gaRCfield,
I began IMAC with a Saito 100 Edge and it did fine in BASIC but soon I found that I was flying a lot more than before - practicing the sequences. The cost of nitro is much more than gas. I moved to a 1/3 scale Extra 260 with a 80cc gas engine, and that was a big step forward in my IMAC life. So I suggest a gas powered plane.... for BASIC and Sportsman it doesn't matter so much which model... what matters is that you practice a lot, especially on windy days because that's what you will likely being flying in at the contests.

Hawk