I wrote a note to XXCompany complaining about all the BARFS and RATFs, and the fact that they were no longer giving builders choices of taildragger or tricycle. I fly on a grass field, actually a cow pasture , so I prefer trikes. I also asked why all their planes were going to 3D and dual aileron servos. I also dared to mention that their new kits were not as good quality as they used to be. How dare I !!!. Boy, I got a nasty mail back. After all, they have all these engineers designing planes, who am I to question their judgment. I have only been building planes for 50 years, so my opinion means squat.

I must have struck a nerve, it seems they had a long staff meeting about my letter.

It's all about the big bucks gang. For the past few years, I have built only XXCompany kits, the last one I got was poor design, so I sent it back, and now I am back to scratch building again.

Frankly, you would be wasting your time (as I found out) writing to the factories. My suggestion is to gather up all the good quality balsa you can while still available. The wood in the current kits is hard, brittle and heavy, and you have to replace much of it.

I'm afraid kit builders are an endangered species. I agree that they should offer planes in both kit and arf. By the way, I was also informed that no one wants tricycle gear anymore, cause they are not "sporty" enough.
BO