I'm looking for free advice on plane selection for a newbie. I'm on a very limited budget and would like an RTF with the eventual ability to do aerobatics but fear if I bite off more than I can chew and end up trashing a decent plane. I've narrowed my choices to the 3 Channel planes at www.raidentech.com (GoldEagle XXL or Herobird or Accipiter Badius by Shun Da) but am open to possibly getting the 2.5 channel SD Seagull if it really does come with variable speed control. How easy for a beginner would it be to add the elevator channel and a stronger battery? Would it be crazy to swap out the two 1.8 motors for two 3.8 motors? With all that work, it seems like I might as well get the good stuff up front. Please advise. Thanks for your input.

The electric planes that you are talking about are very lite and hard to control if the wind is blowing. I had an Aerobird from Horizon and almost lost it when the wind picked up after take off. The other problem that I see with the airplanes that you are looking at is the charge time. You will probably want to fly before the 2-3 hour charge time.
My recommendation is to buy a good used glow powered trainer plane and locate your nearest airfield for R/C aircraft. They have buddy boxes available to train you on and can lead you down the right path after that.
Also become very good friends with your local hobby shop. They can be of great assistance to you when you have questions. Weather you go glow or electric I do not recommend getting your first airplane from a mail order company. You will have too many questions that will need to be answered.

Thank you for the advise. My brother-in-law is a reseller, carries these planes, and is the one who got me interested by watching him fly his. I'm really counting on him to show me the ropes. We have a great field close to home at the local school. I read some of the forums on the A Badius and it sounds like it can take a beating but isn't as friendly when flying into problems.

You can get some flying enjoyment out of just about anything... The >$200 RTF package deals generally are considered "toy class" modelsthough, as they tend to be given to kids an treated as toys. (and end up lasting about a week if they are lucky.) If handled properly though... they can fly well and last a long time. (several years!)

If you want a decent electric beginners package that will LAST and can fly in some wnd, the least expensive I would recommend is the new Great Planes Electric PT trainer. http://www.electrifly.com/gpma0110.html This can be purchased in a package deal at some hobby shops and mail order hobby supply companies. Unfortunately... its a kit not an ARF.

You want something that looks similar, and has the same flying characteristics due to wing loading (weight to wing area ratio)

Goldberg makes an electric 3-channel "Sparky" that should be close, and does come in an ARF or RTF package. Its CLOSE to the $200 price line... and does sometimes get treated as a toy... and is less able to tolerate that mistreatment than others due to its all wood construction.

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Best advice is to go visit an RC club field and talk with the people there before choosing ANY airplane.

Go with glo I got my 9 year old daughter a hobbico rtf trainer for 250.00 + tax.
I was a little surprised at the radio equipement in it.It has a good reciever
and futaba 3004 servos in it which can be used in another airplane like your second airplane.The engine is a good little engine to os la 46.

I enjoy flying her trainer as much as I like my bigger 2000.00 dollar planes.It will loop
roll, fly inverted all kinds of basic aerobatics.I bought it in Feb. of this year for her.She can already fly it on her own with little help.

For more info check out www.towerhobbies.com and look at the rtf selection i think
you will really like them.[8D]

Mikalo,
Do you have any hills nearby ? Id suggest getting foam slope soarer, you can crash it as many times as you like, without risk of damaging it and will get a LOT of stick time very quickly. Once you got the basics of flying it, then get a basic glow trainer as suggested here and go hard. I learnt on slope gliders and they are a great way to get a lot of stick time (= learning time) very quickly. Drop into to your local hoby store and ask if anyone flies slope gliders in your area. Or check/ask in the gliders section of this site or another site, RCGroups.com has a very large slope glider forum section.
Just my 2 cents.