Warlock, you sound like you’re ready to pull your hair out trying to find the Perfect Beginners Plane. Sorry, there isn’t one. If there were, we’d all be suggesting it (and I’d buy a bunch of stock in that company). Since you’ve “researched the subject to death” you’ve found out that every plane has advantages and disadvantages, advocates and detractors. Like it or not, you can’t have it all. You just have to pick the one that that you THINK will be the best for you.

Riding a bike is easy, right? But learning to ride in the first place was hard and planes are no different. They’re all “hard” to fly….at first. But it gets easier with practice. And don’t worry about crashing. Reality Check: you will crash. Many times. Some planes are “tougher” than others, but they will all break into pieces if you hit something at speed or “wrong”. You will have to learn how to repair planes. It also seems like you’re looking for a semi-acrobatic plane that you won’t be “bored (with) at the end of the month”. If you’re trying to learn how to fly, that’s exactly the kind of plane you don’t need. Your learning curve just went vertical.

It’s too bad you don’t think Slow Sticks or Tiger Moths look cool enough for you, cause that’s what I’d suggest you get for training. Having been there and done that myself, I consider the planes you are looking at as a waste of time, money, and effort. I'm not saying they're bad, or not fun. Just lousy trainers.

However, if you insist on one of the 4 you mentioned, get the Aerobird. At least you can learn how to FLY with it. Do not get the SS Pro or Firebird- all you’ll learn is how to fly THEM (they aren't "normal", one has no rudder, the other no elevator).

Goofup