Weather in DFW area this year has been anything but kind to R/C fliers. It has been extremely wet, cool and windy in 2012. Haven't flown nearly as much as last year by this time. Gave me a reason to use the transmitter glove I purchase last summer.
I have added a new profile 3-D plane to the hangar. It is called a Swift by Tech One and is sold by Nitro Planes. I have to say it is probably my new favorite plane. It is constructed of EPP foam and has proven to be quite durable. I'm using a Turnigy L3010B - 1300KV motor, 40 amp ESC with a 11X4.7 prop. Battery cutout can handle anything from a 1300 to a 2200 mah 3S battery. Would recommend using metal gear servos due to the large control surfaces. When installing the landing gear I recommend reinforcing all the plywood mounts by putting addition glue/epoxy on them and filling void between metal landing gear. This won't allow you to remove it but allows for much harder hits when landing.
Recently purchased a Hobby King Bixler. This is probably one of the best beginner planes I could recommend. You can buy it RTF, ARF and as a kit. I went with the ARF version which only requires you to purchase a 20-30 amp ESC, receiver and a battery. If it is in stock at the USA warehouse it cost about $67 delivered to the DFW area in Texas. First thing I would do is remove all the washers hot glued in the nose of the plane. You can install a much larger battery rather than carrying around dead weight. It is weighted for a 1300 mah battery but no problem using up to a 2200 with washers removed. While the motor is good for a beginner I have already bumped mine up to a Turnigy D2826-6 2200KV motor with a 6X4 prop. Hobby King sells a replacement plywood canopy so you can mount FPV camera in the front. For those beginners just learning to fly on their own and nobody to hook up a buddy cord with I would recommend hooking up the rudder to the aileron position of the receiver. Leave the ailerons servos zeroed out and disconnected for the first few flights. When you feel comfortable with flying it this way then just move the rudder servo back to its position on the receiver and then plug in the ailerons.
