I agree that Stik type models make excellent trainers when set up with low control throws at least while the radio is on low rates. I stated earlier a Little Stik is what I learned to fly with and pretty much taught myself to fly.

These are also excellent trainer planes with a semi symetrical airfoil instead of the flat bottom airfoil. They are pretty much the same plane as an RCM trainer and other trainer designed by Joe Bridi. Simple to build and as easy to repair as a Stik model. But they still look like a "damned cessna" so the poster HighPlains won't like them.

http://www.bridiairplanes.com/hangar/krafty60.html

I have one I built but haven't flown it yet. But I have owned 2 others in the past and they are very stable and land surprisingly slow.