Beginer, Minnflyer makes a good point. I should have elaborated in my earlier post: When I'm training a student, one of my ultimate objectives is to make it likely that the student's training plane will last far beyond the training period.

I developed that objective after seeing too many folks (myself included) damage their first plane repeatedly, and lose interest. It is very easy to damage that first plane, but it is just as easy to make it last a long time - by choosing to use an instructor.

That first plane, for most of us, is nothing so agile and aerobatic as your Extra. That agility, that aerobatic capability, translates into instability - which is of no help to the student. That's why we all recommend a less agile plane for the first experience. Even if you get familiar with the sticks on an RC flight simulator, it's a good idea to choose a less agile plane for your first field experience. Sometimes, you can even get an instructor to provide one.

Good luck,
Dave Olson