All,
I need some advice from some experienced RC flyers. About 10 months ago, I went to the only hobby store in north Louisana looking for a good trainer that can take a alot of punishment and handle itself well. The guy at the store recommened an Aerobird by Hobbyzone, naturally, I opted for the Aerobird Extreme. After almost a year, I have to say that bird has held up very, very well. I have to put about 3 new tail sections and one new wing on it but I have really enjoyed that plane. I guess being from the "video-game" generation allowed me to jump right into it fairly easily; After only a few flights I felt like I had the controls down fairly well. After flying it for a while, I'm noew looking to expand my R/C airplane horizons some and I've been looking at the following two options:

1. Hangar 9 RTF Alpha Trainer

2. Parkzone P-51 Mustang

I have always wanted a nice, big glo-powered trainer to really get myself into the hobby and I've read nothing but good things about the Alpha. In fact, When I was buying my aerobird, the salesmen also recommened the Alpha but he said the Aerobird would be much more durabe and better to cut my teeth on. However, there's no one around where I live (I live in a rural area, no one I know has any experience with the hobby) that could give me some lessons so I would basically be taking what I learned with the Aerobird Extreme and applying it to the Alpha with no instructor to back me up.

The parkzone P-51 is something I've got my eye on as well. I'm going to wait until the reviews come out on it but it looks like a very sharp looking aircraft that has a reasonable price tag attached to it. However, I've also heard that those low-wing warbirds can be very hard to fly; expecially for a newbie like myself. Still its about $100 cheaper than the Alpha (more than that when I figure in the starter, fuel pump, fuel, etc) and I feel like it would be a nice step up from the Aerobird.

Any advice that anyone has would be greatly appreciated because I'm not sure which two of these aircraft (if either one) would be better to get.

Regards,

Firehawk