Here I am in another discussion I said I would never be a part of--(some of us never learn or else cannot pass up the bait)

My first ARF was a plastic Lanier Dart ($50) with a Magunm 61-- then I got a Royal ARF trainer($95)--when I joined the wings, one wing half was about 3/8 inch in front of the other--over the years there have been a number of GP ARF-- Pitts and Wagstaff-Dave Patrick-World Models of various flavors and also some high dollar Aeroworks ARFs/Composite ARFs etc..... I think they are all of good quality, but some are not worth the money and I will leave it at that. When comparing the GP Pitts at $400 to the Aeroworks Ultimate at $600 (then you had to buy the hardware) I could not see the difference in quality for the difference in price. nuff said!

Then I bought a Kangke Waco here on RCU for $350 shipped to my door and I will say that it is by far the best to date as far as quality/design/parts fit/value for the money even at full retail, and just about everything else.

SUMMARY: I used to build kits because I had to and some were a joy! But I cannot build as well as ARFs (most of them, anyway) are constructed in this generation. Are there problems? You bettcha! Can you take a box of sticks and do better? Some people can-I can't! Therefore I don't complain.

PS-- this statement is not meant to start a war, but most of the ARF bashers that I have met, are master builders. They do excellent work and enjoy a talent that not many can duplicate. Since starting in this hobby in 1989, I remember when the only great looking and flying planes were the few constructed by these guys. I have built many kits -- and while they flew good, they did not look the best. I sometimes wonder if these remarks come from the fact that they no longer have all the attention at the field.