I started on an Aerobird. Today you would get an Aerobird Challenger. Ready
to fly! Nothing to build, balance or set-up! Nothing to do wrong in
building, balancing and setting up! $120 on e-bay ready to fly! $150 at your
local
hobby store.

Here is a review from Backyard Flyer:
http://www.hobbyzonesports.com/Disco...ID=1289#Page01

No you can't move the electronics stuff to other planes, but who cares? I
have 15 planes and I still enjoy flying my Aerobird so I wouldn't want to
move the equipment anyway. Plus this is the plane I let friends fly to try
out RC flying because it is so easy to fly and so rugged.

Low cost entry on a very rugged three channel plane that flies well. If you
like RC flying, then you can invest in more costly equipment and then go for
the 4 channel plane. If you don't like it, you only dropped $150.

Of course if you like it, you can go back and get the air to air combat module
and the bomb/parachute drop module for the Aerobird Challenger Then get a
friend to get one and have a ball with air to air combat, precison bombing
runs and parachute drops.

I have flown the plane in winds of 10-15 mph on many occasions. It also makes
a pretty good first thermal glider so that you can get a taste of what
sailplanes are all about.

Prepare for the purists to groan at this, but it really is hard to beat it for
a low cost entry plane that can really take a beating!