Since you have experience, I probably don't need to tell you how good Ugly Sticks are. Eflite makes the Mini Ultra Stick which runs well on the inexpensive 3 cell 2100-2200 mah lipo packs that have become ubiquitous in the hobby. I test flew one earlier this year for a guy and was amazed at how good it was. Very light, as maneuverable as you want it to be, great in the wind, just everything you could want to get the rust off and get yourself flying again. If you budget allows, any of the glow powered ARF's can be converted to electric power pretty easily. You have to build a battery mount with some sticks and a hatch to get to it, and sometimes build a box mount for the motor with some plywood, but it's no big deal. All of the big motor manufacturers make drop in substitutes for glow planes that will power them appropriately.
For jets, I really like my Parkzone Stryker. It's a pusher plane so not really a jet, but it looks like one and flies like one. They are indestructible and can handle wind better than any plane this size should. It would be a good trainer to get you used to the speed and the different aerodynamics of a plane that doesn't have a prop up front.
And you're right about Banana Hobby. There are lots of complaint threads on RCU about them. Nitroplanes carries much of the same stuff. For brands to check out, Parkzone and Eflite make good stuff in the park flyer sizes, while the ARF's from Tower Hobbies and anything Horizon hobbies carries is quality.