blue,
Hijacking threads ain't nice.
Just go to the forum page (like "Beginners"), and click on "new Post". (Or something like that.)

Sushi,
To start with a 40 size glow trainer, radio gear, engine, and all the support equipment (plus AMA and club memberships), you can expect to shell out around $500.

Now, you should NOT fly a glow powered plane at any public park, soccer field, baseball diamond or football field; they are just to fast and too dangerous. While seasoned RC pilots COULD do it, they won't, because they KNOW how dangerous it could be.

A glow trainer will typically cruise at 40 to 50 mph, that means it would cover the length of a football field in about 3 seconds. Picture that speed and a 20 minute run and you can see it could travel quite a ways if you lost control. These planes also seem to attract crowds of kids who don't know enough to stay out of the way. Add the fact that three people were killed by these things last year, and it's just not worth the risk.

That's why I mentioned AMA and club memberships. The AMA membership buys you $2 million in liability insurance when flying in a safe location, and while following AMA safety rules. A club membership will get you free instruction, usually on a "buddy box", and almost always without crashing your plane ONCE.

They are harder than small foam electrics to fly because they are faster. Faster flying, faster turning, and you have to think ahead of them which is difficult for someone just starting out. (Staying ahead of the plane is true with small electrics too, but it's a bit easier because they're slower.)

If you try to teach yourself you WILL crash. Probably repeatedly. Small electrics, especially foam, are more forgiving and can be repaired more easily. A glow trainer will very likely not survive your first crash if teaching youself, and your first flight may not last more than 5 to 10 seconds.

Oh yeah, a glow trainer will easily handle grass and dirt runways as long as they are reasonably flat, and the grass isn't too long.

The AMA website has a "club locater" page. Just plug in your Zipcode. http://www.modelair.org/

Good luck,
Dennis-