Fridge, I am an instructor pilot , and I've taught many people to fly. I help them no matter what plane they have, but all people and all clubs are not like that.

Incase my advice and some other's got lost in all of the gib gab, here's my two cents and a little more;

1. Visit the club before you buy a trainer and find out if those guys have any preferences or hang ups with any certain planes. Follow their advice and you will be more likely to solicit thier help. They may not agree with others here, but if you follow their advice, they will know you are serious and are respecting their time and effort to help you.

2. Do invest in some kind of simulator, they don't substitute for one-on-one instructors, but they are a usefull tool, well worth whatever you spend on one.

3. If you do want to buy a cheap foamy to practice with at your home, the 48" Hobbyzone SuperCub already mentioned by someone here is a great choice. Easy to learn on, reasonably cheap, very stable, very tough, very easy to repair, and Horizon customer support is great.

Hope this helps, keep us informed!<br type="_moz" />