If you are looking for a trainer the best I have seen that is commonly found is the Hobbico Superstar. Its a high wing flat bottom airfoil covered in monokote so repairs are easier than trainers covered with the sticky shelf paper type covering that is very hard to repair. Here is one on ebay with free shipping. And don't worry about wanting to go glow. I don't care for electric stuff either.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Hobbico-...item43bc7713c2

The sturdy birdy is close to the S.P.A.D. concept. Check out the SPAD forum here on RCU. I have built a couple of SPADS and they fly just fine and are durable but not totally crash proof.



Here is the one I have left. I gave the other to a buddy to learn to fly on. It lands slow and just about refuses to stall. When it does stall it never drops a wing. You can hold it off the runway until it just won't fly anymore and it drops in for a landing with the wings level.