Which plane is good for a second plane

[harryf3]

Hello. I am a new pilot. I am learning to fly on a glow trainer 40 with the help of a friend. When I have time I make practice on simulators. Soon I will get a plane as an exchange for a nitro car that I do not care for anymore. But the dealer sells only Kyosho planes. I am thinking of taking one, put it aside and fly it when I feel ready and comfortable with the trainer. Which Kyosho plane do you recommend? Is a warbird a bad choice for a second plane? I realluy like Mustang and Corsair (who doesn't!). If I insist a little, maybe he can order a plane from great planes or Tiger. Which one then?

[ivanc]

SIG 4*, CG Tiger, GP Easy Sport, TH Voyager, H9 Ultra Stick, GP SlowPoke.
My personal preference is the 4* as being a taildragger - I like to be harder on myself . But as all performance planes are taildraggers, it's a good point to start with a taildragger as a second plane. Once you get into handling the taildragger you'd prefer it.
You can convert the trikes to taildraggers too, but you'll need to buy additional parts (tail wheel assy.) and reinforce the frame in the new landing gear mounting spot.

[Bako]

i prefer taildragger too. btw is' more light

[sirdirk007]

The easy sport was my intro to aerobatics and if you went that route you would be very satisfied. I would still have it if it weren't for that powerline jumpin in front of me

[harryf3]

Thanks a lot for the answer Ivanc. I checked your recommendations. I fell in love with the 4* from the first look. Any idea about Kyosho? Or what do you think about 182 Skylane and j3-cub from GP?

[ivanc]

Originally Posted by harryf3

Or what do you think about 182 Skylane and j3-cub from GP?

Definately not second planes. Third maybe. The preferred second plane is a low wing semisymmetrical wing taildragger. Just my opinion.

[Pro Flyer]

Have a look at these ones Sportsman Aviation Excelleron, Sportsman Aviation Super Decathlon 120,Sportsman Aviation Paramount 61 ARF 54in Span.

Damo

[ivanc]

Originally Posted by Pro Flyer

Have a look at these ones Sportsman Aviation Excelleron, Sportsman Aviation Super Decathlon 120,Sportsman Aviation Paramount 61 ARF 54in Span.

Damo

For sure not good as second planes - 4th, 5th, etc. I would prefer to stay away from "ultralightweight" high performance planes (all 3D planes) until I can land any plane "with my eyes closed" - a bumpy landing can damage them pretty easy. Another advice for a second plane: stay away from planes that do not have constant chord length, i.e. the wing width differs from the fuse to the tips (as the Excelleron, GP Venus, Extras, Gileses).

[Backwing]

I really can't think of a second plane from Kyosho. They do have a good trainer that I had, and converted to a taildragger, but no second plane.
I would throw the World Models Sky Raider Mach II in for a second plane. Great flyer, easy and fast build, low wing taildragger. And you can't beat the price, $60.
At this point, as hard as it is to do, you want to try and stay away from the cool looking planes.

[harryf3]

Thank you very much for the help fellas. Im gonna ask what's available. Im between 4* and somethin extra. I don't like the looks of sticks although they are great airplanes. We do make compromisses in the appearance of our first time trainer, but I think you have to like not only the behaviour but also the looks of the second plane to be able to "live" with it and enjoy it (as with women...)

[ivanc]

Originally Posted by harryf3

Thank you very much for the help fellas. Im gonna ask what's available. Im between 4* and somethin extra.

Somethin' Extra!!! I'm considering it as my step-up plane from the 4* I'm flying right now. It has fully symmetrical wing. She doesn't float as the 4* does.
BTW the 4* looks pretty good. Especially if you modify the cockpit and put a pilot in it. I'll take some pictures of mine when I get home from work and post them here.

[harryf3]

Icanc, If YOU consider it as YOUR next plane, that means that this plane is NOT for ME. Im a beginner, don't forget. I don't say that anything but a trainer is proper for me. But when I master the trainer I'll try something harder. I will try to take the 4*. I hope the dealer can order a 4*. I think he can find GP easy sports but this plane is not a taildrager or SlowPoke but this plane looks like a kids toy (SlowPoke owners please don't take it personal). Sticks of some manufacturer are easiest to find.
You seem to be an experienced modeler. Please tell me, what do you think about simulators? Do they really help?

[ivanc]

Sims help A LOT! I'm using FMS (free). My brother built me the cable for the radio. I learned how to roll a plane with the rudder only, inverted flight, cuban-8s, knife edge on it. Now I started practicing knife edge on my 4* - it's amazing how much confidence I have once I've practiced it on the sim.
But sims will not replace real stick time (flying a real - I mean model - airplane).

[harryf3]

I checked the skill level guide from the GP website and between others they suggest these planes as second: Space Walker and Super Sportster. Both are taildraggers and with constant chord length as you adviced. Your opinion?

[ivanc]

I don't know about the Spacewalker - looks a lot like the Sportster but a guy at our field has the Super Sportster. She's FAST! The guy is afraid of her although he's far much experienced pilot than I am. He has 350+ hrs stick time on his Ultra Stick 40, he's flying a Somethin' Extra. He had to replace the wing on his Super Sportster. A weak point is the landing gear mounting spot (it mounts to the wing). So he bought the kit and built the wing with reinforced landing gear mount. Hasn't flown it yet. Did I mention that he's afraid of her? He always sighs with relief after a successfully (even after not so successfully) landing her.