Which is the Best Starter Plane?

[Jimbo88]

A friend of mine is looking to join me in flying but is unsure which plane is the best starter. The Stryker looks good to me as the big wing will afford better stability, but the Super Cub looks slower. Anyone have any expeience with either and can you tell me which is the best beginner. Surley less parts to break is a bonus with the F-27 Stryker.

[rleed]

Most definetly the Super Cub. (IMO) It is a very user friendly aircraft and is far more durable than it appears. It comes with ACT (anti-crash technology). This feature uses two optical sensors that detect light, (sky or ground), and when it is turned on the aircraft will correct itself from an unusual attitude. After you become more skilled it can be switched off so you can learn loops, stalls, spins, etc. The Super Cub is very stable and forgiving and most important for a beginner it is SLOW. It will take off on a hard surface or very short grass, or can be hand launched with ease. Later on you can add the drop module or combat module for added fun. My kids went absolutley nuts over the drop module. I have crashed this aircraft many, many time trying to perform stupid manuvers way to low (on purpose). I have flown it into a power line, and a street light in front of my house, and hit my mail box, taken off out of my garage, etc. I have only had to replace propellers and one spinner. It is very, very tough. The F-27 would be a good second aircraft, It will fly very fast, but it will also fly slow if you pull the power back. It is not nearly as forgiving as the cub and will not self correct. It will perform manuvers that the cub cannot, (rolls, inverted flight). Bolth are good airplanes but I think the Super Cub is a better first aircraft. There are others out there also that I have no experience with that may work, (E-starter, Slow-V, Slow Stick). What ever you choose just be sure that you have fun!!:)

[Dizzee Rascal]

Stick to the cub and get very proficient on that before even thinking about the Stryker. Height and slow stable flight (the Cub!) is what we all need when learning to fly!

[Jimbo88]

I think that's good advise. Can you upgrade the Super Cub in any way to increase the performance. Would a brushless motor simply rip the wings off!:D

[Dizzee Rascal]

I purchased an upgraded battery (which will fit into the cub, spit and P51).

I flew it in my cub today but I had better not say to much about it as I don't know if the nice folk at Squadron Leader would appreciate me talking about another product.

I've seen videos on youtube of the cub's which have been painted up very nicely and I've seen a few cub's with ailerons and flaps! I've also seen light's on some cub's but I personally think they look a bit chav like!

I am going to try and find a stronger undercarriage and slightly larger wheels, no matter how soft my landings are (or hard most of the time), the undercarriage ALWAYS bends slightly, it's not great problem as usually it bends back wards and after a while I just take it out and turn it around the other way but over time I can see it will be too fatigued and will snap.

With slightly larger wheels on the main undercarriage, I think it will make touch and goes and rolling take-offs a lot easier as there will be more distance between the ground and the prop, may also be useful on rough fields.

Anyone made any changes to the u/c on the cub's?