My first plane was a kit built Eagle 2.

Advantages: I built it, I understand everything about it, I know it is very well built and strong. (did I mention heavy...?). It's my bird and I'm rather proud of the finished product which I produced from a pile of flat wood. It will teach me to fly.

Disadvantages: It's my baby and I don't want to break it. My learning curve is shallow, baby steps. It takes me until the third flight of the day before I start leaving the gentle horizontal. All the "it's not if, but when" talk is for the other guy, not my bird, my pride and joy. Sure, it cost me as much or more than an ARF to build, Iwon't let anything happen to that pretty plane.

My 2nd plane is a Tiger 2 kit...I suspect it will have all of the advantages, and few of the disadvantages, it went together so fast, I didn't have time to fret over it. THAT will be a real workhorse!

Dave