Hi Letsroll,

Yes, down thrust and right thrust are common on many trainer airplanes, including the Apprentice. The SAFE mode has three modes. The "beginner" mode has low rates and significantly limits the maximum bank and pitch angles. Its intent is to automatically adjust the pitch attitude to climb at full throttle, cruise at half throttle and glide in for a landing at low throttle without using the elevator. The aircraft is self leveling in beginner SAFE mode when the transmitter sticks are returned to neutral. These pitch and bank limits also severely restrict the turning radius so that you will need 50 acres just to turn around. The "beginner" mode is so sluggish on the controls that it almost feels like "no control" mode. The "intermediate" mode allows steeper pitch and bank angles to the point you should be able to fly out of most RC club fields. Intermediate SAFE mode also eliminates the automatic returning to straight and level when the sticks are returned to neutral. Also the pitch angle is no longer auto linked to the throttle to automatically adjust the pitch for climb, cruise or decent with just the throttle. The "advanced" SAFE mode provides full control authority and the only gyro function that remains is the AS3X which only reacts to gusts to try to stabilize the plane to return to the attitude it was in prior to being upset by a gust of wind. As you observed, the Apprentice does not handle cross winds very well. The Apprentice's tall tricycle landing gear easily tips over and causes prop strikes with quartering winds and can make it almost impossible to turn around and taxi back to the staring point without tipping over if the wind exceeds about 5 or 6 mph. The "beginner" SAFE mode provides insufficient control for flying in cross winds, so don't try it. My best recommendation is to find an instructor with a wireless trainer link capable Spektrum transmitter and learn to fly using your transmitter as a "buddy box" paired to the instructor's master transmitter. That is the only way you are apt to learn to fly on a single airplane. Otherwise, plan on "using up" multiple trainers before you become proficient enough to reliably take off and land. Find a club and fly with an instructor until you are proficient, even if it means driving 50 miles to do it. It will be much cheaper in the long run.