I'll put my 2 cents worth in too. I bought for my 1st good radio the JR 6102 complete system for $259. It's only a 6 channel but seems to be more than sufficient for me. As someone stated above it has 10 model memory, is fairly easy to use & understand (if you can do a little reading) but once you get her figured out she is very easy to program & I aint no computer whiz-kid beleive me!!

http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...odID=JRP6644**

Shortly after buying my 6102 JR came out with their new Sport line. The idea was that now everyone could afford the quality of a JR radio. When I read the specs it seems to do just about everything my 6102 will for a $100 less. Not quite as fancy looking but it does have all the same features mine has. 10 model memory, 6 channel. & all the mixing abilities as well. I believe you get the whole system for $159. Tx, Rx, Xtrals, Battery, switch, & 4 standard spor servos. I'll put up a link for ya to check it out with.

http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...dID=JSP16000**

I think this is a great radio system for the money!! With plenty of room to grow into it. They also have a a park-flyer version of this radio but why limit yourself to parkflyer range when you can do it all with this one?

http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...odID=SPM2460BR


This is the park-flyer version of the new Spektrum, but it is my understanding that they have the standard size version available now for about $250 as well. A friend of mine has just recently bought one & loves it. I guess Horizon just hasn't hasn't updated their site yet to include the standard size system but again it is for the full system. No more radio hits or waiting for your channel to fly. I'll be getting a Sprektrum just as soon as I can afford one.

My seond plane was a Cap 232, but not the suggested way to go. The general concensus around here is the Sig 4* & the Goldberg Tiger II. I'm going to throw one more in the mix Even though I have not been a huge fan of Hangar 9 in the past. I do really like their new Pulse XT. It was designed to be a number 2 type plane. I went ahead & got one just because it looks so nice & I had taken a short hiatus from flying, leaving my WM Ultimate 40 just a little on the hot side when I first got back in the saddle. I flew it just fine & did not crash it or anything like that but I could tell I would be better of taking a step back & getting my thumbs back with a more forgiving plane. So I went out & got a Pulse XT & put my OS .46 FX it. I set it up according to factory specs for both low & high rates (with flaperons) & I have been having a great time with it. I liked it so much I even scooped up the E-Flite Mini PulseXT. The Electric version of it too. It flies jut like it's bigger glow brother & both of them go from mild to wild at the flip of the switch. I think they are nicer looking than the 4* or the Tiger II & both fly superbly. I've really been having a great time with them. Now I bought the ARF version, not the more expensive "plug & ply" version. I couldn't see spending all that extra money for an EVO engine that I am again not very impressed with, or radio equipment that I already had. Absolutely no regrets, I love this plane. It even does very well in the winds too. So far I have flown it a 20 mph wind with no real problems to speak of. These are true 20 mph winds as well, not just guessing as we have 3 diferent ananometers at the field. The flaperons are not neccessary but I have a lot of fun with them.

I'll put up a link of the pulse for ya in case you'd lik to look at the specs, as well as posting a couple pics of the ones I fly. Good luck in your decision making process.


http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=HAN4100

That's the ARF version of the glow model, & here is the ARF version oif the Mini E-Flite Pulse XT. Mines flys very well with an E-Flite park 450 outrunner on it.


http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=EFL2375


I just realized I did a quick reply so I will have to post the pics of mine in the following post.