My trainer is an Extra Easy 2. I was considering A Sig Midstar or maybe a Great Planes Rapture 40 for my next plane, but would prefer a 60 size. Any suggestions for a kit? I'm a builder at heart so I'm not interested in ARFs and would like more kit building experience before doing a scratch built project.

You have a lot of good choices out there. Carl Goldberg "Tiger" 60, available as a kit and an arf. Great Flyer, trike gear, semi-semetrical wing for some aerobatics.
Sig 4*60. Pretty much as above. Both are low wing,
Both are easy kits and assemble well, Both of these also come in a .40 size if you wish.

Good Luck,
Steve

As a second plane I would suggest of the Sig 4* series kits or ARF's

They build easy , fly great , and are available in 3 popular sizes, 40, 60,120

I 've had them all at one time or another. Everyone that I have reccommended
this plane to as their "2nd" plane, as far as I know has been satisified.

Regards
Roby

I'll put my recommendation in for either the Tiger II (.40 size) or the Tiger 60. I think they have the edge over all others for a transition from a trainer to a low wing plane. They come as both kits and ARF.

I have been a flight instructor for too many years to mention. I've let many of my students fly both the Tigers and 4*s and all most all of them think the Tiger gives a better transition. My observation is the Tiger can better withstand a "less than perfect landing". My only recommendation is to put a servo in each side of the wing for ailerons.

Rich
AMA AD9V

My second plane was a 4*60. They are great planes and can take the abuse that a new flier will dish out. I have 2 of them now and they are my favorite planes to fly. They are easy to fly and will do most aerobatics. If you put a big enough engine the will do just about everything. The 4* slows way down and lands like a trainer. The only thing that you have to do is learn how to take off and land a tail dragger. It is not that hard it just takes a couple of tries to get it figured out.

Rick

I've been supporting the Tiger series of aircraft as a good second plane. They build easily and fly well, making the transition from the trainer an easy one and teaching the new pilot along the way.

Back when they were more popular I always steered my students to a sportster 40, 60 or 120. There is something about a sportster that really gets the juices going as a first low wing trainer. Once they master that then its usually to a mid or lowing aerobat or warbird which ever area of the hobby they wanted to get into. Now that the sportster 60 only comes in kit for and the 120 is totally gone I steer them to the World Models Emeraude or a Sig 4 x something. Good Planes last a long time teach good habits. Stay away from Sticks. Not demeaning them but a Stick is Too easy to fly and teaches a student bad habits.

Just my 2 cents worth

jds

I remember flying my trainer too long. I expected my second plane to have the same forgiving tendencies. Let's just say I became good at making repairs.

I too like the Super Sportster. It was my second plane a long time ago, and I just bought another one.

The 40 ARF is okay if you're looking for a 40 size. It flies quite well and will do most aerobatics. It's obviously not a 3D plane, but a second shouldn't be!
Dennis-

If the beginner has learned the most he can learn from his trainer then a super sportster, ultrasport, kaos, tiger 2...etc would be perfect as second plane. The problem arise when the beginner is still sweating a landing or a slow and low pass with the trainer and he/she thinks they are ready for a low winger. But since we can find more than one shade of red there are other birds for those that believe are ready to move up to a low winger. In my club the Sig Astrohog became extremely popular for its size and forgiving characteristics. Eventhough it is a low winger it behaves very docile and stable at a good variety of airspeeds. Everyone that transitioned from their trainer to the astrohog made their first take off alone and with no surprises. IMHO I believe the ultrasport is a great second plane that let you enjoy slow flight and move to heavy aerobatics but it all depends on the ability of the new pilot.

Another vote for the Tiger II