Being an old time builder I thought ARFs were for the birds. I have tried three now and think that they definitely have a place in the hobby what with people not having the time or getting enjoyment from building. As far as radio equipment is concerned you will have to check the frequency. Some ARF park flyers use a channel in the
49 Mhz band. They are generally compatible with our 72 Mhz band or the 75 Mhz surface frequencies. The advice to find an RC club is very good. You may believe one is too far away but a trip to find an instructor is worth every mile. The last check by AMA in the 90's discovered that the average RC flyer traveled about 29.6 miles to get to his field. If you save part of your $1500 compare it to the fuel costs to drive to a club field. Good luck and welcome to the most fun you can have standing on the ground.