RE: GWS A10 for beginners?
Todd,
I did what you are thinking about doing....I started with the A-10, the older version anyway. It was underpowered. The thing is, you have to give it a good hard hand launch and not try to climb or turn until you have built up speed. It takes it a good long run to get there. If you are impatient, you will stall low and slow, and it WILL come apart. Now, I am not saying you can't do it, just that you have to be very aware of managing altitude and airspeed. As to how it actaully flies...it was very stable, fun, etc. It is very good looking camoed up. Also, be careful with the CG...I would probably even err on the side of nose heavy because you will not have the power to "power out" of the trouble a tail-heavy plane will get into. It glides well when balanced. I would leave the wheels off as they aren't scale anyway, and the additional drag just slows it down that much more.
Jess