2nd plane...TO SOON????

[blackbabus]

So with all the fun I am having with my little Su-26 I crave a slightly bigger more stable and less weather restricted plane but I could do with some advice.

I was looking at the eflite yak 54 as my next plane but is it the best for me?

It's a step up in every way I know but will I still be able to fly it at my local park some 7 football fields large?

And how long did people wait before up sizing?

I'm more than open to ideas but would like a 3d rather then a warbird after some.research but i do love the idea of a edf, can you get the best of both??

[NJSwede]

Originally Posted by blackbabus

So with all the fun I am having with my little Su-26 I crave a slightly bigger more stable and less weather restricted plane but I could do with some advice.

I was looking at the eflite yak 54 as my next plane but is it the best for me?

It's a step up in every way I know but will I still be able to fly it at my local park some 7 football fields large?

And how long did people wait before up sizing?

I'm more than open to ideas but would like a 3d rather then a warbird after some.research but i do love the idea of a edf, can you get the best of both??

Are you ready? Probably. I saw your video, and up until the "landing" it looked great. I haven't flown the little Su-26, but micros are twitchy and an aerobatic micro is probably as twitchy as it gets. If anything, a bigger plane should be easier to fly.

How long I waited? I think I waited a month or two between my Micro T28 and my "park size" T28.

7 football fields sounds like enough space to fly a 40"-ish plane.

My first "full size park flyer" was a ParkZone T28D. You can't go wrong with that plane. It's just a delight to fly and mine survived a whole season with just some small dings (it's still in great condition, but I've lent the RX to another plane). However, since you started out with an aerobatic plane, you may find the T28 a bit "tame".

If you want to stay on the aerobatic path and are brave enough to try a balsa model, I can warmly recommend the 3D Hobbyshop Edge 540 41". On low rates, it flies like a trainer, sans the dihedral-induced self correction, but since your Su-26 doesn't have that either, you should be fine. I was nervous before my maiden of the Edge, but I was very surprised how easy it is to fly.

I don't know much about the eflite Yak, but if I were to guess, I'd say you'll be fine on low rates just like I was with my Edge.

Well, that's my two cents, not as an expert, but as someone who recently went through the same transition.

[blackbabus]

Thanks for the quick reply, I'll have a look at the models you have said and do so research, the space issue is really the biggest thing the bothers me, I would hate to hit a dog walker due to dumb thumbs.

[xmech2k]

I agree with NJswede as far as bigger should be easier to fly. My first plane, the EF Apprentice, is the biggest one I own!

As far as the flying area, I guess I'm a bit (Read a LOT) on the cautious side. I would hate to fly in a public park due to all the unknowns, like people walking their dogs, kids, etc. A 40" stunt plane has a prop that can do some damage. You might want to look for a local club with a dedicated field, especially if you're looking to get bigger planes.

7 football fields, I'm trying to picture it, but I think that's more than our club field, and guys are flying 33% stunt planes there! We have a 450 foot runway with power lines around 400 feet from either end. A buddy of mine who's getting back into flying after a few years out of it says our field is really crowded in. I have seen more than a few planes fall victim to the power lines and poles... Fortunately, I've been able to keep away. But I'm drifting off the subject. 7 football fields sounds huge to me. It's just the public part that's scary. As you're landing your plane, you might not see people further down your 'runway' until it's too late. Especially if you get an EDF. Most (Not all) of them need a faster landing speed, and can't pull up out of a go-around as fast as a prop plane, either.

[MadMonkey]

I'm not a big fan of the Carbon Z Yak (I assume you're talking about that one). It flies pretty heavy.

If you're serious about 3D, I'd highly recommend getting something from Extreme Flight, like the 48" Edge. $300 with motor and ESC... total cost will be more, but I think you'd be much happier. But that still leaves the question of how much space you'll use to fly it...

EDF's, depending on the model, can be flown in tight spaces, but they aren't as much fun when you can't make long, low passes at high speed. Sounds like you need a big profile plane, like a 48" or 55" foamy from DWFoamies or something similar.

Or just build a more aerobatic parkjet. They can be cheap an fun as well

[blackbabus]

Originally Posted by MadMonkey

I'm not a big fan of the Carbon Z Yak (I assume you're talking about that one). It flies pretty heavy.

If you're serious about 3D, I'd highly recommend getting something from Extreme Flight, like the 48" Edge. $300 with motor and ESC... total cost will be more, but I think you'd be much happier. But that still leaves the question of how much space you'll use to fly it...

EDF's, depending on the model, can be flown in tight spaces, but they aren't as much fun when you can't make long, low passes at high speed. Sounds like you need a big profile plane, like a 48" or 55" foamy from DWFoamies or something similar.

Or just build a more aerobatic parkjet. They can be cheap an fun as well

Would it be the edge 540t or another I have not found, I like the idea of making it my own rather then bnf but not sure I have the knowledge on the right kit for the job just yet, the edge looks like a huge step up and a little to big for a pubic space I had better find a club close by.

[MadMonkey]

Yep, 540t-EXP.

Personally, I'd really recommend something like the Parkzone T-28 Trojan as a second plane, since it's capable of most aerobatics (just not full 3D in stock form) and it's easy to fly, probably the best flying RTF I know of.

[mred]

Are you ready for you next plane?? That depends on you and how fast you learn. I was pretty quick and went from a White Cloud to an Orion as my second plane in a matter of days. The White Cloud is a high wing trainer and the Orion is a low wing pattern plane. I also had a very good pilot helping me and while he did check out both planes before I ever set hands on them, I did pretty good. I flew a lot and learned fast. I was also 21 at the time and had much faster reflexes then I have now and much better eye sight. Some people take weeks and others take days to learn. It all depends on you.

As for your second plane, if you are flying a 3D plane now, then a bigger one will fly better and if you don't try and do everything at once, you can work your way into it very well. It sounds like you are flying around other people at a park of some kind though. One thing you need to keep in mind is, those bigger planes can be very dangerous. You need a spotter and plenty of room with other non flyers around your area and if you hit someone you are going to have a very bad day to say the least. The bigger planes take up more room to fly and land, so you need to take that into consideration when flying them. If you can go to the park when it is empty, then have a ball, but other people around can make life a little interesting to say the least. It may be best to go to a flying field some place when you have the room and don't have to worry about other people getting in your way. It is much safer that way and at a park with bigger planes, you may find the cops having a talk with you simply because some old lady got nervous and called them.

Ed