I've yet to log a minute of rc flight time, although I've got two nitroplanes models almost ready to go (the weather here just won't cooperate). However, I find it incomprehensible that anyone would take to the air without first testing the control surfaces...unbelievable.

As was mentioned, these foamies look like toys to too many people, and of course they are not...they are airplanes. Hell, I'm a CFII with 50-hours of DC-3 time, and I fully expect to crash even after checking for correct control-surface movements.

I agree that the manuals (at least the two I have) on these planes stink, and the manufacturers need to do a better job of communicating to their American customers - including those who think these model aircraft are plug-and-play toys.

If I were going to go into the rc airplane manufacturing business today, I would produce nothing but airliners - both contemporary and classic - and they'd sell by the tens of thousands. The reason I don't, of course, is that I wouldn't want to deal with those who don't understand why down elevator resulted in their planes going down. Here's an example of the types of planes I would produce:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-97tIi_jcMA