nrgy,
Are you looking for an ARF or a kit? If you asked me to recommend a kit that could be your first plane, I would STRONGLY recommend a TF Contender. It builds very quickly and simply. And it has flight characteristics that rival many trainers AND aerobatic airplanes. I learned to fly on a Contender back in the 70's with the help of a very patient father. It will land at walking speeds, is very forgiving, almost unstallable, and very manuverable. It was, I'll submit, the fun fly genre prototype. You won't be sorry.