What if you simply ran another line from the handle to a small switch, I believe the CL guys do something like this to control the throttle. I can think of some different designs. Do you feel given the weight an 049 size plane it will fly OK? I can see this plane being lighter than an RC plane given that it needs no receiver or servos. I am concerned about the battery putting out full power for the flight, should I install some kind of resistor? Or maybe this is moot. I am just looking for something to mess around will in my parents yard with my 11 year old. Since I already have most of the parts I only need the plane. Would it really be much of a problem shutting off the plane, I only say this because when I was a kid we just flew around until it ran out of gas. Thanks for your help I am having a lot of fun with this project. Jeffp