Best Trainer for $: Spad Debonair. You can build about 7-10 Debonairs for the price of 1 ARF. The Debonair takes about the same amount of time as building an ARF such as LT-40, plus the savings in $$$ can go toward other flying gears.

I started flying with the LT-40 till I found out about the Debonair. You'll feel less stress when learning how to land (with the Debonair) for the first couple of times (at most, you've crashed a $15 plane). I've cartwheel, hard-drop, and sideway landed the Debonair many times without any damage. I don't think my LT-40 would have survived those earlier landings without serious balsa repairs.

Go with the Debonair (especially if you live in a windy area). You won't be disappointed.