Gas is messy and takes more skills,but nothing beats it. I've myself just learned to fly this summer and I'm doing great. I started with a PT-40 trainer,then moved onto a Big Stik .60,and now I'm flying an SU-31. Honestly,as long as your gonna use a flight sim and a reputable instructor.......I would start with a plane similart to perhaps a Big Stik .40. Its my experience and my instructor will tell you the same thing that trainers are actually harder to fly than most planes and much harder to land because of thier wing design. My instructor explained to me while flying my PT-40 trainer which I was having trouble landing in any sort of wind whatsoever,that a plane such as a Big Stik will land and deal with wind MUCH better then my trainer plane because of its more symmetrical wing design. And he was very right. It cuts through the wind rather than be pushed all over the plane like my trainer. And it flew just as slow and easy if not better. The only advantage I've noticed with my trainer is its ability to take a beating,but as my instructor says..."planes are built for flying,not crashing",lol. Just my thoughts....