I have just read this entire thread and........

Since when is my $100 foamie not a "real" airplane!? The darn thing flies just like your "real" plane right!? If it wasn't for my $100 foamie, I wouldn't have been exposed to this great hobby. Heck I built it my self, cut and glued the foam together, built my first brushless motor, learned how to balance and set up the plane properly, and basicaly learned to fly with my $100 foamie. I enjoy it so much that I've just purchased my first ARF plane, a Hangar9 Ultrastick with a OS .46AX engine. And yes I plan to join whatever I need to to fly it. I crashed alot of foamies. But with their low cost I could just build another and give it another try. I think if I had spent the time to build a so called "real" plane and then proceded to crash it, I might have been discouraged and quit the hobby. And I have accepted the fact that it's not IF I will crash it's WHEN I WILL crash. It happens to the best of them, example... http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robert....ng/gallery.htm

Most of the RX's for park flyers have to be small and usually have limited range, about 500ft. And the planes are small enough that they are not flown very far away anyways.

Looks to me like the best solution to this is to EDUCATE the buyers of these planes right from the start. The hobbyshop should have flyers to the local club(s) and give them to the buyer. I realize this won't work if the plane is purchased online. But maybe the manufacturers could include some AMA, or other info in the box. Yes I know that the manuals usually have some info, but I mean right on top, the first thing you see when opening the box.

And this blaming the manufacturer for what someone does with their product, is total BS. If it has an actual manufacturing defect or design flaw then it is up to the manufacturer to recall the product. And if something does happen in that case, then most likely the manufacturer will pay up.

But if YOU buy a new set of tires for your car, and YOU neglect to check the air pressure on a regular basis, and have a blow out that kills someone, is it the manufacturers fault that YOU failed to properly maintain the tires? I drive trucks and it amazes me how many cars, suvs whatever run around with obviously low tire pressure. And I have even been cussed at for pointing out that Mrs. SUV Soccermom has a low tire on her suv. Fine see ya in a few miles down the road, and I'll be sure to wave.

There must be new exposure to the rc hobbies or else they will die. And these inexpensive, easily repaired, easy to fly $100 foamies are just the ticket. I am glad I started with one.

See ya,
Rod