I ordered a ModelTech Extra-300 .25-.32 from Hobby People this last winter. After the fact I was told by several RC vets that this ARF is a whacked out,, over sensitive small plane that would end up crashing within ten flights or so.
GUESS WHAT ? This little sports plane is the easiest to handle plane I own. I have two of them now with custom graphics . One with an OS-.25FX and one with an OS.25LA . The whole idea was to convert the plane into an electric. But after flying it with nitro and making the best "EXTRA-300" landings I've ever made in my RC lifetime,,, I see that this little bugger is a (NITRO KEEPER).
It will fit into any auto. Uses very little fuel. And will spin like a ceiling fan on high rates. Plus like all Extras,,,"IT's FAST"!
The .25FX really rips on the low passes. And the .25 LA is.... well,,,,,a .25 LA. But even the LA motor"d Extra performs crispy.
I read where many guys are running .40s in this bird. I can see why now. The vertical moves need a bigger motor. But even with a .40 the balance is good. No real need to add weight to the tail. The battery will serve as all the weight you need. (Closer to the tail of course.)
For $89.00 this is one great ARF for the lunch-time,,or after work guy who likes to leave a plane in the trunk for an afterwork flight before coming home to hear about what kid acted badly or what bill showed up in the mail that day.
I even got a replacement from Hobby People when one showed up with a warped wing and saddle. They really took good care of me on warranty replacement.

Let's hear from the tiny Extra folks !!!!

I've posted praise on this plane many times. I first flew it with an OS 25F ABC. This was plenty of power for standard aerobatics. It's now got a Webra .32. I can't imagine needing more power. I think a .40 or larger would be too much weight.

Don't you just love how the bigger is better crowd insists that small planes are twitchy? I've got several that prove them wrong, but they still don't get it.

I have one and can't say anything bad about it. Well maybe it's so small and fast it disappears pretty quick. I'm running an O.S. .32 SX and that's all the power I'll ever need. I was sweating it's survival before the maiden, but my worries were unfounded. It's very stable and lands nice if you bring it in with just a little throttle. I've had several people be surprised to learn it was an $80 ARF.

Sturtz - you think yours was bad? Wait till you see what they told me about the Global Raven, I was told that I should use it for decoration or as firewood. Yeah ... it was such a nice plane to fly! Landed easy and never snapped on me. I think it has to do with set up. Not talking about difficult planes such as jets and big pylon racers but set up is the key.

Setup is the key to it all. Every part of the build will make a differance in the way it flys. That is a very true statement.
Well,,,, I had just gotten back from flying both my little Extras yesterday and had to post something nice about them.
We were taking off and landing from the west,, but the wind was out of the south at 10mph. I was a bit worried the small planes would crab in or tip stall. But my worries were dashed first landing. My buddy flew the .25LA model all day. Running it rich to break the motor in for me. It died a couple of times before we got it dialed in and the deadsticks were as smooth as butta.
The wind did push the tail pretty good without power. But a little rudder trim fixed that.
My large models have more power and several other things that we RC people like about this sport. But for grabbing a couple of planes and throwing them in the back. Then heading out of town to fly with friends you can't beat it.