The Aircore is tough buddy, and it seems to fly just fine. Not that I have very much experience or anything to compare it to. I bought one to save my balsa trainer from being crunched and I'm glad I did. I have crashed mine a couple times real hard and had some, well uh... how do I say this, um... HARD landings and it has only had very minor damage, the crashes would have totaled my balsa plane. The biggest repair I had to do took less than 1/2 hour and she was good as new. You basically straighten out the nose gear and refuel for the next crash, I mean flight. The build up is pretty different than a balsa plane but if you read some of the information on line about the S.P.A.D.'s and how they are built you will be prepared for the construction methods and it will be easy. Mine came from the factory with some of the folds in the wrong place but I didn't want to wait for a replacement so I just built it anyway and it came out fine. It will never win any beauty contest because the wings aren't as symmetric or precise as a balsa plane but it doesn't seem to affect the flight very much. The plane is definitely capable of aerobatic's, don't ask how I know, it still makes my knees shaky. I am running an MDS .48 on it with a 10-6 prop and it has way more power than it needs, I hardly ever run it at full throttle, too fast, 1/2 throttle for cruising and 3/4 is more than enough for short takeoffs. I love my Aircore and would recommend it to anyone learning to fly, especially if you want to try it on your own. Just like the old Timex commercials, "It takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'" I would have destroyed two or maybe three balsa trainers by now and I only have 12 flight under my belt, all solo and alone out in the middle of no where. I'm getting better each time out too. Another 20 or so flight and I'll think about flying my other plane but for now it's Aircore all the way. Man if I keep pumping this thing maybe they will give one of the Colt's when I'm ready, I can dream anyway can't I?