Jambo101,

This is a great hobby. BUT...you will not be able to fly any reasonable plane in your back yard for a long time yet. The foamies are a good way to start, but it's far better for you to get started with an AMA club, a glow plane and an instructor. I fly 3D foam for fun at local parks, but it takes HOURS of stick-time before you can keep them safely under control.

For foam, get a Charger CR-1 from http://www.temeculavalleyhobbies.com and have an EXPERIENCED instructor help you learn to fly it on LOW RATES. (That plane is the easiest to build on the market which makes the loss less dramatic when you put it in....and you will, we all do).

For Glow, get a Trainer and find a local club for instruction. You will lose interest without experienced help....and you will lose money too.

A good flier can make this look easy. It's not. Your brain needs to be trained, just like any other skill. Almost anyone can learn, it just can't be rushed.

Welcome and ENJOY!!