I generally recommend to new flyers in our area that they go for a fairly large trainer - something in the size of 60 - 70 inches wingspan range. This give you a plane that is easy to keep in sight.

A trainer is definitely needed - they are designed to fly at a reasonably slow speed and have good stability - depending on the plane some can do a pretty good recovery from a problem if you just neutralize the sticks and let it recover on its own.

Despite a trainer flying fairly slowly, when you are first learning to fly it is just amazing how quick it can start getting out of sight. The key in learning to fly is to be able to put the plane in the area in the sky where YOU want it, not where it wants to go (they do tend to have a mind of their own).

Another thing is if is an ARF look for one with a really contrasty color scheme that is in colors you can pick up readily. If you build your own, that is easy to do. Last weekend, a new pilot came out with his trainer - kit built - and he covered it in a pale blue and white scheme - you can't imagine how hard that was to see once it was in the air and some distance out.

Hope that this is helpful.