Sorry Brit, I very respectfully disagree one this one[]. Thats ok, I am comfortable with disagreeing doesnt mean we have to dislike.

It just that I know from experience on this subject that this one works and works well.. To be honest as I get better, I dont like the U CAN DO that much for 3D, its a great plane for learning basics and as a getle flyer when handled properly, but it really stinks if you want to do anything with any relative precision.

On this subject, I guy I trained, Bryan,, built a 4 star as his second plane and although I had fun with it he found it difficult to fly,, yet he could fly my U CAN DO or his Cessna 180 (an unforgiving plane which he learned with by the way) with ease. Come to find out he had set the deflections too high and it was very sensitive and almost impossible for him to fly. We cranked the rates down and it was a *****cat for him from that point on. It was way worse than a UCD on middle rate settings I can assure you

Also to be honest you speak of my experience, but to be honest I am relatively new to the hobby but have been fortuante to become pretty accomplished very quickly. For a 37 year old I progessed very rapidly, so I can relate the the difficulties a new pilot experiences from my recent memories. I will celebrate my second birthday this go round ( I flew a little in my late teens and early twenties) as a pilot in August. I have gone from a Kadet Senior to a U CAN DOx2,( I wore 2 out in 1 year then gave both away to friends in the club) to pattern planes and several different gas 3D planes of various sizes. I have trained I dont know how many pilots in the last 1.5 years and all are safe, successful pilots. I now compete in pattern at the Masters level and I do pretty darn ok, and I can fly 3D with anyone,,, well almost anyone[8D]. My pride and joys right now are a 37% Ultimate and a handbuilt custom made pattern plane. So it really depends on how you want to classify experience.

This probably sounds way too cocky but I really dont mean it to be..My point is, perhaps you are right, I learned so fast and became so proficient in such a short period of time that I dont relate to the average pilots learning curve. However, I do know that the guys that I have trained have all had great success and none that I know of have crashed significantly yet. 2 of them flew U CAN Dos within weeks of soloing and have had great success with them. They all but one or two got bored of trainers and now fly scale areobats or sport planes or something.

It all depends on the quality of training, the instructors ability to identify and help overcome problem areas and how good the instructor is at judging when a pilot is ready.