Puffdaddy,

I'm relatively new to R/C; built my first Debonair about 8 months ago, and learned to fly it with an instructor and buddy box. A few short months later, I've built another Debonair with a "V" tail, a Flat Bat, Dogfighter, Das Plas Stick, Hell On Rails (3 each), PBF, etc.. If it weren't for Tattoo's and Kraut's hard work, and generosity I would still be repairing plane #1.

Flew my first combat meet, SSC, last month (got two kills), and just got through flying my DPS today in 15-20 mph gusty winds.
I would be nowhere near where I am if I were flying less durable aircraft. A gust produced a beautiful cartwheel on landing, and the biggest result was that I had to walk 50' to pick it up before I could put the glow driver on it and start it up and take off. A guy with a less durable plane had a similar experience and ended up with a broken wing, empenage, and three weeks of ground time.

I heard the same discouraging talk when I went from jumping an older round parachute to a newer "square" one (MANY years ago), but within a few months of watching me jump the wing, all of the "nay-sayers" were jumping squares as well.

Go for the SPAD Debonair! If you don't like it's flight characteristics or looks, you're only out a few hours work, and about $10 - $20. BUT, if you DO like it, with about $2 you can have a higher performance (flat) wing, or about $10 more, a super flying airplane (read: ROCKET SHIP) like a Das Plas Stick, Dogfighter, etc.!

Keep us posted on your progress, and don't forget to take pictures!

Blue skies,

DL