Here's a few more thoughts to help you pass the winter. See if you can contact some of the local club members. Even though they might not be flying, I've found many modelers love to help new people. Since you've got all winter, consider building a kit rather than an ARF. The trainer kits from the major brands usually have great instructions. Supplement the instructions with help from the local modelers you contacted. Kit building can be a lot of fun, you might find you like it. Consider buying an R/C simulator. This would let you build skills and can greatly shorten the time it takes to solo once you're actually flying. For the radio, you've got to decide what direction you are going. If you are really serious about getting a heli eventually, go ahead and spend the money up front for a heli capable radio. If you're not sure, a basic 4 channel is all you need to get started. The flight pack (receiver, battery, and servos) from it would still work if you later bought a heli radio from the same, or a compatable brand. This would let you bring two planes (or a plane and heli) to the field.