built another wing with ailerons. That quickened things up a bit. Ended up ripping the nose gear and bottom of fuse out.
Made a taildragger out of it at repair time. Thought I was really getting the hang of flying.

Built a 4*40. That thing was a rocket ship in comparison to the Senior. It did everything much quicker. I flew it not too long ago after putting about 50 flights on my Shrike 10. The 4* seemed so lethargic and ponderous to me now.

I have flown the 4* with a few different engines on it. With a Saito 45 and the controls backed down a bit, it will give you almost as much time to think as the Senior. Some have said the 4* makes a good trainer with a lot of buddy box time. I am pretty sure it would have been rekitted fairly quickly if I went that route.

It sounds like you are more than ready for the next step. Have fun with it! MikeB

RE: Not for beginners?
 

I have heard this debate every since I've been flyin'; (15 yrs )It depends on your talent and skill level. Case and point, there's a 3 or 4 year old boy flyin' 3D in some vids online. Did he go thru the "normal" progression ?:eek: Prolly not.Also,I just started flyin' KE, snaps, inverted, stalls,immelmans, etc. this past year___ never had to ___ never really wanted to. :eek: . Now it's fun as heck and I've gotten pretty good at it. Also I know a pilot who went from a Avistar .40 to a .40 Funtana to a 40% Carden Extra and a 40% Composite ARF 55 SP w/ a 210 ZDZ gasser w/ all the bells an whistles. Would I do this or recommend it ? Prolly not. I agree w/ All. " When you can snatch the pebble from my hand, then you may leave." It may happen this week or next year, it all depends on YOU. Also if you have access to a sim, that speeds up the learning curve for some peeps. Good Luck, Rob[sm=thumbs_up.gif]

RE: Not for beginners?
 

You can use your own transmitter with it, but it comes with it's own controller.

Bear in mind that you'll quickly find G3 a bargain for all of the practice it will give you during otherwise "down" days, and the net savings in broken parts and planes.

You can also progress much more quickly, often skipping many intermediate steps due to the sim.

I went from complete novice (no RC experience, to certified on my second session on a PTS P-51) and my "second" plane was a BiPlane, the third a Funtana 100X.

I skipped a lot of "steps" and developed the "memory muscle" needed thanks in large part to the sim.... however as anyone will tell you a sim does NOT superceed actual field time.... you still need that too.

RE: Not for beginners?
 

I was at the local flying field yesterday evening and a guy showed up with a QuiQue Yak 54. Later we got to talking about simulators and he highly recommended AFPD as opposed to G3. Of course, he is into the 3D stuff.

I guess I'll just have to look at both of them and make a decision. G3 has a demo but AFPD does not. Guess I'll have to figure out some how to get some play time on both.

Have read a few threads on this here, but always get multiple recommendations although G3 seems to be more popular.

RE: Not for beginners?
 

RE: Not for beginners?
 

All the stranger since G3's flight model is much better.

I have both AFDP and G3. I can always make G3's models behave just like the real thing in all aspects (except for part deformations which AFDP does much better and I wish G3 did as well...) where as AFDP does not provide the same level of fine control and in turn response in the flight model.

Of course many people have bought into Ikarus' marketing hype without first putting both through the wringer as I have.

RE: Not for beginners?
 

Get a Stick, the bigger the better, and set it up as a tail dragger. The exposed engine makes tuning and monkeying around easier, and even the ARFS will feel like they are on rails compared to your trainer. Which is a very cool feeling that I specifically recall from the first flight of my 2nd plane (GP Big Stick .40).

Agreed that the H9 aileron set up is more gimmick than useful. If you want to play with flaps set up flaperons. Which I wouldn't do either, initially. Plane doesn't need them and you will have enough stuff to concentrate on.
Bob

RE: Not for beginners?
 

I just have the old G2 sim. You can probably pick one up cheap. I think its fine for practicing and trying stuff out. The "wind" isn't very realistic. Actually, if you type in a good cross wind, but with no gusts, it acts about right. But the gusts are rediculous. Its like flying in a tornado.
I always had trike gear on my Stiks. And if I ever get another one, it will have trike gear. I just love the way they land with trike gear, nose high. We would do touch and goes and never touch the nose gear to the ground.
I don't understand the big fuss about tail draggers. They aren't that big of a deal. I say that, but I've been flying for nearly 30 years. But I don't remember having that much trouble with them, ever. I'll say this. Some tail draggers like you to 3 point them and some land better on the mains. I don't know why. I don't know what the difference is. They are just different that way. My Cap232 lands great on the mains, but don't try to 3 point it. My Chipmunk loves to 3 point.