Did you get your new plane and radio or are you still looking for suggestions?

Did you look at kits from Mountain Models? Excellent kits!
www.mountainmodels.com

I have a Smooth-E and it fits your description pretty nicely. Only 40 inch wing. but a fun plane and easy to build. Good first 4 channel plane.
http://www.mountainmodels.com/produc...roducts_id=224

The Tyro 150 is a 54" wing
http://www.mountainmodels.com/produc...roducts_id=479

How about something scale:

L-4 Grasshopper - 48" wing
http://www.mountainmodels.com/produc...roducts_id=591

Mountain Models can lay out all the components you need including motor, servos, battery, etc.



For a radio, I would highly recommend the Spektrum line. The DX6i is a great introductory computer radio on 2.4 GHz. No frequency control needed an lots of good features for the price.
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=SPM6600

Let us know what you did.