I learned to fly with a Tower Hobbies ARF Trainer. In fact, I crashed the first one and returned it to Tower with a letter from my instructor outlining the circumstances and Tower shipped me a new Trainer ARF kit.
My only criticism of the Tower Trainer with the .40 engine was you couldn't let it get low and slow in a turn. That's why my first one crashed. I did solo with my second Tower Trainer and I learned to make shallow turns with power up.
I now have an LT-40, also a good trainer and I use it to warm up for a day of flying.

VR Mikefev