I am the designer of the sledge 540. It does have a counterbalanced rudder but not the elevator. I did not feel it needed it, although one of my preproduction guys built it with counterbalanced elevator and I flew it and really could not tell a difference. Comparing the sledge to the sudo, top cap and knife is easy, the sledge beats them for all around performance. It delivers the most bang for the buck because it does the most the best of those models. Lets break that down some more, the knife will hover easier, the sledge is a bit more of a challenge and will therefore further your hovering skills when you are ready for that. The sudo and top cap are great airplanes, I own both and still fly them on occasion, however whatever they can do the sledge does and more. For example, 3D stuff is where the sledge really comes in to its own, high alpha maneuvers are better performed on it than the sudo or top cap. Now, it is easy to say I am bias to the plane since I did it, but if you need more I have about 10 of them flying now and all those owners love it. I can supply names and emails if you want to talk to them. Bottom line is, if it did not do it I would not have gone thru all the trouble of getting it into kit form. I will start on a video soon showing all the maneuvers, hope to have it to Morris by fall. Also, go to www.hsrcm.com and click on the movies page and you can download movies of the sledge. Kevin has graciously lent me some web space. You can also go to www.morrishobbies.com and go to the kits and read reviews written about the sledge from current owners. If you have any other questions shoot me an email at [email protected]
Thanks for your interest, Jeff Williams