Carl! I think you will be very happy with the Avistar as your first plane. Hobbico makes a nice kit, but more instructors need to complain to Hobbico about the Nexstar. The new Avistar I haven't flown, due to no longer doing primary training. The original Avistar had a smaller diameter fuselage. All beginners want a trainer that looks like a Cessna or a real plane. Thus the reason the Nexstar has been successful for Hobbico. Remember for them, it is all about the $$$. Several years ago when I was doing primary training, my frustration and lack of patience with the Nexstar actually made me quit primary training. I hate to say this, but I even let a student, who wasn't listening to me anyway, total his Nexstar, just to get him and the plane out of my hair. Yes! I know it was terrible, but one of my other student's knew my frustration with it, and we both laughed our ***** off over it. That was the day I gave up primary training. Hobbico! If you read this, come up with something else or discontinue the Nexstar.