What I would recommend is yes getting a instructor and a buddy box. If I could tell you a undestrustable plane is a HobbyZone Firebird Commander 2 my dad was getting into flying I bought him one when I was about 11 and at that time I was flying 27c's with the 160mph upgrade. Well he ended up flying it into a intersection and it got run over 4 times and he gave me the controller (at the age of 11) and said go get it. Just cause he did not wanna look like a fool. Well needless to say it was in perfect condition. Nothing wrong at all then late bought a Yak and now is in competitions