RE: Nice beginner planes.
I learned on a 16 year old Goldberg Eagle. I recommend the Goldberg Eagle II ARF or kit, as a great first time trainer from my own personal experience. It fly's like a full size Cessna 150 without flaps. It has a excellent glide rate, and it is slow enough with a O.S 40 to give you time to think.
Peter Dowling aka Luftwaffe Oberst
AMA District II # 865404
Aero Modelers Club
Pulaski, NY