right time to take off training gear?

I think I'm pretty far away from taking the training gear off of the hbfp, but what should you generally be able to do before it comes off? I've gotten better at keeping the beast hovering in a 5x5 area tail in, but I know that's the tip of the iceberg.

do most people trying to hover and land in all orientations first or just worry about tail in? also, when it does eventually come off, how is flight different than with it on (outside of more crashes!)?

I actually like having it on and am in zero hurry to take it off, I just want to know what the goals should be to keep getting better.

It's probably differant for everybody. I took mine off when I was at about the point that you say that you are. But you should remove it when you feel comfortable and want to. I don't think there is any rule on that. The heli will just feel a bit more responsive and seem to have more power because of the extra weight being removed.

Sounds like you are coming along just fine.

Good luck,
Donnie D