2. I am looking for something with minimal assembly required to start with, probably an RTF, if I understand correctly. Any suggestions? I would like to spend $200 or less if possible. I might be willing to go up to $300. I seem to be hearing a lot of good things about the Hanger 9 Alpha trainer that goes for just under $300.
I'd say you can throw this out right away. A lot of people give the quick knee-jerk response of "$350" when asked how much it costs to get into this hobby. Take it from someone who's going through it right now - it's more than $350. You may be able to get yourself into a cheap plane, cheap engine, and cheap 4-channel TX for $350, or get yourself a Nextstar for $380, but don't be fooled - that's not where it ends. I've already spent nearly double that and I haven't even started putting my plane together yet. Now, to be honest, that's with a complete field box with electric starter, fuel pump, power panel, all the trimmings, and it's with a $260 7-channel radio and a good OS46AX engine ($105). I'm going with the plan that I'm going to be in this for a while and it's all a big investment, but it's mostly stuff I'm not going to have to buy again and I'm going to need it all once I get going anyway. On top of that, I've been an apartment-dweller up until this year, so I had to buy a table to work on, a few tools (dremels are pricey, but oh so good!), and all the small things that you may or may not have that you need to put your stuff together - it all adds up and it adds up quickly. Throw on AMA and/or club membership dues, fuel, whatever else, and it's a (un?)fair bit more than $350.