Choosing your next airplane (what you fly) may determine whether you become the next Hanno Pretner or Joe Crasher. Unfortunately, when asked what airplane should I get , a simple question, an easy answer is never available. This is because several variables come into play in choosing the right airplane for you.
Fortunately, the road to that critical choice is not very narrow and is growing wider every year with the introduction of more high quality kits. Many airplanes may be rig ht for you if you ask yourself some simple questions and consider the design of some of the airpl anes you may have in mind.
Evaluate your flying style:
Your next airplane should represent a finite step between your current level an d the next easily attainable level. Avoid selecting an airplane you ll destroy or require unnecessary training on. You will frustrate yourself and your instructor.
If you have been flying a trainer (for about one hundred flights) you can easil y graduate to a low wing sport trainer or low wing sport type with a little instruction. If y ou already fly low wing aircraft, your next airplane will depend on the style of flying you intend to pursue. Aerobatics, Scale, Sport, or Fun Fly. Few airplanes will do them all (well) so you must decide which you prefer.
Key design elements:
Whatever style you intend to pursue the aircraft will respond and behave in a m anner dependant on it s basic layout and design.
Beyond the trainer stage symmetrical airfoils are preferred. Semi-symmetrical a nd flat bottomed airfoils have unpleasant inverted characteristics that may result in s udden stalls or uncommanded snaps. Blunt airfoils are typically slower and allow more gentle st alls.
Tapered wings (wing having smaller tips than centers) handle wind and gusty con ditions better than straight wings. Excessive taper however, could produce tip stalling tendencies. Sweep (the degree to which the wing along it' s length is angled back) is often confu sed with taper although the two are not related. Swept wings on models serve almost no purpose and should be avoided. Wing loading or weight can dictate whether your airplane flies like a butterfly or rock. Wing loadings (weight of model / wing area ) of 17 to 28 ounces/square foot per form well for sport and aerobatic aircraft. Lower wing loadings allow aircraft to float but makes penetrating rough air more difficult. Higher wing loadings result in faster a pproaches and landings. Wingloading should never be overlooked and every effort made to maint ain a loading that will compliment your style of flying.
Power-to-weight ratio can often mean the difference between frustration and joy .. Simply put, install as much engine as the desired wing loading will allow.
Looks are important:
It s important to consider how the airplane looks to you. If you' re not happy with how it looks you won' t put much effort into reaching it' s full potential.
I' m looking forward to some great second airplanes and having my socks blown off by
the more advanced pilots!By Colin Chariandy