Looks like I'll be going with a Futaba since almost all of the members at the local flying club are using them. Also they told me that most of their trainer boxes only support Futuba as well. A few of the members recommended going with the 7ch......when I asked why the 7 over the 6 I kinda got lost with there answers......information overload [:@]

A couple of the members went so far as to say that there's a good chance that I'll even outgrow the 7ch radio down the road......but I'm not sure how.