I am totally new to this. However I have been doing alot of research, even attended a club meeting.
1) While the firebird series only has two channels, everyone who has one seems to have had fun with it as a first plane.
2) This thread has some great advice:
http://www.rcuniverse.com/showthread...ighlight=wingo
3) whatever you get, make sure it is a very calm day for the first few flights and that you have lots of room. I think the firebird suggests a 600X600 field for first flights.
Let us know what you get and how it works out..