I'm not sure it's worth $250 more (I did say it was pricey) but it is a MUCH better plane. The Hobbyzone is much lest stable in flight and will be much harder to see as it gets further away. Take a look at the features list for the plane and you will see that it also includes a simulator designed around THIS plane. It's fairly rugged and comes with a radio system that can be moved on to other planes in the future if desired. The sim is a nice feature because even with Heli experience there will be a lot to learn. Working with an instructor would also be a good idea initially although you can expect to be weaned off quickly. IMO the Hobbyzone is more of a TOY than a serious plane capable of taking you to higher levels of enjoyment and preparing you for even better planes later on.