I've been reading a lot of posts here trying to decide whether to get a Hobbico Avistar Select RTF or a Hangar 9 Arrow RTF. I'm not exactly a beginner to RC flying since I've been flying small electrics for about two years, but I am fairly new to glow planes having flown an old three channel Hobbico Sturdy Birdy about 10 times. I want an RTF high wing advanced trainer and from what I've read the Avistar and the Arrow seem to be pretty good planes.

I like the Arrow because it has more wing area and a bigger engine which I think should give it both shorter takeoff and slower landing capabilities, but am leaning toward the Avistar because it has Futaba radio equipment and I already have a Hitec Flash 5 SX computer transmitter that I would like to use with the new plane. I have read a lot here about using two aileron servos to enable the use of flaperons to slow the Avistar down for landing which is something I'm very interested in. I've done it with the Flash 5 SX on one of my electric planes. Since the Arrow comes with JR equipment, I don't believe it will work with the Hitec Flash 5 SX.

The reason I want short takeoffs and slow landings is because I want to fly this plane at home where I fly my electrics and the Sturdy Birdy, as well as at the club field. The Sturdy Birdy is very difficult to takeoff safely at home because it requires a pretty long run if there's no headwind. It's a good thing it is sturdy.

I do not want to go the ARF route. I can do it, it's just not what I have in mind right now.

My main questions are:

Am I correct in assuming the Flash 5 SX will work this way with the Futaba receiver that comes with the Avistar Select RTF?

And, am I correct in assuming that it will not work with the JR receiver in the Arrow?

Or, would I just be better off with the Arrow and not need to worry about slowing it down? (Although I might have to try it anyway just because I like to see how things work.)

Any other comments, suggestions or experiences about these two airplanes or any of the assumptions I am making would be very welcome.

Thanks.