Yes Hitec radio's are nice. They work very well. But I will stand by my initial reccomendation. The EXA is just fine for a beginner. The programming is simplified for a first timer. Yes it lacks some of the sophisticated stuff. But a beginner does not need it. Even later on, this would make a dandy radio for the bunches of sport fliers we all seem to accumulate. I still say the EXA will work just fine. Your father will be proud to have it.

Mark Shuman