ORIGINAL: jester_s1
Alternately, you could buy an ARF trainer for about the same money you'll spend building a kit and save the kit building experience for your second or third airplane after you really know what it takes to have a nice flying airplane.
I tend to disagree with this line of thought for one simple reason; IF YOU CRASH IT, YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO REPAIR IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
While the ARC and ARF planes do get you into the air faster, learning to build a plane from the beginning will be a serious benefit later. If there is a local flying club, see if you can have someone WITH BUILDING EXPERIENCE help build the plane so you know it's done right. I, for one, don't trust the ARFs because I can't verify it was built straight and square until after it arrives and then it's too late since most places won't take back an openned box and you're stuck with it