I started with an electric glider (Aspire EP) then got a couple flying wings (Zagi, Unicorn) and was very happy with a Hitec Flash 5X. It's a 5 channel computer radio with almost any mix that you could want (for 5 channels anyway). I've since moved on to wet planes and the Hitec is at its limits of usability. I can have two seperate/mixed ailerons but now I don't have anymore channels. That's pretty good for a 4 channel 5 servo (or 5/5 I guess) plane but any steeper radio requirements and I wont be able to use this radio.. The good things are: it's relatively in-expensive less than $185 for a TX/RX combo (depending if you go with standard gear or micro), it's got mixes for Gliders, Acrobatic and Glid-Acro, 5 model memory, and it's reliable as far as I can tell. It's mainly plastic in construction but has 4 switches, one of which is for the buddy box function. This radio is compatible with Futaba gear so a Hitec can talk to a Futaba radio via training cord and also use Futaba receivers and servos. My next TX will probably be a 9CAP of 8U but my Flash 5 still has it's uses. For the money it's a very comprehensive package.

Hope that helped,
Danno