Well I have a slightly different take. If you think that you are going to be stuck with or satisfied with your 1st plane for a year or two. Or if you think you will only be flying one plane at a time then the suggested radios are a great choice. But if you think you might want to move up or if you ever think you will have more than one plane at a time then I think a transmitter like the Futaba 9C would be the way to go, For under $400 you can get the transmitter, a 9 channel PCM(better) receiver and 4 good servos. If you opt for the setup without servos you can get it for about $289. And you will be finished worrying about transmitters for years to come. The 9C will allow you to program and fly about 16 different airplanes all with the touch of a button. The programming is very intuitive for a beginner and it allows you TONS of setup options that will allow you to fine tune your control surfaces without having to make as many mechanical adjustments on the plane. For an extra $100 you are basically finished buying transmitters. It will do everything you will ever need including pattern and precision aerobatic setups and mixes.

There is also a 7C transmitter that is even less expensive than the 9C that actually comes withdigital servos that would also probably be a good choice, but even then for the extra $50-100 you will have a transmitter that will last you forever or until a new generation of transmitters come out that you just cant resist.


The top of the line are the Futaba 9ZWC2 and the JR 10X, the 9C has all of the functions that these transmitters that you actually NEED, what it lacks you can live without with ease. I bought a $200 transmitter on my 1st purchase a couple of years ago and from one relative newbie to another I would say of you have the money go with the 9C.


Also, read up on the difference between PCM and FM receivers. FM receivers are a little less expensive and work reasonable well most of the time. PCM receivers give you a tremendous increase in insurance that you investment will not be destroyed due to interference by using coded signals and multiple signals. It is very difficult to get "hit" with a PCM receiver. Many people have been flying FM forever with no problems but many many planes have been lost due to interference with FM receivers, VERY few have been lost with dual conversion PCM receivers due to interference according the the data that I have read. Just a suggestion of something else to look into..


It is very important to understand that you can live with a deadstick(dead engine) but if you lose a battery pack or if you lose communication between your radio and the plane you will crash. Battery packs and interference are the most common cause of crashes amongst all pilots including new pilots. With buddy box training practices that are used so widespread most new pilots are very capable and seldom crash because they are fully capable of flying before they ever solo.