My first plane was a Super Sportster -- 8 flights and smash! She's rebuilt -- a little heavy now but what a great plane! She is definately faster than either a 4* or a Tiger. All of which would be great second planes. There is also numerous compliments (lots of threads) for the BTE Venture and everyone says his kits for quality and engineering are second to none. The other plane that looks like a good second is SkyShark's Fantasy but I don't know of anyone who fly's one. The kit looks like it come with about everything but the silicon fuel line, engine and flight pack.

The Fantasy and the Tiger build as trikes. The Venture and 4* are tail draggers, and the Sportster has plans for both including hardware (less the front wheelpant which I would ship you free -- got an extra one).

My thought is to pick a plane that is going to feel like you can't handle it on the first flight, you know where your legs are wobbly. After a couple of flights where your doing laps at 3/4 you'll do for a roll or Russian 8 with your thumbs trebbling -- you'll be glad you did. But that's just my two cents, don't count on it much because I'm still just a rookie and a good builder (I rebuild and rebuild and -- you get the point).