To New or Not to New

Howdy!

Been flying my SIG LT40 for almost a year, and this last weekend managed to stuff it face first into the ground. :-( Don't ask. Pilot error. The crash looked remarkably similar to that B52 crash at the British Nationals earlier this year.

*sigh* The wing and tail are salvageable but the fuselage is toast. So here's my question, do I buy a replacement fuselage or another entire LT40? Or do I step up to the plate and buy a slightly more advanced airplane and keep the re-usable parts of the LT40 for a "Build Your Own" project when the weather gets nasty? (I'm in California, still flying almost every weekend).

Ideas, options, opinions, gratefully accepted.

TomC

Reply to
Tom Crabtree
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If you've been flying the LT40 for most of the year, I'd recommend you take the next step. The Kadet, though a solid trainer, is limited in its aerobatic capabilities. You have most likely outgrown it and are trying to do things with it that it really wasn't designed to do. Inverted flight for example. It will do it, but you have to practically beat it into submission to do so. If you like to build, I would recommend something like the Goldberg Tiger or the SIG MidStar 40,or any of the other SIG offerings like the Kobra or Kougar. The Kobra will be a handful with a .40 but with good throttle management, is doable. If you want to go ARF, one of the Hangar

9 Stiks or something like the Tower Voyager would work too. The field of second airplanes is wide open as there are many more choices that the few I have mentioned. Others will have their favorites as well.

Have fun and enjoy!!

Jim W

Reply to
Black Cloud

I would probably recommend a step up ARF (perhaps an Avistar or the like) to get you in the air quickly; then start building your next project, maybe a low wing trainer like the Four Star 60 or even an Astro-Hog. What ever you do, get something and get flying.

Alan Harriman

Reply to
Alan Harriman

I'm with you, Jim. One other good choice for a step up to something a bit more aerobatic than the LT40 but still a pussycat to fly is the Sig Four Star 40, which IIRC is available as an ARF as well as in kit form. It's the sort of model that's smooth and predictable enough to boost your confidence while you're learning new tricks.

Abel

Reply to
Abel Pranger

I'd step up to maybe a Sig 4* or similar. Not much more difficult to fly than a trainer. Will do a lot more though.

John VB

Reply to
jjvb

I have been flying RC for 15 years and I occasionally splat a trainer. Does that mean that I have to turn in my trophies from pylon racing? ;^)

Reply to
Paul McIntosh

I think you should branch out and try somethig a bit different. For aerobatics, see if you can find an old Kaos or Ultrasport kit. Both are excellent aerobatic planes that fly like they were on rails. Neither one have any bad habits and are great second planes. Another one in that same line is any of the Stick varients.

Reply to
Paul McIntosh

You might want to try an Avistar. It has a "semi-symmetrical" wing so can do a few things better than the LT, like inverted flight and outside maneuvers. It still is very trainer-like in general flight characteristics.

Reply to
kokomoNOSPAMkid

Reply to
Mike Gordon

Reply to
jim breeyear
*ouch*

I guess I deserve the jabs, it was pilot error after all, and I do admit it. It was the 4th takeoff of the day and little breeze had picked up. The windsock at the airfield was not completely straight but only had a slight bend. Right after takeoff I was making a slow left hand turn and a little gust caught the right wing and flipped it up about 30 degrees or so. I tried to correct with elevator and right aileron but it was too little, too late. The nose of the airplane was already pointed down. Proportional on the ailerons is great when in the air, not so good on troubled takeoff's.

TomC

jim breeyear wrote:

Reply to
Tom Crabtree

I believe in power ..... as soon as I take off I quite often nose up and get up to about 3 mistakes high. I have ended up clipping trees while stretching my departure too much. I have no funny come-back when doing something like that. BTW I am seriously looking at the FMA pilot assist link .... not just a wing leveler anymore. It is smart.

cheers.

Tom Crabtree wrote:

Reply to
jim breeyear

Really? How come I hear/say, "flies like a trainer," so often? Are they lying? Am I lying?

Most "stik" type models, the Sig Four Star, Great Planes Easy Sport, Sig Midstar, Hobbico Avistar, are all nice gradual steps up from the basic trainer.

Reply to
Mathew Kirsch

Not to mention that these planes fly *much* better than a trainer. It could be argued that the fact it was a trainer is the reason he crashed it. Once you progress beyond a trainer, they are a pain to fly. I want my plane to do what I command, when I command it.

They guy should get a plane similar to what you mentioned, set it up with mild throws for the first few flights, and never look back.

Jack

Reply to
Jack Goff

Both ideas are valid. Were you still having fun flying the LT up until its demise? Get the replacement fuse. You will get some valuable repair experience there, more so than if you just replace the entire ARF. There would be a cost aspect to consider there depending on how much the fuse cost vs the entire ARF but repair experience is PRICELESS. Bored with the LT? Move on to a low wing trainer such as the World Models T-34 Mentor. Keep the LT parts. You can always rebuild it later if you decide to.

Reply to
Fubar of The HillPeople

Somebody once told me if you aint crashin you aint learnin. He was refering to skiing but the principle is the same. I must be learning quite a lot!

Reply to
Fubar of The HillPeople

Dude, we ALL experience pilot (PILE IT!) error whether we are newbies, been flying a year, been flying 30 years. My latest crash was pile it error: Did one more vertical take off and prop hang even tho I *KNEW* I was about outta fuel. Sputter! Thud! Only damage was a broken gear strut and a hole in one aileron where the wheel fired thru. Magic 3D is the plane. I have been flying for about 6 years now. Crash before that was about a month ago or so: Long landing approach with my kit built Tower Kaos, misjudged the vegetation at the end of the field, speared the Kaos right thru a tree. Wing destroyed, tail group removed from fuse. Dont think the wing is rebuildable (would be

3rd time, pile it errors the previous 2!) as there isnt much left in the wing that isnt already a splice. Got hold of a Bridi Kaos wing kit on Ebay so my Kaos will fly again. Also have some 5 or 6 Kaos kits of various vintage and style stashed for later building. Anyway, dont beat yourself for crashing the plane thru pile it error. Learn from the mistake. Got broadband? Here is a video of the second time I wasted my Kaos due to having the radio set for my Zagi instead of the Kaos:
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Right flyer 40T crash due to reversed (PILE IT! ERROR) aileron servo:
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Maiden flight of a World Models Combat Series P47. Bum receiver, pilot didnt range check:
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I had some better (worse) crashes that didnt get captured on video and most were pilot error.

I must say that I amazed that I seem to be the only person that has suggested a replacement fuse and rebuilding the plane!

Reply to
Fubar of The HillPeople

I'm a fan of the Falcon 56. Shoulder wing, semi-symetrical airfoil, great airplane!

Reply to
roger

Do a snap-roll at about 20' after take off. It makes it interesting :)

Reply to
Andrew

Buy what _you_ want buy. It's your toy.

Reply to
Andrew

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