if your interest is within aerobatics, I would suggest you look into a Stik type model. It flies better than a trainer and with the rates turned low, I think you could easily learn on it with the help of an instructor. When you're ready, turn the rates to full and it's a completely different model, much more capable than any trainer.

Stiks are cheap, tough, easy to build and repair, and they'll glide forever if you have a dead stick situation. It's one of those planes that gets home sick if you don't fly her. Plus they handle wind great. I personally like the great planes version with the red covering and maltese crosses. Hangar 9 recently released an updated 40 size version too that can be built with trike or taildragger configs and quad flaps. You can outfit either with glow or electric power.

As to your situation of getting started, I went with a Nexstar to Stik. Then got a warbird foamy from Parkzone and a small electric heli to buzz around the house when I get the itch for RC without packing up for the club field. I just now ordered my first 3D aerobatic from ExtremeFlightrc. But there's no way I would have started with that to learn.