Also, do yourself a favor and find a local flying club that provides instruction. If you don't you'll probably have to abandon your concern about it "lasting a long time." I know of no one (including myself) that was self taught that didn't crash and rebuild (oftentimes more than once) before they became a proficient R/C pilot.

The primary objectives of a good instructor are to 1) teach you to fly, and 2) keep your equipment in one piece through out the process. By using a "buddy box," the instructor can intervene and correct a flight path where a crash would be imminent. They can gauge the progress of your learning and extend you increasing amounts of control as you learn. Not to mention confirm your airplane is airworthy and ready for flight in the first place.