The Spads purpose is to "teach the basics" while giving the pilot "total confidence". There is no way in hell a pilot, who is trying 3D for the first time, is going to have total confidence flying any sort of balsa plane a foot off the deck. Again, the spad is to build confidence, without the fear of damaging a plane if it happens to hit the ground. Give a pilot the sticks of any type of wooden profile plane and tell him to come down five feet off the deck and pop up the nose. He's probably going to tell you where you can go! Or tell the pilot to put the same plane in the harrier position and bring it down about a foot off the deck. He's probably going to tell you the same as before. The thing is, he's not comfortable enough to try these maneuvers because of the fear he will damage his plane, and if he's scared and tries to do these maneuvers, he's probably going to dirt nap his plane, resulting in some sort of damage. Now, if he's doing this with a spad, after he realizes that the plane can't be hurt, he'll have the confidence to try anything. The most damage you can really do to this plane is break a prop, or maybe tear off the landing gear, which can be fixed in a matter of seconds.

Some of you guys that are replying just don't understand the point of the SPA3D. A person can build this plane and learn the basics of 3D for about $15.00, and have total confidence while doing so. There's not a thing he can lose with this plane. On the other hand, he can go out and buy a profile plane of his choosing, attempt to learn the basics of 3D, and possibly damage his plane in the process. He's definately not going to have the confidence level he would have with a spad, and that's what learning is about, having confidence. One or two dirt naps witha wooden profile, and the pilot is probably going to say "to hell with 3D".

Like it's been said before, a person can't expect to be able to do all of the 3D moves with the spad. It is limited in what it can do, but what it will do, it does it perfectly. Those of you who keep pushing the wooden profiles, give it a rest. After a person has learned the basics on a SPA3D, then you can start giving advice of what to buy.

There's really nothing left to say,

John