Next step up from trainer
 

I have soloed on my Dad's trainer, and I have started to fly the trainer i recently completed. Now with the winter building season coming up, I am looking for my next-step-up model. I am interested in the Great Planes Easy Sport 40 or another low-wing trainer. The Easy Sport has cught my eye because of its shoulder mounted wing and its good ratings on this website!

There should be a pic of the Easy Sport........

Any suggestions or comments on low wing trainers, particularly the Easy Sport by Great Planes?

Thanks,
Farr301

RE: Next step up from trainer
 

Try the four star 60. One great build, you will love it.

john in missouri

RE: Next step up from trainer
 

I have recommended the Easy Sport (as well as other planes) as a second plane for a few of the students I have taught. I don't have the exact number handy of how many, but I have put a few stundents on to them. It's a fun plane to fly and will land like it's on a wire. Now while that is true, it wouldn't be the first I recommend. Look at this list of planes I've put together as it contains a list of planes that make a good second plane.

[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4537845/tm.htm] Looking for a trainer- what's available. (Updated 1-19-07) [/link]

Hope this helps

Ken

RE: Next step up from trainer
 

Ok...cool
I'll take a look into some of those planes.


Farr301

RE: Next step up from trainer
 

Great Planes Big Stik .60 with a .90 on it!!!

Its fast,slow,forgiving,handles on rails,easy to see with a 66" wingspan,and EXCELLENT with mild wind.


Just dont crash it and You'll love it!

RE: Next step up from trainer
 

Yes...the big stiks seem like they would be a nice second plane, but i think i would favor a 40 over a 60....is there much of a difference besides size and speed?

RE: Next step up from trainer
 

Fuel burn is also higher and engines cost more. Take more room to store and transport.

RE: Next step up from trainer
 

Yeah that too.......I also fly at a small field so the 40 would probably be the better option for me. I know the big stick 60 has flaps but i dont think the 40 does. Does anyone think that flaps for a second plane would be a bit much?

Thanks,
Farr301

RE: Next step up from trainer
 

that easy sport looks an awful lot like the old top flite tauri

RE: Next step up from trainer
 

Yes it does....i also think Golberg makes a plane almost identical to the easy sport

Farr301

RE: Next step up from trainer
 

I recommend the Big Stik .60 because of its size and weight. In my rookie experiences,size and weight along with symetrical wings makes for a plane that take on the wind(a rookies worst nightmare) way better than a lighter .40 sized plane. I'm sure the .40 Stik would be good though if one wanted to stick to .40 sized planes. There about a 1-2 lb and a 7-8" difference in the two,but it makes a big difference I think.

RE: Next step up from trainer
 

Depending on your radio, any airplane which uses a dedicated servo for each aileron can do flaps. The radio mix is called flaperon. You can make your ailerons move in opposite directions as per normal ailerons or have them both deploy down for flaps.

It's probably not something you really need but it's there. We also fly at a small field and have about 100 flights on our Sig LT-40 - a real floater. We've had no problems consistently landing in on the runway although it's easier in the wind (since it slows you down).

Our 2nd plane is also a stick. We just maidened a Hangar 9 UltraStick 40 which is an updated version of the popular UglyStick. It still needs some more trimming but will be a fun model to fly.

Our LT-40 only requires a 4 channel radio but I bought a 6 channel computer radio. The LT-40 has only a single servo for ailerons so we couldn't do flaps (and I don't see why we'd need them). I upgraded to a 9 channel radio for the US40 and have it programmed for all the complex mixes. For initial flights tho, I have a much more basic setup which does flaps but no crow or full span ailerons.

Our US40 is powered with a Saito .62 four stroke. The Thunder Tiger .46 Pro I used in the LT-40 would have been fine however.

RE: Next step up from trainer
 

Get a Stick

RE: Next step up from trainer
 

sport aire 40 from northeast aerodynamics ,flies like the old vk cherokee

RE: Next step up from trainer
 

I two like the Sticks, but I don't understand why the four star 60 has not gotten better play here
Low wing more potential, Mine will do almost anything My frinds GP Venus will do. It is also one great kit to build.

john in missouri

RE: Next step up from trainer
 

The Big Stik 40 & 60 do not have flaps. They have full span ailerons. The Hangar 9 Ultra Sticks (40 & 60) have the option of full span ailerons or flaps & ailerons.
My brother had a Big Stik 40 for several years. It was a super plane. He crashed it a couple of years ago. He replaced it with an Ultra Stick 40 because it had the flaps option and he wanted to play with "crow" mixing. He got bored with crow after a few flights, and the roll rate was not great with small ailerons, so he reprogrammed the radio to make the flaps function as ailerons.

Unless you just "want" flaps as a new toy to play with, they are not needed on any 'Stick.'

RE: Next step up from trainer
 

You mean they don't have dedicated flaps. With a computer radio and dual aileron servos you can add flaps to any airplane.

RE: Next step up from trainer
 

Ok...thanks a lot guys.
i'll take all of this into consideration. It's either the hangar-9/great planes stik or a sig four star i think.

Farr301

RE: Next step up from trainer
 

From months of hanging out in this forum and others, I'd have to say the Sig 4* would be the consensus next step up from a trainer. If you are very proficient with your trainer, then try a stick. Nothing wrong with getting buddy box help with a secondary aircraft. I'd certainly rather do that than splattering it.

RE: Next step up from trainer
 

What ever happened to plain ol world models t-34 as a second plane?

RE: Next step up from trainer
 

the STICKS have been around FOREVER for some very good reasons. There is no doubt it is a clasic in any version.
here are just a couple reason to try a stick:
free plans (look around RCU they are everywhere)
easy scratch build (also available as an arf)...possibly THE easiest scratch build
simple quick build
easy to set up and repair
But The most important reason is they fly great

RE: Next step up from trainer
 

The Easy Sport .40 is basically a Stik with a canopy attached to the wing; this is a good thing. There's no reason to cross the Easy Sport off your shopping list as it is a wonderful flying aircraft.

There are a lot of really good choices out there, and I can't say I disagree with any of the other planes mentioned in the thread. You mentioned building season, so I'm taking it for granted that you want a kit instead of an ARF. Stick to one of the airplane kits mentioned below and you should be happy with the results:

Great Planes Easy Sport .40 kit
Great Planes Rapture .40 kit
Great Planes SlowPoke Sport .40 kit
Great Planes Super Sportster .40/.60 kit
Goldberg Tiger 2/Tiger .60 kit
House of Balsa AT-6 Texan .15 to .20 kit
House of Balsa PT-19 .25 to .30 kit
Lanier Stinger .40/.60 kit
Sig Four Star .40/.60 kit
Sig Mid Star .40 kit
Top Flite Contender .60 Gold Edition Kit
Top Flite T34B Mentor Gold Edition Kit .60 to .90

Hopefully one of the above projects will capture your interest. Good luck and good shopping!

RE: Next step up from trainer
 

Ok...the sig four star seems like a good choice for me, and yes i would prefer a kit because I prefer building the plane over having most of it done for me. If the best choice for me was and ARF i would probably still purchase it.

Farr301