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Steprman,
After reading your first post and your last post I applaud your ingenuity. But I have to ask how can you reccomend this a good first plane????
In your last post you have gone to alot of trouble to "standardize" the Radio found in the stock areobird while this shows you have technical ability you have gone to considerable lengths to create an upgrade (a trainer system) that is standard on most modern Radios as is the use of nicads
I have managed to replace the control board that came with my Aerobird with one of my own creation. This allowed me to use my Futaba radio, saving me on AA batteries for the traditional Aerobird radio. Most importantly, and the reason that I did it, was to be able to connect a Buddy Box to my Futaba which would allow my kids to fly the Aerobird, with me as the "trainer". ]
You further state that the increased modifications have caused several failures of the wing.
the Aerobird is now far more aerobatic, so much so that I have collapsed several sets of wings; even one with built in main spar. I have now added a piece of 20lb test fishing line to the underside of the wing, under the main body and back to the other side of the opposite wing. This line acts like a strut and seems to save the wing from folding during high performance turns which I can achieve using elevon mixing in my radio.
Your last comment seems to some up my feelings exactly
Certainly an expensive modification to an inexpensive plane but it has been a great learning experience for me.
It seems to me that the lengths you have gone to to make your Aerobird perform better would cause one to conclude that this plane is NOT a good beginner or trainer plane most would not have the patience or expertise to make the modifications you have to get a model with the type of performance improvements, rather IMHO they would be better off buying a plane and gear that could do this without modification.
I am in no way bashing you... simply pointing out that it seems to me there are much easier ways for a beginner to learn.