Check out Hobby City http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_index.asp


They have excellent prices, and offer some motor, esc, prop combos for about $15. Add a 3s lipo and you will be in good shape.

I have purchased from them and they provide decent products at reasonable (actually cheap prices) prices with a delivery time of about 14 - 21 days (it is coming out of Hong Kong). I suggest staying with known names such as Turnigy or TowerPro. Both products perform well and the TowerPro is typically less money for the same product. I have also had excellent service with the "Zippy" lipos

If you want to put together your own setup, look at motors that will put out 150 - 200 watts of power. You have a throttle, so you do not have to fly full throttle.

Just starting out, the 2.4 mhz radio is the way to go. The radio is ALMOST bulletproof as far as interference is concerned.

Since you are into electric boats, I will let you recommend the type of connectors (Deans, Sermos, etc.) and a charger.

I do strongly recommend having your dad get with a club. They will provide instructors at no charge. Until a person gets the co-ordination down and the "visual" aspect down planes can easily get ahead of you. A simulator will HELP your dad. THEY CAN NOT TEACH YOU HOW TO FLY, but they can be a big help.

FMS is a free download (and it is a decent sim, especially for the money {:_) ) and the interface cable can either be purchased on EBay (about $10 - $20) or you can make one if you are somewhat handy with a soldering iron.

You also need to be aware that since the plane is very light in weight, it is not going to handle very much wind - flying is probably going to be best in the early AM or early evening.

Hope this is of some help.