G'day Ask any 3 r/c fliers what the best trainer is and you will get at least 6 answers. It all depends ....

If money is no object then electric is OK but glow is generally cheaper.

If you are young, then just about any ARF high wing trainer will do but the larger the better. If you are over about 35, then you need something big and slow. A Sig Kadet Senior with a 50-65 size four stroke is perfect for the older beginner but a younger flier may out grow it quickly.

If you have never had an engine before then I would go with an OS 40 or 46 LA. They are simple, tough, well made and powerful enough for a trainer. They are also easy to tune, not heavy on fuel and don't need lots of nitro. They also handle crashes better than ballraced engines.

I have had good luck with Hitec radios. I particularly like the Optic 6 but there are plenty of others to choose from. I would suggest a 6 channel computer radio so you have something you can grow into. A simple 4 channel is fine but you will quickly reach its limits.

The trainers of the Sig Kadet range are my particular favourites. They all fly well and they were designed as trainers by people who know what makes a good trainer. With them, if you become disoriented and the plane is heading at some strange attitude, so long as you are high enough, you can just let go the sticks and the plane will return to level flight. The ones you build from a kit are my favourite as you can cover them better than the ARFs but the ARFs are also fine trainers.

Don't try to teach your self. You will crash lots of planes if you do. Getting a plane off the ground is relatively easy - getting it back onto the ground in one piece is not. Go to a club and get someone to instruct you preferably using a "buddy cord" to connect their radio to yours.

I would suggest your first best step is to find a club and go and ask what they suggest. They will be teaching you and they may have favourites that they are happier to teach you on. Conditions vary from place to place and what works well at my site may not suit at yours.

All the best. Mike from Oz