[phantasmagoria]

My trainer is falling apart and I need to build a second plane. I have a Great Plane Ultra sport 40+ kit around, untouched. Just wondering if this plane is too big a jump from a trainer. I've just got my wings recently, that's where my skill level is.

What was your second plane after your "trainer"? Any suggestions?

Thanks a lot!

[AJCoholic]

I like to suggest a "mild to medium" aerobatic plane.

Personally, something like an Ugly Stik (big stick, etc) or an easy to fly low winger like a Sig Astrohog. These planes are capable of most sport aerobatics and yet are quite tame to take off, land and fly in general.

Also, planes such as Goldberg Tiger II, anything in the four star/mid star series from Sig, etc are all excellent sport planes that make a good transition from a trainer to a more capable aerobatic plane.

I myself went from high wing planes to the Sig astrohog (which I still have today) and can 100% recommend it as a great plane to transition from. I actually got my wings with it, and it has no bad tendancies (other than do NOT put it into a flat spin - thats why I am on my #2 astrohog...)

If I were going to do it on a buget I would try a Spadstik, the coroplast version of the ungly stik.

The ultrasport is a far more capable plane with no self righting ability and will be a bit more to handle than some of the others I have mentioned IMO.

Hope that helps some...

[JimMcIntyre]

I'm in agreement with Andrew. The Ultra Sport is a truly sweet flying plane but... you have to fly it at all times...

When students ask me about a second plane, I as them where their interest lies. For example, If their interest is classic scale and they're getting comfortable with rudder, I recommend a Cub to get them used to taildraggers...

Generally, you can't go wrong with the low wing trainer types like the Tiger 2, Four Star 40, or their 60 size couterparts. If you're coming from a docile trainer (Eg. Kadet or Telemaster), maybe an intermediate step like the Falcon 56 is in order.... I guess I'd like to see you fly before recommending anything like the Ultra Sport....

[Guest]

4*40 or equivelent, then onto the Ultra Sports, Kaos's or other similar sport pattern models, the 4* or the like will forgive minor mistakes that the US, Kaos's wont.

[nony]

If you can find a Midwest Starduster, it is even better than the 4*, Tiger II, UltraSport, Super Sportster, etc. I like Andrews suggestion of the SPAD, they have some easy flying designs out there. The Ultra Sport I would save for your 3rd plane....

[Fodder]

I went from the Avistar to a Fun Tiger. Not the brightest choice, especially since it was tail heavy to start with. I learn the hard way and learned fast. After 8 rebuilds over the coarse of its life (which was a fairly long time I might add), I finally had to bury it as it was heading out of bounds. It was fun while it lasted

[craigk]

Sig Kavalier
[OS 46FX or Webra 50
fly at half throttle until you're comfy
then give'er
More fun than watching Jim McIntyre taking off cross wind.

[JimMcIntyre]

Originally Posted by craigk

More fun than watching Jim McIntyre taking off cross wind.

Geez, anything has gotta be more fun than that.

[flysrcs]

I went from a unionville club trainer to a unionville .40 sized beaver witha k+b 45 sportster engine. went slow and took my time. Now the plane is 12 years old and is on it's 3rd engine. wore the first 2 out. over 400 flights on the plane coming close to 500. It is now retirred to the basement. Surprisingly all thise flights and not one crash. not that I had a few close calls or anything.
Dave.

[JimMoss]

Sig Kavalier as suggested earlier is I would suggest as well.

Dad and I have built lots of these for other people with only a couple mods.

First - stall tips and the second - building the wing flat upside down (this isn't recommended for the second plane though )

Here is a pic!

Jim Moss