OK, I'll byte ... I have a NexSTAR ... but I haven't flown it. I have, however, read all the reviews I can find ... including ModelAirplane News and Sport Aviator. I trust both and both really like it. I have downloaded about 12 short videos of actual flight ... including BEGINNERS FLYING THE NexSTAR. Frankly, I believe.

http://www.masportaviator.com/ah.asp?CatID=1&ID=15
http://www.modelairplanenews.com/ma/...s/nexStar1.asp

Here's another believer: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_2739641/printable.htm

If it flys ANYTHING like the RealFlight simulator (and Rick Bell claims it does), which comes with the Select version, it's a champ. You can practice with and without the AFS on the sim. At the field, if you've never flown anything, try the AFS ... but make sure the sun is 25 degrees and you test the AFS as advertised. Be advised that when you 'turn off' the AFS for some future flight, the ailerons will not self correct.

As for the model, it's well built and does assemble very quickly ... about the same task as assembling a kids bike or a Sears lawn mower ... but DO remember, it's not as tough as a lawnmower, so, some care is required in handling ... it's balsa, remember ???

OK, as a builder, I wasn't satisfied to this extent: Assemble in 20 minutes and fly as soon as the batteries are fully charged. Maybe ... but will the next flight result in a 'rekitted' pile of balsa. Even if it does, you still have your transmitter, hopefully your receiver, and quite likely your motor and fuel tank ... on to plane number two, if that happens.

I surfed the internet looking for 'other reviews': 1 lost a wheel during flight ... make sure the collars are tight and tightened on a FLAT SPOT. 1 spun (aileron or rudder roll) in on landing ... could be a stripped aileron or rudder/nose servo since the kit comes with S3003s.1 complaint aired about wrinkles in the MonoKote ... gotta iron them out. Generally, that's about it.

BUT:

I think an RTF begins life 'out of the box' as an RTC (Ready To Crash), i'm a skeptic, and, worse, want to be certain I fly it a whole lot more than once ... so ...

1. replaced the 2 5/8 foam wheels with 3 1/4 light rubber wheels.
2. filed a flat spot under the wheel collars and tightened them tighter than should be necessary
3. replaced the S3003 servo lids with a Futaba kit making them S3004 ball bearing servos (with real ball bearings)
4. converted to 2 aileron servos immediately ... NEW S3004s ... put original on the shelf
5. put relief spring setup on the nosewheel pushrod to reduce stress/strain on the nose/rudder servo gears

... beyond that ...

http://www.masportaviator.com/ah.asp?CatID=2&ID=23

After applying the above Sport Aviator article, your RTC will truly be an RTF.