For a first plane I agree with DS on this one. Definitely not a beginners plane. Yes it looks cool, yes some people think it's "embarrasing" to fly a trainer at a field, but no one at a club should ever pick on anyone that is willing to learn and go about it in a logical manner. Since you did not post a link to towers site with the combo I can only assume. Most combos in that price range do not come with the radio, servos, and the like. It's usually just the plane and engine so based on the price you quoted, figure at least another 500 dollars in other equipment

For that same 500 you can get a complete trainer package with everything but the fuel and glow plug ignitor and starter

Now the reason why you would want a trainer versus a biplane or other plane is this

A trainer will give you time to recover from mistakes. They are mainly inherently stable and float in for a landing and are usually built much stronger to take the abuse. Any plane past a trainer is what's known as a point and fly plane. They will stay in whatever attitude you place them in until you tell them otherwise. A trainer will almost always try to level out on it's own and as a new pilot you will need that. Your first flights will have you thinking that this trainer is really moving fast, but as you progress up and you keepo your trainer for those days when you do not want to toss up a plane that in the end will cost you about 1500 to 2000 dollars to get into the air

Biplanes do not float at all, in fact once you chop throttle you are basically flying a brick with wings. Not that Biplanes fly bad, they are draggy and just need power to overcome that drag. A Pitts any model Pitts require a certain way to take off and to land that is not a skill you probably already have.

Now as a Biplane lover ( I own 3 different ones, A Pitts Monster, A Super Stearman and a Ultimate) I would always recommend one as a third plane but never ever a first.

I see by your signature that you may have already ordered it. Previous RC experience on cars does not translate well to airplanes or helicopters, especially helicopters, two totally different animals. Yes it helps with orientation in the sense of going away and coming at you but cars only run in two dimensions, Planes and helicopters add a third dimension, up and down.

I also just did a search on Pitts P-12 and the only combo I found was the Goldeberg one. There is a huge thread here on RCU on that plane. Take some time to read it. If that is the plane then my statements about spending an extra 500 dollars will be incorrect.

I am sorry to bust your bubble on this one but I really hate to see new pilots spend a ton of money on a plane that will make maybe one 10 second flight, it's the law of averages and here on RCU we see it all the time