Just get whatever is in your price range, or whatever you like. Someone here on RCU said that there was no such thing as a bad flying trainer. All trainers serve their purpose. They will all do very basic aerobatics. Most will probably recommend the LT-40 or the H9 Alpha Trainer.

Electric starters make it alot easier than using a chicken stick, but yes, a chicken stick will do fine. You will need a a glowplug igniter to start the engine, it just clips onto the glowplug, without it you cant start the engine.