My 2 cents,

Join your local club and get their help and suggestions for airplanes, radios, engines and etc. Do this before you spend any money.

Now having said that, I do recommend the Aircore Trainer. I am currently building one for my son.

Yes, the plane is not the easiest build, but not impossible. The wing is definitely the hardest part. But, the plane can take a TREMENDOUS amount of abuse and still fly. One guy at our club litteraly wore one out (with a O.S. 46LA). The plane had several crashes (not due to the design of the airplane). The airplane was flying sustained inverted flight (for the entire flight). Any basic aerobatic manuver which a trainer can do it will do. The airplane was still flying long after two other trainers had ended their lifespan.