Had one, hated it. Way too fast and heavy to learn on. My instructor warned me that I got the wrong plane, but we tried anyway. After about 3 weeks of trying to get me on the tarmac with it he had enough and told me to get a Super Stunts. 800sq-in 5 lb Stick. I landed it on it's first flight. Next flight went even better and I was soloing that day. Gary told me that the Duraplanes were designed to crash well, not fly well. A theory that I proved many times. I will say this though, it was durable!

Before I joined my club I thought I could handle learning on my own. (not a good idea) I took my new rig to work to show the guys (also not a good idea). Fred says "does it run?" "Yea" I say, "let's take it out back." We go behind our building, fire it up and everybody is Oohing and Ah-hing. Fred says "Taxi it around a bit" "OK." Now I'm zooming around the parking lot. Fred says "See if you can get the wheels off the ground, just an inch or 2" (are you getting the idea that I shouldn't listen to Fred?)

OK picture this: 2 buildings in the same parking lot, long driveway behind them on the north side where we are playing around. Wind is to the south. I start my run behind our building, toward building 2. I have enough speed, but its still on the ground. "Hmmm" I say, "maybe I have to give it elevator?" My rookie thumb buries the right stick ALL the way back and ZOOM, it's 20 feet in the air in an instant. Tunnel vision kicks in, but I can't see my plane, all I can see is -Lexus- -Jaguar- - Mercedes- - Mercedes- -BMW(my bosses car).

As soon as the plane passes in front of the gap between the buildings the wind gets it, picks up the left wing and turns it toward the BGB (big glass building). Deer in the headlights mode kicks in- everything slows down - - - - - - - - - - - - WHAM!!!!!!! It hits the BGB dead center on a window. The window bowed, but didn't break. In the slow motion mode that my brain is in, it looks as if the plane it sliding down the side of the BGB like a snail. Fred calmly walks over, gets my plane out of the bushes, comes over to where I'm standing with a stupid look on my face, and says "Lets get the F*@$ out of here." First good idea Fred had all day.

In any case, all that broke in the whole incident was my wing in half, spinner and prop, and bent nose gear. I glued the wing back together, joined a club, and now I'm teaching people how to fly, well away from buildings.