from a converted, long time gas flier; -both the goldberg Electra & Hobby lobby Skimmer are fine beginer machines & fly WELL with stock motor &7 cells(cheap) you can get by with one of the cheap or older used astro chargers for a while . since its essentially a powered glider, with the capability to shutdown &restart, endurance can be quite long.no it wont do rolls &high wind can be a problem BUT; easy to fly & land,cheap to maintain.basics can be mastered until he wants /affords gas machine.