Hope I don't get in trouble here for recommending a SPAD, but here goes. I really really really do have and love my balsa / ply planes, but for the very first 3D plane you can't beat the SPA3D. These planes hover / harrier with ease. The high alpha stuff is awesome. Actually there a little slow on the tumbling maneuvers like the waterfall, but they can flat spin almost on their own axis. Eh, that might just be the pilot on the waterfalls. All the materials for these planes are available at your local sign shop and home center. They are made with Coroplast sheet which is a corrugated plastic cardboard, aluminum channel fuselages, and plastic cutting board motor mounts.

Three reasons:
Cheap (Center pic - Left plane $18.50 in airframe Right plane $15 in airframe)
Very fuel / oil proof
Almost Indestructible

The last reason is the main one. You can try low and crazy stunts without the fear of destruction. Any seasoned 3D flyer will tell you that learning hovering is best done closer to you (within safe distance of course). Learning to hover way up in the sky because you are afraid of crashing is a loosing game.

Very Detailed Plans and Instructions for these planes are free for the taking at spadtothebone.com.

Jeff A