RE: Good first biplane?
You CAN NOT GO WRONG with the GP electric SE5 WW1 plane. it is a baby to fly, and will handle winds into the mid teens. I haven't met a person yet around here that doesn't love it. One friend of mine that is a kit builder has a few arfs..He said that if any of his kits, or arfs went in he wouldn't replace it , EXCEPT the SE5.
It is a great design. You will want a smooth runway for constant touch n gos...its a blast.