Well, where should I start? I have been a beginner for about fifteen years now. I recieved my first plane, a Hobbico Flightstar 40, as a christmas gift from my grandparents. I should have been about 12 at the time. For the next several months, my grandparents would take me to the hobby shop they got it from and the shop owner would assemble it for a few hours a week until it was completed. I went out to the field with the shop owner a few times where he trained me on it, but I never flew solo. It would be about eight years later before I got in contact with him again. We started at square one and after a few days of training, I flew solo for a few hours. That was the last time I flew, and all of the experience that I have. I moved out of state, and the plane was left at home with my grandmother. Now, here I am in 2010 seven years later, and once again wanting to get back into the hobby. I recently moved back home and found my plane in pretty bad shape when Ireturned. When I left, the plane was stored in a dry, clean place. But since I have been gone, my grandmother has moved and apparently it was stored in an outdoor shed for a while. The engine is completely siezed up, the vertical stabilizer is snapped at the base (as well as the fusalage where it connected), and the horizontal is missing the caps (not sure what to call them) on the ends.

I think it's time for a new plane. I'm sure the old Flightstar could be fixed up, but for now, I have decided to go a different direction and have made a couple decisions. I want to start out with electric this time, and I want an RTF. After just a little looking around, I've narrowed it down to two planes, though I'm sure there will be more to catch my attention.

FMS Sky Trainer
I know this is a huge step down from my Flightstar, but I'm looking at this solely for the pricetag. Everything needed to fly for less than $150. Money is tight for me at the moment and this would atleast get me up in the air again. I've also heard that it's a decent little plane.

Alpha 450 Sport
From what I understand, there is an RTF version of this that includes the installed reciever and all that's required seperately is a transmitter and battery. It would be a more expensive route for me, so it would be a while before Icould do it. However, from what I read, this trainer is a little more sporty and I would get more fly time out of it before wanting to move onto something more advanced, so I would get a lot more out of it. It would also mean I would be getting a transmitter for any future planes I may aquire, as I would want to get a transmitter for this that could have multiple models programmed.

I would like to ask for any advice that anyone here may have for me, whether it be about these planes, suggestions for other models, or other areas that would help me get started up again. If any of you happen to be instructors in the Salem Oregon area, I wouldn't mind hearing from you as well.

Thank you.