Training Plane in prep for P-38

[Delizar]

Good Day everyone,

I am wondering if I need to pick up an interim Training plane before taking out my Flightline P-38.

Some background about my flying experience. I have been flying regularly for the last 6 months. My first plane was the Hobby King Bushmaster, which I picked just about 11 months back, flew twice one morning and the shelved realizing I need something a bit easier to get me some stick time and some confidence. Luckily the Bushmaster was still in one piece. So I pickup up an AXN, flew it 6 to 8 batteries a week for about 2 months then started taking the Bushmaster back out.

I'm doing the basic aerobatics with both planes. Rolls, loops, stall turns and inverted flight. Landings on the Bushmaster have improved greatly. Beefing up the landing gear helped a lot. And learning to keep up my airspeed and dialing back the flaps some to make it less floaty. And the Bushmaster is still in one piece, not even a broken prop. (knock on wood)

Back to a possible mid level Trainer before the P-38. I was thinking a T-28, seemed logical having tricycle gear. Not that the T-28 makes my heart go pitter patter. Of course that opens up.....which T-28 as it seems EVERY manufacturer makes one or two. I am open to most any plane. I am not looking at this as plane I want but as a rung in the ladder.

As for planes I like...the v2 Flightline FW-190 caught my eye, but in my mind doesn't fit the bill as a mid level trainer.

[PappaBear]

Basically it's about what you can do with the model you have. Can you take off and let the model pass in front of yourself from either the left or the right. Fly a figure of eight course in front of yourself, keeping both circles round and the same size. You need to be able to position the aircraft exactly where you want it to be, not where it happens to be. Land consistently 15 to 20 feet away from yourself every time without nosing over the plane or breaking a prop. Co-ordinate turns using the rudder as well as the ailerons.

Flying what appears to be a simple exercise like flying a horizontal figure of eight course in front of yourself is actually quite difficult to achieve while keeping both circles the same size and round. Try it on a windy day and see how you get on. You will find you have to co-ordinate all controls including the throttle to keep the circles round.

Martin

[Trobinson99]

Hi Delizar,

I will give you my 2 cents.

As a mid-trainer to prep for the P-38 I would recommend the Durafly Skymule.

1) The P-38 is not a lofty bird like a high wing Bushmaster, you need to land the p-38 with throttle, rather than float it in. The Skymule behaves much the same way because of the narrow wings, it needs to be flown into a landing, not floated in.
2) The Skymule is a twin engine. Not that there is a huge difference with the a twin vs a single, but it may help you get a feel for it.
3) The T-28 is a floaty plane for low wing warbird, and does not really fly the same as the P-38. The P-38 is very heavy and flies like it has mass.

However the T-28 is a fantastic plane I own 4 of them, the Parkzone UM T-28, the classic Parkzone T-28, The Carbon Z T-28 and the Duralfly T-28. and I have flown the 1.2M T-28
All things being equal I would stay with one of the T-28s from Horizon. The Duralfy model is nice for the price, has flaps, lights, retracts etc... but I just don't find it flies as well as Horizon products. I don't really know how to explain it, other than the horizon models are rock solid, and Duralfy is a little sloppier around the edges.



Todd

[Delizar]

Martin,
Thank you for the solid advice. Like so many other pursuits focusing on the fundamentals is often overlooked by those new to the sport. We are easily distracted by the flashy moves.
I am already thinking ahead to my next trip to the field.

Todd,
What a great suggestion. I went and took a closer look at the skymule. Based on your description I am seeing it in a whole new light.
Sadly it is out of stock everywhere. (Maybe not so sad for my wallet)

For the moment I'll keep working with what I have. And keep my eye out for something that may fill the niche.

Again, Thank you both for your thoughtful replies.