Most of the RTF's don't have very good engines for more than the trainer they are installed in. Thunder Tiger RTF's have a GP42 which is bushed and not bearinged so it is a bit underpowered. Fine for a trainer, but when you want move up it will probably be lacking in other airframes. The Hobbico line has the same problem since they use a OS40LA which has pretty much the same problem as the GP42, bushed and underpowered for its size. Same again, they work fine in the trainer, but give poor performance in other airframes. The radios that come with RTF's except for Hanger 9's PTS series are the bottom of the rung for radios. Now the receiver and servos can be used over and over as long as you stay with the same brand or range. Hitech/Futaba vs. Airtronics/JR. Thunder Tiger RTF's come with either a Airtronics Vangard and a couple come with Hitec Focus. Hobbico comes with Futaba.

Hanger 9 comes with Evolution engines, but use their trainer series engine with a 3 blade prop. It's almost a .46 engine, at .455, but has more power than the other 2 listed when used with a good prop. Hanger 9 trainers come with a JR Sport 400 except for the PTS series which is a JR SX600 sport which is a digital 6 channel with 10 model memory. Hanger 9 also comes pretty much built. I helped a friend put together his Mustang PTS in about 30 mins to a hour.

Tower Hobbies has a couple of RTF's a 60 and a 40. Both come with a analog 4 channel futaba copy tower hobby radio. Both come with tower engines, .61 and .46 which are good engines with plenty of power. You could use either of these engines in any other airframes and be quite happy with their performance. If you go with Hitec or Futaba you could use the flight pack as well. The ARF's for these airframes are the cheapest so when you crash it and you will. They will be the least expensive to replace.

The Tower 40 RTF is $ 249.00 and with a $25.00 savings this month thats $224.00.

I bought a radio off Ebay, I got a cheap ARF and a magnum 46 while there were on sale for $59.99 and I stilled paid more than the Tower 40 RTF.

If I was to do it over again I would get the Tower RTF. I ended up getting the Spektrum radio so my flight packs for my old radio don't work anyway. You are going to spend money on this hobby and not get it back , so just try to spend it as wisely as possible. Its hard for a guy starting out to justify buying a high dollar radio and such at first.

Get a Simulator as well, best 200 bucks I ever spent. I've crashed atleast 20k in airplanes on that thing Get a Instructor too. So you have more than one flight on your first attempt.

Just my 2 cents