Thank you all very much for your replies. Informative is only the start. Today I purchased the Great Planes Reactor .46-.70. I will test my knew begotten knowledge (imparted by you fine gentlemen) after some dry runs through RealFlight 5.5. I'm looking forward to the results.

Speedracerntrixie - In my studies I haven't come across a description of how wing (and stab) incidense affects flight performance. Do you happen to have a reference on hand? Also, the idea that SaL flight trim can be achieved at such a wide range of power settings doesn't make sense to me. Could you explain what causes that ability?

gaRCfield-Thank you for breaking it down for me. Your response set off the "I can get this done" spark in my head and really provided the push that I needed to completely commit to Pattern flying as something I should be interested in persuing.

MTK - Glennville is on the western border of Ft. Stewart, GA which is about 35 miles southwest of Savannah, GA. The closest RC airfield that I've found has been in Statesboro (home of Georgia Southern) and is the home field for the Ogeechee Aeromasters. We're a small club, but we have some beautiful land (if not dangerous... there's a tree out there on the back side of the landing field that has claimed more than it's share of balsa wood. Some folks hate the thing. I love it. Not only is it something of a challenge to maneuver around while flying the pattern for landing, but the dang thing has been struck by lightening from tip to tail and is still making leaves.)<br type="_moz" />