next plane (help please)
08-03-2002 | 10:13 AM
#3
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next plane (help please)
4*40 is about halfway betwen the basic trainer and the Somethin' Extra. An EXCELLENT choice for a first time builder. 
And a great plane to help you develop yor flying skills.
The longer fuselage (compared to th SE) will aid in learning taildragger take-off technique.
The 4* will do practically everything the SE will.. with a lower roll rate and more stability, which are helpful in the transition to higher performance aircraft. With a medium power .40 (a little better than an LA) it is capable of almost unlimited vertical climb using a 11X4. Wit my 4*, and a Magnum .40 XL, I could do continuous inside-outside vertical 8's appx 90 ft dia for each loop. (180 ft tall maneuver) The low pitch helps slow down for landings... one of the complants people have when they use a 10X6 is it won't land with the engine running.
Properly set up... the 4* is competitive at Fun-Fly contests, and I've seen them beat SE's (Pilot skill matters more than the difference in these 2 planes.)
The only bad point of the 4*40 is the tailwheel moounting. Buy a nylon tailwheel mount kit, or you'll be constantly fighting the tailwheel breaking free from the rudder.
I advise usig the 4* as second plane.. and SE as 3rd. (if heading for Fun-Fly performance types)
I gave away my 4*40... I'm building a 4*60.
with retracts
And a great plane to help you develop yor flying skills.The longer fuselage (compared to th SE) will aid in learning taildragger take-off technique.
The 4* will do practically everything the SE will.. with a lower roll rate and more stability, which are helpful in the transition to higher performance aircraft. With a medium power .40 (a little better than an LA) it is capable of almost unlimited vertical climb using a 11X4. Wit my 4*, and a Magnum .40 XL, I could do continuous inside-outside vertical 8's appx 90 ft dia for each loop. (180 ft tall maneuver) The low pitch helps slow down for landings... one of the complants people have when they use a 10X6 is it won't land with the engine running.
Properly set up... the 4* is competitive at Fun-Fly contests, and I've seen them beat SE's
(Pilot skill matters more than the difference in these 2 planes.)The only bad point of the 4*40 is the tailwheel moounting. Buy a nylon tailwheel mount kit, or you'll be constantly fighting the tailwheel breaking free from the rudder.
I advise usig the 4* as second plane.. and SE as 3rd. (if heading for Fun-Fly performance types)
I gave away my 4*40... I'm building a 4*60.
with retracts
08-03-2002 | 10:16 AM
#4
Sig SE
The somethin Extra is more aerobatic than the 4 star. The sig somethin's wingspan is 52 inches i think, and has plug in wings which helps for transportation. I fly mine with an OS 70 with no weight added onto it. I think its a great easy plane to fly.
08-03-2002 | 07:08 PM
#5
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next plane (help please)
The Somethin Extra really isnt hard to land. It will float like you wouldn't believe, the same with takeoff. I taught a kid how to fly on a Somethin Extra and he had no problem with it. I do have to agree with fhhuber about the 4 Star being a good plane though. One thing you might consider is removing 1 or 2 rib bays from the end of each wing to make it handle the wind better. It has too light of a wing loading to fly in the wind very well. It still lands just as slow though.
(yes, I am that far gone. 
