A good lesson to learn in this hobby is you generally get what you pay for. If you go cheap to begin with, you'll either get quickly frustrated, or quickly bored. There are always ways to afford more, but more importantly, if you can't afford the first plane, you won't be able to afford the repairs.

Balsa planes are actually a much better value than you might initially expect, especially when you start talking repairs. SPADS (www.spadtothebone.com) can also be an economical alternative.

Think of your first plane as an investment, not an expense. Treated correctly (get an instructor), it will pay years of dividends in fun and fellowship with other pilots.

A little more research on this bird and you find that its an acrobatic slope soaring plane - probably a good second plane, but not a good first plane. You're liable to find it very fast for a beginner.

Brad