Thanks for the replies guys.

My problem is that I don't know if there are any clubs near me, and I very much doubt it since I live in a fairly remote region.
Also, the cheaper planes on eBay are pretty much all I can afford, since it seems online stores price these planes at $100+ for a simple 2 channel park flyer (even w/o shipping!).
I don't know much about the hobby, that's why I was hoping you guys could give me some advice on what to look for and what to watch out for.
Specifically, I'm currently looking at the Shunda Accipiter Badius which has 3 channels and seems to be in my price range. I was hoping it was a well-enough known model that you guys could tell me if it was appropriate for me.