I hear you about the stick. I had the white and yellow generation Ultra Stick even before they incorporated the aero-balance tab into the rudder. One of my favorite plans of all time.....not far behind my EF 88" Edge. However, my dad is NOT a fan. The newest addition to his list is the
NitroPlanes Spitfire 50. I warned him that he'd get what he pays for....and that retracts may not be conducive to the beater plane he wants. I've owned two planes with retracts, and I've learned that retracts are probably more hassle than they're worth unless they're done right (expensive) or on planes you only fly on occasion. However, they do make the difference between an alright-looking warbird and a gorgeous warbird!