Yes, a wonder will work great...until your first midair, then it will be raining balsa. Midairs are not the exception, they are the rule. If you fly even a small amount of combat, you will SURELY have one...if you don't, you're not flying close enough to the competition!

SPADs are great. I started with a Dart w/TT .46 Pro and it was a great place to start. I had a Predator (recently sold it) with light radio gear (micro rx, 280 nimh pack, HS-81 throttle, HS-225 elevon servos) and a Magnum .28xl on the snout. I built a couple of Grim's Sickles (same materials as SPADs), and they fly like a bat outta hell with a Norvel bushed .25 and light radio gear (micro rx, 280 nimh pack, HS-81 throttle, HS-225 elevon servos). Best of all, the airframe can be built in one evening for a little over three bucks! I never midaired one, but I'm sure it wouldn't be as tough as the Predator.

My pick out of all the above would probably be the Predator...just keep it as light as possible. They are nearly indestructible and fly great to boot! I flew the absolute dog crap out of mine, planted it in HARD many times, yet the plane would always escape with only easily-field-repairable damage (broken clevises, broken mount bolts, etc.).

I may build another Predator or Terminator soon as some of the guys in my club (future victims) have been discussing flying (somewhat) organized combat at our field.

-Tom