ORIGINAL: davidgeorge212
Park Zone has an RTF glider called a ''Radian'', It is only 3 channels which is what most gliders are. It will set you back about 2 and a half bills but it comes with a dx5 transmitter which is a great investment. As far as foam being more durable than wood, I would not totaly agree on that. I have had crashes and seen crashes with foam planes that a balsa plane probably could have withstood. I would say durability is determined alot on how the plane is built. A plane that is built strong and is reinforced will withstand damage more so than a plane that is built to do only 3d manuevers. The down side with all these new balsa ARFS are that they are built incredibly light and are designed to only fly not crash. A downside with foam is that you need a foam safe glue if you crash. Meaning you will need something like foam safe CA which is pretty expensive or else hotglue or even epoxy. I would say foam and balsa both have their pluses and minuses. I must admit I am more partial to balsa so If I was to choose which one is more durable, balsa is what I would pick.
David
With the Radian, you do not need foam safe glue for repairs, it is made out of "Z-foam" (proprietary name for an EPP foam), which can take regular CA.
Foam will flex before it breaks, balsa, not so much.
Repairing foam planes is much easier and quicker than repairing balsa planes, that's the biggest advantage of foam. I've seen guys fly foam park flyers, crash and break them in several pieces, and 15 minutes later they're back in the air after CA gluing them back together.