any of todays radios are good... Futaba, JR, Airtronics, Hitec, etc. etc. are all fine...

sounds like a 4 channel would be fine, but I recommend at least a 6 channel so you can grow into it...

I HIGHLY recommend a computer radio... they are really night and day between them, and if you are going into 3d and aerobatics... it will make life soo much easier...