There are a couple things you should check out and fix on this plane, the first is the extra long motor mount screw that can poke a hole in your battery. Here is the link to the problem. http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=PKZ4600


I hand launch mine all the time, just hold it behind the wings with your left hand and go full throttle on the tx. Get your right hand on the tx and ready on the right stick and throw it fairly level. The plane has more than enough power to pull itself if you give it a little up elevator, not much though or you'll stall it.