Animator,
If you have the money to buy the Futaba 9 CAP (or other 9 channel), then go for it. The radio will last you through about all you can think of, and is a good investment.

9 channels.... 2 for ailerons (two separate ailerons, one for each surface, plugged into channels 1 and 6), rudder, elevator and throttle. On larger planes they'll often use two elevator servos, on different channels, mixed as one.

Then there's Flaps, Retracts, Smoke Systems, and Bomb drops (for those warbirds), and a sliding canopy. Some engines allow for servo driven mixture control.

Let's see; 2 for Ailerons, 2 for Elevator, one each for rudder, throttle, Flaps, Retracts, Smoke, Bomb, Canopy and Mixture. Oh oh, that's 12 channels! [:@]

Let's see, that remote glow igniter can be fixed to come on at 1/3rd throttle or lower, so I won't need a servo for that, and I can tie my landing lights into the flaps....

Seriously though, I've been at this for 9 years now, fly with a Futaba 6 XAS, and haven't run out of channels yet. I'f you think you'll get into warbirds, giant warbirds, extreme aerobatics like 3D, high dollar gliders or helicopters, then get the 9 CAP (or whatever version), if you're not likely to get into any of the above, go with the 6 EXA or Futaba 7 CAP.

Get with an instructor for a few flights whatever plane you get (a trainer's not a BAD idea, but depending on how you did last time out a typical "second" plane like a Four Star 40, Tiger 2, or Super Sportster might be alright too.

Here's a link to the AMA website. They have a "Club Locater" page, just plug in your Zip Code and you'll get a list of clubs within an easy drive. (In case you don't have one lined up already.) http://www.modelair.org/

Oh, and if you haven't guessed yet. I'm suggesting that you stay away from small electrics, unless you'd prefer to fly on your own and have the space to do it. In any case, that small electric Focke Wulf is going to be a handful.

Good luck, have fun, and welcome to RCU!
Dennis-