I don't know what experts you've talked to, but the Air Core trainer is a nice flying plane and fairly tough. Any of the Hobbico series of trainers, along with the Tower trainer and the Great Planes PT series, are also excellent trainers. As you probably know from your work, you can't build to crash. You must build to fly.

Crashes will happen, and planes will break. When they do, assess and repair the damage and get back in the air.

Welcome to fuel-powered R/C.

Dr.1