Hi Jim
Avonds F15 is a nice semi scale starter but if you want crisp performance look to put at least a 27lb thrust turbine into it,
mine has an AMT Mercury hp in it and it takes a good chunk of a very well mown 150 yd strip to get off, in the air it does everything but sustained vertical.
My friend has a eurofighter sport with a 35 lb thrust turbine and that is quite spectacular and lands very slowly expensive but highly prefabricated can be airborne very quickly the Avonds comes as a two piece fus all formers have to be installed and
wings,elevons and rudders have to be glassed having said that it is a very good value for money kit.
for short fields i think i would go for a Bobcat lookalike inexpensive
and with a fixed undecarriage relatively maintenance free

Brian