I reccomend all of my students start with a Spad Debonair. Cost $10, builds in 4 to 5 hours with no fancy tools, and it will take lots of punishment without breaking. Plans are free on the Spad web site. It flies great and looks good. Any 40/46 engine will power it. It is large enough to be seen well from a distance, and all importantly it lands well. To me, it is the perfect basic trainer. After learning the basics, take the dihedral out of the wing and it becomes a very good second plane. Material is available at most sign shops.

If they persist in going to an ARF, which I think is a mistake, I lead them toward the Sig Kadet 40. I have nothing against most ARFs, but find most who start with them leave the hobby when the first plane is destroyed, as they can't repair or rebuild it.

More and more, I am finding it a waste of my time to spend 10/12 hours teaching someone to fly only to see them disappear when they ding up their first pretty ARF. I have taught well over one hundred guys to fly RC, but am considering, now, only teaching those willing to build a kit or a Spad. If a guy is not into some building I don't see them staying in the hobby.