Model airplane recommendations

[ascorbate]

As a squadron AE activity, I am seeking to have cadets build a rubber-band powered model airplane. I have googled the product and their are a hundred possibilities. Does anyone have firsthand experience with cadets building/flying any specific model airplanes (balsa, plastic, etc) in the target age range of 13-16 years old? I looking for something not to simple but not to complex to build.

[freeflight]

I have been building rubber powered free flight for 20 years.  I got started in high school when a local indoor free flight club used the gym. That's where my id comes from. I would not start with scale airplanes at first.  The scale airplane are hard to construct and harder to trim. Here are a few links for sites that focus on free flight. Stay away from the peanut scale kits.  That only increases the difficulty of the project.  Guillows produce some scale looking kits but the designs are too heavy and the materials are too heavy to fly. Embryos and Bostonian will be good starts, they are simple in shape and are easier to trim. Use the backs of ceiling tiles as building boards they are cheap and flat.

The books to start with are:
Rubber Powered Model Airplanes and Flying Models by Don Ross.  These are the text books for rubber power free flight.  Flying models is the magazine of choice.  Model Airplane News has moved from free flight years ago.
http://www.flying-models.com/


http://www.peck-polymers.com/
Here is a good place to start. That have the supplies from contest weight wood to the good rubber in different thicknesses.  They carry the props and thrust bearing that most people use on their planes.

http://www.smallflyingarts.com/
This is a good forum to see what is currently going on in the hobby.  They have plans that can be downloaded.
         
http://www.windysock.net/
This is a group from the Flying Aces

http://www.aeroaces.com/flyingaces.htm
Flying Aces is a group that has been formed to keep the hobby going and keep people competing.

http://www.ualberta.ca/~khorne/
WWII designs fun builds

http://www.theplanpage.com/
Very good library of designs from WWII. Many plans from Earl Stahl. I'm currently working on the BT-13 from this site
               
http://www.dumasestore.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=50
Dumas produces several kits that are laser cut and go together easily.
                              
http://www.ffscale.co.uk/
Mike produces some fantastic models.  He also has some simply guides on starting.

http://www.easybuiltmodels.com/
They have a lot of great kits that are light and will fly if built strait.  I use the magnetic building board from this company. They carry many kits that are models of airplanes that CAP has or has used..
         
http://www.darehobby.com/airplanes/airplane-rubber-diels-01.htm
Dare carries many designs from a lot of companies.  Diels kits are some of the best. None of the wood is precut on these kilts so all of the parts have to be hand cut but they make great airplanes, and they fly.

http://www.iflyherr.com/
Herr produces kits that are laser cut and are east to build.

I would start with one of these planes.  The Cessna 180 and the Piper Cubs are good starts.  They are scale airplanes but are easy to build and fly well

These are some quick ideas.  There is more out there.

[ascorbate]

Sir, I thank you for the very detailed reply... I was beginning to think that I might need to ask my question again. I have not had a chance to go thru the bevy of info you provided but it sure looks complete! Thanx!

[freeflight]

I apologize for the amount that I spilled out.  This is the first time anyone has asked about this hobby.  To answer your question:
Start with a couple of Herr kits.  The Cessna 180, Piper Cub or the Tri Pacer are good choices. They are scale plane without dealing with more complex shapes. 
Get a few ceiling tiles for the building board and T pins. 
Wax paper to cover the plans.
X-acto knives to cut the wood
Emery boards to sand and size the wood.
Yellow wood glue. CA (super glue) is quick but is brittle.
A 90 deg square to keep part straight when gluing them up.
A bottle of "Son of a Gun" to lubricate the rubber.
New rubber to replace the rubber in the kits.   
A winder to wind the rubber.
A bottle of Krylon clear to seal the tissue.
A spray bottle of water to shrink the tissue.
A UHU glue stick that is purple to attach the tissue. Using the purple color you can see where the glue is on your frame.
Use different colors of tissue to color your plane. Don't use paint it will be to heavy.
Just be sure that the plane is built straight and square. It will take more then a couple of nights to build a plane that will fly.
I would try building a couple of planes yourself then introduce free flight to the cadets.

[ascorbate]

Was wondering if anyone has experience building/flying Guillow's balsa wood airplanes at: http://www.guillow.com

Since they've been around since 1926 and many online retailers seem to be selling their products, they have to be doing something right!

[freeflight]

I would recommend that you not build Guillows kits.  They are over drawn, heavy wood, bad props, heavy tissue and they will not fly.  You will be disappointed.