I dont recommend the funtana 40 for a beginers 3-d plane. I loved mine, but if you get one of the "bad ones that snap alot" then you wont have nothing but trouble from it. If i were you I would be looking at either the ucando 46 or flip3d. Both are pretty good at most of the 3d stuff. Either a high quality 46 like a thunder tiger or os 46 ax will be good as will a Satio 72. If it fit your budget, the new funtana 90 also looks like a great plane but it is a little more expensive to get it ready to fly. Ill tell you another good plane is the Phoenix models funstar 46. I had one with an OS 52 FS and believe it or not, it had very good vertical. It would hover at half throttle. If you put a 46 on one of those babies it would scream. The only manuver I couldnt get it to do well was a harrier, but I never even messed with the CG any. Im sure if you played with the setup i maybe would do one. But it did one of the best "Walls" of any funfly plane Ive had. Plus you cant beat the price at $109. I really enjoyed mine till the day it got in a midair with a Ucando. Also anoth suggestion that i saw was a foamy. either this or a spad would be great 3d trainers. If you buy good equipment for them then you'll be ready. Plus if you crash one, It one takes a few dollars in materials to rebuild. I think If you go with any of the above choices, you'll be 3-Ding in no time. Oh, one more thing, Simulators reall help out a lot. Really.