I like this thread. Everyone is being very helpful as usual.

I will now add my 2 cents and ruin everything...

I don't know how much you paid for the ARF, but build it and learn from the build. If you have no problem with losing the money, fly it. (I'm guessing about $220 per second)....roughly.

The advice you are getting here is good advice. Once you fly a trainer and become proficient at....FLYING A TRAINER, you will still not be ready, IMHO, for an Extra.

The truth is, once your brain is trained to make the correct inputs, you can probably get any airplane up and down with, at worst some broken gear and a prop. The problems lie in the unknown. When the plane does something you did not expect and you react with an input there are only two ways it can go:

1) Correct input...keep flying. OR....

2) an infinite number of incorrect inputs leading to further corrections and lots of brain-taxing decisions which lead; inevitably, to panic, disorientation and possible loss of not only the plane, but life and property as well.

I am just a beginner too. I fly gasoline-powered Extras now, but I flew every day for over a year in an attempt to train my feeble brain to react with the correct inputs. The day after I soloed, I began shooting litterally thousands of T and G's. This led to Tail draggers, inverted flight, KE's, hovers, rollers etc.... This is WITH the advantage of about 30 minutes of stick-time 6 days a week for a year.....and I still consider myself a BEGINNER.

I have built a few ARF's too. I am really bad at it, but the planes fly and I have fun. Build it, this is not rocket science. There are no tricks, it's just like anything else. You need to practice, get out and DO it. There are dozens of people who will tell you how hard it is...and it IS hard, but you will never improve if you sit and talk with all of the others who wish they could. You will only get better at this with LOTS and LOTS of practice. This goes for both building and flying.

Most of all, enjoy the ride. And don't let the guys who have 30 years of experience and still.....CAN'T FRIGGIN FLY!!, be your teachers. Befriend, hang-out with, fly with and seek advice from the BEST FLYERS YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO COME IN CONTACT WITH. (It's usually the guys that everyone who can't fly considers arrogant and rude....become one of them...they can fly). These are the people who know the most about improving your skill set. They've been there too. Everyone started with a trainer....everyone.

Enjoy!!