I have one of these, and I love it. My dad also got one shortly after I did. Dad's plane had wrinkles in the covering, which we easily fixed with a hobby iron. I've read where the company is really good about helping you out if you have a defective part(s). It's easy to put together and a great flyer. They advertise a 20 minute assembly time, but for a first timer, it took me a little over an hour.

~You will have to purchase fuel for the plane you listed, as well as a battery and glow plug connector wire to start it. The picture on their website is misleading. Also, you can start it by hand, but that can be dangerous for novices and experts. You might look into getting an electric handheld starter. Rubber bands to attach the wing to the fuselage are also needed. Of course, you'll eventually want a tote box to carry all this stuff around, and an electric fuel pump to fill the plane, and so on, and so on, yadda... yadda... yadda...

~Fuel cost somewhere between $10-15 per gallon, but will last you awhile. The fuel tank on board holds 6oz (I think), and with 128oz of fuel per gallon, that's around 20 flights (you will spill some, and burn some up while taxing around).

~I use Morgan Fuel's 'Cool Power', because that's what they have at the local hobby shop. I haven't experimented with other fuels. The store owner (and friend) suggested I use 15% in cooler weather, and 10% in warmer weather. Other posts to this thread might suggest other fuel brands. I haven't had any problems with Morgan's, however I'm new to R/C, and probably wouldn't recognize minor problems anyway. Here is Morgan's site: http://www.morganfuel.com/modelfuel.htm

~If you don't want to mess with fuel, Hobbico sells an electric version of the same plane in the Select model. It's a little smaller in size.

~Here is the website about the Superstar EP Select (electric): http://www.hobbico.com/airplanes/hcaa14-01.html

~Here is the website about the SuperStar 40 Select RTF (gas): http://www.hobbico.com/airplanes/hcaa15.html

~I don't have any info about instructors in the Chicago area. I would definetly find someone to help you on your first flights, though. They can save you $300.