RE: first high speed prop plane
The patriot XL is a kit. It is designed for air retracts ( I think they show robarts on the plans, but any will work). Patriot .40 use to be offered as an ARF long ago, but they are hard to find these days.
Ummmmmm.... hard to compair the F-16 and the XL. Different type of planes. Both fly very well. The XL feels 'lighter' and flys more like a sport ship. The F-16 fly well too - just bleeds energy a bit in the turns - keep the speed up and its not a big deal.