The cheapest way to gain the experience you seek, without incurrng high additional expenses, would be to go with a highly maneuverable electric. Delay the entry into the gas world for a little until you have the reaction times and attitude recognition skills necessary to successfully fly 3D gassers without the usual long line of losses. Electric airframes are cheap, although the drive systems and servos end up costing a bit in their own right.

Get in touch with www.foamies.com, or look at the Hobby Lobby and Horizon websites to see what's available to learn with and enjoy. Once the initial cost factors are out of the way you can purchase a new airframe for under $50.00 and all the parts transfer from the old to the new. There are many planes available that do the same thing with similar performance levels. A good starting point would be something along the lines of a Hanger 9 Tribute with a good brushless motor using lithium polymer batteries. A lot of fun and cheap. The list goes on and on from there. Once your comfortable with the foamies, then it's time to consider the $1,700.00 plus investment that's going to be needed to get you going in gassers in the size range you originally noted. Unless, of course, you feel the need and that you're ready now.