Part of the RC Plane Lab familyDiscordYouTubePatreonShop
Search
Home › Resources › What's Next After Lesson 12
What's Next

What to Buy After Your First Plane

You've got some flights in. Here's how to think about what comes next.

Ask yourself first: Am I consistently landing my current airplane? If the answer is "mostly" or "sometimes," you're not done with your trainer. More practice beats any upgrade.

What should I get next?

I want more flight time per outing
→
Buy 1–2 extra flight batteries for your current airplane. Best ROI in the hobby.
My RTF charger feels basic
→
Get a proper LiPo balance charger — better for battery health and safer.
I want to fly in more wind
→
Stick with your trainer in calm conditions more. Wind tolerance comes from skill, not equipment.
I'm consistently landing and want more fun
→
Try a sport or low-wing airplane. See below.
I want to build something
→
Look at ARF kits or foam profile foamies. Check rcplanelab.com for inspiration.

Upgrades Worth Doing First

Extra Batteries

If you only have the one battery that came with your RTF, buy two more of the exact same spec. Nothing improves your flying experience faster. Match manufacturer, cell count (S), capacity (mAh), and connector type exactly.

A Proper LiPo Balance Charger

A proper balance charger significantly improves battery longevity and safety. The ISDT Q6 Plus and SkyRC D100 V2 are well-regarded at different price points in the RC Plane Lab community.

A Better Transmitter

When you're ready to advance, a proper Spektrum NX6 or NX8 gives you real model memory, expo settings, dual rates, and precise programming. Not urgent, but a meaningful upgrade when you're ready.

Your Second Airplane

When you're genuinely ready (consistent landings, comfortable with orientation, training modes off):

  • More performance from a familiar format: The E-flite Apprentice STS 1.5m is an excellent step-up trainer with more authority but still has safety features.
  • A low-wing sport plane: The E-flite Carbon-Z T-28 Trojan or similar. Expect a real learning curve — low-wing planes feel very different from high-wing trainers.
  • Build something: Check out the RC Plane Lab shop for the ElectroStreak short kit — a classic design the RC Plane Lab community has been building and flying for years.

The main RC Plane Lab site has 200+ podcast episodes and build logs for RC pilots at every level. You've got a lot of great flying ahead of you.

Visit RC Plane Lab →