Warwix since you are strongly attracted to the A9 I would like to point out some features very few know anything about and this was even true of Hitec customer service when I first started using my first one (I have and use two of them now) when they were introduced.

These features as far as I can tell only avalible on certain other high dollor futaba units. First and most important is the buddy cord system. Now that may seem not a big deal to you but indeed it could and especially so when you need a mentor and some buddy time on the P-51 or similar (make no mistake you will).

The buddy cord system gives the instructor the ability to completely trim the airplane while the student actually has control and the student never even knows it. People scowl at this but it is very important and usefull. There are many other unheard of features in the buddy system also such as the instructor has the ability to add control imput without ever releasing the trigger and the student never knows. The instructor also has the ability to delagate just one control axis of his choice at a time to the student. The list goes on

Now the listing for the A9 state that the radio has 30 model storage well not really so. By using the simple computer interface device that is avalible for anywhere from free to about thirty bucks and leaving some space avaliable for transferring model memory I your model memory become unlimited and infinate. You simply use this device to store model memory on you home computer or laptop.

Also for example since I need to send one of mine in for new switchs (a student dropped the tranny) broke it simply only takes a few minutes to transfer any airplanes that were on that radio in case I wish to fly one.

This compurter interface device will also allow you to update you transmitter and all you 7channel or more receivers. This is a great feature and is usedl. The 6 channel receivers are only updateable by sending them in and thats why I normally only buy the 7 channel or up.

All of this stuff is blue sky to you now but it will all come into play as you progress and you will be glad your system had the capabilitys. The very worst advice you received in this thread is to just fly the old Conquest. And the reason is you need to start learning now not later. Don,t be one of those fellows who refuse to learn there new systems. There are many that I have to acturally switch their models for them in the tranny when they want to fly a different one and will never learn that simple step to all computer radios. Start learning now.

Street prices are around 350 bucks and thats the reason I first suggested the Hitec Eclipse Pro which is just over 200.

What we do at our field is I take on the students using the Hitec current systems or on some I give them a loaner Rx so we can use the full system with my two A9's. Another instructor takes on most with Futaba systems. Futaba and Hitec are predominate at our field currently and while early on there were a number of the other modern system but they have faded away.

The A9 can and will serve you well, good luck.

John