I am going to throw my $0.02 worth in here.

BEFORE BUYING A RADIO, go to the local club/field and find out which brands are in use by the majority of the people there. Also find out what are the LEAST USED CHANNELS. Then get the brand of radio used by the MAJORITY of people at the field AND on one of the least used channels.

Manuals are very good, however, a real person with knowledge/experience with your brand of radio is much better when (not if, but when ) a question or problem arises. By getting a the radio on one of the least used channels it will minimize/eliminate your waiting time for the channel to clear so you can fly. It also greatly reduces your chances of being accidently "shot down" if someone inadvertantly turns on their radio while you are in the air.

As for a radio, The major brands (Futaba, HiTec, JR, AirTronics) are all very good and quite reliable.

I suggest a 6 channel (or more ) COMPUTER radio. Starting out you will be using very few of the features on the radio, however, as you progress you will be using and wanting these features. A prime example are flaps and retracts. MANY fliers want them by their 3rd or 4th plane. By getting the higher channel/capacity radio initially you save yourself from having to buy a second radio.

I also suggest a "buddy box" cord. This is a cord that goes between the 2 transmitters so the instructor and you can control the plane. Compatibility between brands is a common problem (although it is getting better) for buddy box cords and equipment. This is why I said to find out which brand was primarily used before buying anything.

I am somewhat familiar with Futaba, but not other brands. I can recommend the 6EXA radio system. It is a good, relatively inexpensive radio that will do you in good stead for many years. I can also tell you that Futaba and HiTec are USUALLY compatible with each other.

I will throw my $0.02 worth in on another matter also, the RTF setups. STAY AWAY FROM THEM !

The engines range from marginal to OK FOR THE TRAINER, but are rarely useable for a second plane due to lack of power. The AFS offered on one of the RTFs is the biggest piece of cr*p out there. Beside having to relearn how to fly when you go to a regular plane, you will be fighting the controls all the time. The radios on the RTFs are 4 channel BASE level radios.

I suggest the following for a trainer set up:

1. Get an ARF trainer you like the looks of. MOST trainers fly pretty much the same. I suggest the ARF over a kit for 2 reasons - you will not have the emotional attachment to the plane and you may inadvertantly build in a warp or other problem. With an ARF you can be pretty sure the plane is built properly. You will learn about repairs as you go along. Remember, the trainer is to learn on. Expect it to get damaged and beat up in the process.

2. Get a USER FRIENDLY ball bearing 46 engine. By user friendly I mean 99%+ will run great right out of the box with little or no "fiddeling". Some user friendly engines I can recommend are OS AX, Thunder Tiger PRO and Evolution. The ball bearing 46 will have plenty of power for your 2nd, 3rd, etc plane. There are many very good engines out there, however, a great many of them require a good amount of "fiddeling" with to get to run properly.

A LHS (Local Hobby Shop ) would be a good place to start. While they MAY BE a little higher than the mail order, the support is there when you need it. MANY LHS meet Tower's price, especially on large purchases such as you would have initially.

Hope this is of some help.