I agree with Jester about learning the flying part to save a lot of repairs. I started with an Avistar with and OS46 in it and it was a great trainer for me. I did take 5 years off and after coming back, I bought a trainer package that came with the radio and he is right the radio was not the best. However, I live outside of town and do fly foamies at my house using the road in front for a runway. My field flying radio is a Spektrum DX8 and for programming you can't beat the new radios. While you are practicing your flying, you can have a kit plane under construction. My first build was a Sig Somethin Extra. And don't discount the club route either, I have learned a lot and it also helps shape what you direction you go for future flying. You can be exposed to scale, pattern, giant size, and all sorts of aircraft types...then you can decide on what you want to do.

For posterity, here is a thread with a picture of my very first build.... my Somethin Extra is the first post:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/kit-...ring-jobs.html