If you can pick the instructor, then find out what radio he has and then get one to match. The radio game is a Ford vers Chevy vers Dodge war. I do not like Futaba, this is my opinion. Futaba is not a bad radio I just don't like them. I fly Airtronics, I just have to be different, I also drive Dodge . For radios, pick them, hold them, see if one feels beeter in your hands then the other. Go by the club and see what features the other guys are using. I would say to get atleast a 6 channel with some good mixing. Some will tell you to get a 9 or 10 channel radio right from the start, and from my point of view that is like getting a pattern plane as a trainer. There is just to much programing you can do with the 9 or 10 channel radios. In the begining, remember "K.I.S.S" Keep It Simple Student.

Just my two coppers worth.

Dru.