I have a Freedom, and found it difficult to fly at first. I've had to repair it several times -- new fuse, two new tail sections. And it's in need of a new fuse now. I find that it's best to replace the fuse if the motor mount starts to collapse because the plane becomes unstable. You can get the fuse without the electronics and motor, although swapping out the old electronics and motor is like performing brain surgery!

Because I was finding the plane stressful to fly at first, I went and bought a Hobbyzone Firebird Freedom. I figured, being a two-channel model which is much smaller and lighter, it would go slower and be easier to fly.

I had some problems with the Firebird at first, because the elevons weren't responsive enough. So I moved the control lines to the advance setting and also lengthened the control surfaces with cardboard. And that really helped.

I also put some weight in the nose. If you find that the plane stalls a lot, put weight in the nose. If it can't climb anymore and gain altitude, that's too much weight. Think of it as a glorified Air Hog, it pretty much flies on its own, but you can correct its direction with rudder and speed with the throttle.

Now I'm teaching my 15-year-old son to fly with the Firebird.

There are other 2-channel planes on the market which may be better and less expensive, such as the Hobbico Flyzone Swift Flyer (never flown one). I personally don't think those flight-assist technologies supposedly engineered into the Hobbyzone planes work, and probably boost the aircrafts' prices needlessly.

I practiced with the Firebird for a while and then got the courage to try the Freedom again. And I had several successful flights! One day I flew when it was a little too windy...

I always fly my Freedom with the anti-crash technology "off" (ever since my first flight--and crash--I'm not convinced the ACT works, and may even cause crashes).