Cranky,
Any of the planes mentioned would be good, just make sure you get with a trainer. Although there have been a few cases where a person has taught themselves to fly, the majority that try it end up cracking their plane up, getting frustrated, and quitting. Make your life much easier, and find a local flying field where you should be able to find someone to train you. I would also second the recommendation for the Avistar. I have flown several trainers. I have found that the Avistar is a good when to learn on, and will also allow you to do some basic acrobatics. It will hold your interest a little longer than the standard trainer. I would also recommend getting something with a .46 on it if you are going with a .40 sized trainer. An OS .46 AX is a pretty good engine from what I've heard, and when you finally get bored with whatever trainer you choose, you can move the .46 onto something a little more exciting, so it can save you some bucks in the long run. Good luck, and welcome to the hobby.

Allan