hey! i started out with a megatech merlin and i returned it after 2 flights. then i got a mini piper. my view of the hobby changed. easy, fast, etc. i learned all by myself on the mini piper. it flies a LONG time on one charge, but make sure, if you use the stock setup as hobby lobby recommends, use a 7 cell 720 mAh nimh battery instead of the 6 cell 1000 mAh pack. it flies just as long at half throttle as the 6 cell pack at full throttle, but it has the extra cell if you want extra power. you might even want to try a lithium pack. also, get a 6x4 kavan softprop and a prop adapter if you use the speed 300 thats recommended. i guarantee youll have fun. yeah so if you get the stock setup, these 2 changes will make it a lot better. also, the wing is thick foam which is easy to glue if it breaks (use 5 min epoxy, not ca glue). i kept the mini piper the longest out of all my planes because it flew the best and it was great. see, i cant stop saying how great it is. well any the mp is a good choice. good luck and have fun