RE: Second plane--skip one?
For a second plane, I think a lot of guys are ready for a profile 3D plane with the CG and control throws set conservative. They are extremely easy to land and will perform very well with any reccommended engine. Once you have got the feel for one of these, then the controls can be increased to the point where they will fly circles around the heavier built options, and cause a lot less grief if something goes wrong.