Hi Drifter81, I built a Tower Trainer .40 MkII ARF for myself last spring. When I installed the engine mount as per the directions, it didn't have enough downthrust in it and plane would shoot straight up off the runway so fast it was comical. You and your dad may want to try adding a couple of washers behind the engine mount on the top two bolts. This will help angle the engine down a bit and remove some of the upthrust of the stock engine mount installation.

In the mean time, I voted for the Flyzone Cessna 182 RTF. At $159 or so, it's a solid value for a ready-to-fly electric airplane with ailerons. It's also nice that it comes with a 72Mhz radio system with a buddy box jack on the transmitter.