Newb,

I was in the same position you are in now a few years ago. So, I'm going to give you some more useful advice to add to what everyone else has said. You really need to swallow your pride and ambitions and start at the very bottom. You can NOT choose a plane you are going to learn how to fly based on how it looks! Face it...basic trainers arent the best looking or performing planes....because theyre not supposed to be. The characteristics that make them easy to fly are the ones that dont make them exciting for an experienced flyer. With all due respect, you are not experienced yet, considering that you have never flown before. Therefore, you need to get a trainer...you may be surprised how much its not boring simply because you have never flown before. It may look boring, but once you learn how to fly, you can do some simple maneuevers and you'll see that the plane is not just straight and level flight. (However, this it what you might be doing at the very beginning of your training.

I learned to fly a few years ago and was about your age too. I wanted a Great Planes .40 P-51, but instead, I learned how to fly on an old Goldberg Eagle. Believe me, the plane I got was uglier than any of the trainers out there today. Yet, it did its job: it taught me to fly, and that is the entire point of a trainer. Once you have built up some experience, etc, you can move on to a slightly more performing plane. I went from the trainer, to a motorglider, and now I fly a Piper Cub, 2 electric planes (one simple warbird, the other a 3D foamie) and have fun-fly model almost ready to go, which will be followed by a larger T-34, and then a large pattern model with retracts (my first). All of this I am using to build up to my Top Flite Fw-190...which will be expensive to complete, and I want to make sure it lasts a long time. Therefore, I'm being patient and working/learning on my building and flying skills until I can a handle something like this .90 powered warbird. (I expect that to take a year or 2, especially with college, etc) I've been in the hobby for about 6 years now...it takes lots of time to work your way up properly.

About the aerobatics you were asking about....

That kind of flying is all but impossible for a newb in the hobby, plus the fact that your trianer that you should (really, you should) get is not set-up for this at all. Your trainer will do basics such as loops, rolls, hammerheads, etc. Real 3D/ aerobatic flying takes a few years to become proficent at, and you need the correct plane and set-up. You need an overpowered plane (not good for newbs) with huge control surfaces, and the right design. You may also need more powerful servos, computer radio...etc etc. Basically, its something you build up to over time as you get the right equipment and skills, which are so necessary in this hobby when you become a better pilot, and as you gradually buy more and more stuff.

Get a good instructor, and become friends with him/her and the people in the club you will join. Having experienced friends in the hobby is invaluable....I cant even say how much people in my club and my instructor have helped me over the years. I probably wouldnt be where I am today if it weren't for all their help.

I know this is long, but I felt you could use some advice from someone who was in your shoes not too long ago, and succeeded to become a proficent pilot by playing by the rules, and climbing the ladder of R/C flying at the right pace. You just need to understand that this IS NOT a hobby that you can pretty much just jump into. (like R/C cars for example, where everything happens on the ground, where you dont really need instruction, and 5 year olds can quite easily pick it up)

Finally, since money is an issue, as it was for me and for most young people who try to start in this hobby, heres another reason for the trainer. The trainer will last longer and be more durable; it will be a much better value, more bang for your buck. In the end, when you're ready for a 2nd plane, you will most likely have spent less money learning to fly with the trainer than if you had gotten "the plane that just looks cool". Look around for good deals, check out flea markets, and sometimes fellow club members are willing to help you out. The trainer I got was a hand-me-down that I got for free from a fellow club member, and he also gave me the T-34 I have now to help improve my skills. My instructor helps me out by getting me good deals for equipment, and selling me some of his things at prices I would never find from a hobby shop. You'll find that this hobby is much more enjoyable if you take it slowly, enjoying it every step of the way, and if you work your way up.