Ya know, I have to disagree with the "get a good radio and BB engine right up front". I would guess that the majority of people leave the engines in their trainer, because from time to time it's fun to go back and fly the darn thing. Plus you'll have a second airplane if you (knock on wood) plant your current plane. Also, having a cheap 4 channel Xmtr around is nice because there may come a day when you want a buddy box.

One of the things that really brought me back into the sport was the fact that I could get a RTF Avistar for under $300. I've got more than that tied up in my current radio, but I wouldn't have spent that much on just a radio then. True, I wound up with a spare 4 channel transmitter, but it's being used to fly another trainer right now, as is the LA that came on the Avistar. (I would still be flying the Avistar if it hadn't been involved in a midair). So I don't think a basic RTF trainer is ever a waste of money, if nothing else if you really take off in the hobby, you'll have a trainer setup to sell to someone else.

Andy