In response to your question about trainer I went with a Sig LT-40 Kadet ARF. It was a good choice for me as I did have my share of crash landings and since I had built it I knew basically what needed to be done to fix it. The plane is a hardy aircraft with an co 46fx on it. You should get some one who has built one to look yours over during construction and before your first fight and make suggestions to make it more air worthy. You should also get your instructor identified while you are building it and let them help you with pre flight items. I did things like changed the wheels to larger ones because of the grass field that I fly off of, I cut fuel line pieces to make little rubber bands for holding the various plastic clips together, I ran a plastic tube down inside to run the antenna wire through, I installed a fuel dot in the side to make fueling easer and so that I did not wear the fuel line tubing at the motor by taking it off and on, I reinforced the front around the motor mounts to make the sides stronger since they stick out unprotected, I think an aluminum motor mount would be better than the fiber one that comes with the kit, I put some red and black stripes on the bottom of the wing so that I could tell the orientation of the plane.............Like one of the other post I also built a Sig Senior Kadet for the mew level of flying......My trainer also used a Hanger 9 ultra Stick 120 to teach me to do the basics of flying but when it came time to land we switched back to the LT-40. The Ultra Stick 120 is large and easy to see and it really helped , I have been looking for one for myself but they have stop ed building them, But I called them today and they said there is a good chance that they are going to offer them in the spring....Good Luck in your selection,,,,,