The biggest reason I wanted to start on electric was that I wouldn't have to deal with fuel ratios, starters and all that fun stuff. The other reason was the noise output. I would like to have something I can sit out on the porch, set the bird in the yard and hover around a bit until I get used to it. Though, if you tell me I can get a nitro or gas with a good muffler that makes it super quiet (for a combustion) I may end up going that way. I had originally looked at nitros and figured electric may have been cheaper, but now I'm back up in the $500 range of electric to try to avoid the little ones... My friend has a little electric and it feels like you don't control them ( they control you! ) and your only choice in the matter is to nudge them in your preferred direction, but it's like it has a mind of it's own. At least it's how it felt to me. I don't remember what model he has, but it was more of a toy and crashes were mostly non-events. This is mainly why I wanted something bigger and originally looked at nitro.

However, I don't want something too big. I have an RX8 and the thing has to be able to fit in the trunk or the front floor so I can fly it away from the neighbors. So I'm at a crossing here trying to decide if I should bump up to $700 (think it was a 40 or 50?) on a starter nitro package I saw or stick to a bigger electric (450 TREX?). I have nothing to start with, so I need the radio and all that fun stuff. It's not that big of an issue, but I want to be sure that it's what I can handle.

Also, I know there are some "die hard" RC'ers that would say "All or nothing" and they may be right, but I have to find something that isn't going to cost me an arm and leg. (Yeah, I know that's relative...) I'm a computer dev, so flight time is my biggest concern right now rather than cost... that and a good chunk of my tax check is pretty much delegated to this new hobby Speaking of flight time, am I right in saying that liquid fuel will have longer flight times? As you may already see I'm still fairly undecided right now...

BTW, I did find some good reading on Hiller/Bell vs eCCPM and I think I understand it.

To add more questions to the lot... The DX6 I've seen a lot of talk about. Being in a computer background I know spread spectrum is normally a good thing for interference and I assume it's the same here. Is the DX6 a fairly well supported controller? Is the range on these any different than a standard FM?