As a fair newbie and oner who hates to ask for help, I will tell you that you really should join a club and get an instructor. Besides the social advantage, you will save about $2000 in planes. If you INSIST on doing it yourself, I would recommend starting with something like a Zagi electric. It is a foam delta wing with a pusher prop. Doesn't seem like what you want, I know, but it can hit a telephone pole at full speed and still fly. You have to walk before you crawl!

Once you get good at that...landing it on the belly, making good turns, etc. you can move on to better things. A flight sim might be a good help, but don't break the bank on one (can be $200).

Yes, you do want to go with balsa when you get to that stage. While you think it is more fragile, it glues fairly well. My fiance stalled my trainer (Hobbico Superstar Select) at about 10 feet. It dropped straight to the ground. I was not too happy, but it ended up being ok.

As for your choice of field...I assume you are going to cut a runway...otherwise you will not get going very well. Also, you don't want to be cutting the grass with your prop...junk gettin in the carb is one way to kill an engine.

If there is anyway to al least go take ONE lesson with a local club, you will see that it is not as easy as it seems!!! JOIN THE AMA (the national organization) becuase you get insurance! Hope this helps

Zee