Red head and Dr.1 --
thanks for the replies. Of course, speaking with a human being will be preferrable - but until I get to a club, you'se guys are all I got! Where's the love?! The long patient posts? I am looking for opinions, basically, since I am in the data-gathering-stage. I signed up with AMA, and am contacting "local" clubs. Was hoping there was someone in my area on these forums to hook up with.

Too true about the sun watching dad only slaming the plane in the ground. Gotta avoid that.

Checked out the aerobat and at least the review got me drooling. The avistar sounds like it's a notch up and has more room for growth.
The reco to get a 5/6ch radio makes sense - thanks.

As I said I downloaded the FMS sim and took a few spins. Not sure how accurate this sim is, but two things I noticed: I really like having ailerons to upright the plane, and boy won't I take my first flights without buddy-cord, and no innocent passers-by in close vicinity. As one commercial said (back in, like, 1999), "... because in life, there is not reset button."
Any other recos RE sims?

Appreciate the plane suggestion - but I really want to stay away from glow. Is it silly to want an electric trainer? The glow->electric conversion kit almost doubles the price...
Would you recommend against getting any used equipment?

Thanks for your feedback!