rjeffers,

Even though its for your son.

I'd stay away from the junky "toy" store type planes (Firebirds, areobirds Airsurfers, etc) They just don't fly the way traditional planes do. Since your already in the hobby I think you'll appreciate the advice and lower frustration level.

The slow stick is by far the better parkflyer for your son to learn on (Dad will most likely need one also after trying Jrs)

Not to Criticize Ajear but he has no other frame of reference to base his comparisons and reviews on. Will he may have done much research his opinions were formed based on that and NOT real world comparisons.

For the past 19 year I've flown glow planes... Last summer I deceided to get into small electrics 1st plane fighterbird absolute GARBAGE Gave it away TOTAL waste of 160.00 2nd plane GWS Tigermoth LOVE IT Still fly it Let my 9,6 and two 5 year olds fly it
Third plane GWS P-51 90% complete.

The GWS Park flyers respond to the controls the way glow powered models do (albeit slower) the "toy" don't.

This is just my opinion based on experience with both type of models.