I think that this one would be a good one to start out on.
[link]http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXEXK2**&P=0[/link]

It's a good trainer and has extra pieces to make it even slower that you can take off after you get used to it. It is more expensive but you get more for it too. It is going to be alot more stable than the smaller electric models like the one you have listed. And the good thing is it has a basic version of Real Flight that lets you fly the exact same plane in the simulator. You may also find a more active club and come spring most will have a trainer night and you can take your plane there or may even get a chance to fly the club trainer plane to try it out. It might be worth it to make the drive starting out or to try it out. If you are serious in trying it out, I am trying to sell a heli and as a selling point I'm giving the buyer an option to buy my G4.5 simulator cheap if I don't sell the sim or put the heli on ebay I'll make ya a heck of a deal for the sim to start ya off.

Thanks for all the replies! And I don't mind the de-railing. My goal is to fly warbirds exclusively once I am comfortable. I want a 1/6 scale A-10 as my big "project" plane. But that is YEARS down the road.

Looking at the planes, and the trainers. The price difference between the Nitro and Electric planes is enormous.  I assume it's because of the motor being more expensive and the planes are usually larger in the nitro style?  I am getting a plane as a birthday present. Money is a little tight and I have wanted to get into this for a while. Wife finally gave me the ok to pick a plane out and she would see what we could scrounge up.  I would much rather have a plane that I can fly for a long time and learn on than something that looks "cool" and flies "ok".  I am getting in contact with my local club, thanks for finding that website for me!  Hopefully they start flying again soon and I can go out and watch/chat for a while.  With everyone saying start nitro, I really want too. But 400+ for a plane is just a little out of my price range Maybe I can convince my wife to go for it.

Thanks again for all the answers and keep em coming!

I've found that the infrastructure between gas and glow are not too different cost wise. Keep in mind that you will need multiple batteries and a good battery charger. A good charger can run you from $80 to $150. I would suggest a multi battery charger. Mine charges 4 batteries at once and all battery chemistries. You can also look for used equipment. One of my current students got started for about $200 buying his plane and some supplies at a swapmeet and a few other bits of supplies new. Ask around at the club and get one of them to inspect the used equipment first. Cool planes are nice to fly, but while learning that will where off quickly once you just try to fly without crashing. It wont matter what it looks like eventually.
Edwin

The big difference in price you will see is that alot of the beginners electrics are smaller, and made of foam. they require a smaller battery,
and smaller servos. also foam planes usually cost less than their balsa wood counterparts. If you were outfitting a .40 sized electric plane
it would be around the same as a .40 nitro plane.

And another thing, my electric students stand down at about 10 mph winds. My glow students go up to 18 mph or so. They dont like it, but the trainer can handle it. The electrics can fly in higher winds, but the students dont get much out of it. Its enough of a lesson to just fly. Eventually you will learn to handle the winds, but its hard to deal with in the beginning.
Edwin

Not really. A .40 size electric trainer (wingspan about 48-56") is gonna cost pretty darn close to the equivalent nitro. But most electric trainers are a bit smaller. For electric, I think the [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXZMX7&P=0]Hobbico Switch[/link] is a great choice, as it gets its name from the fact you can switch it from a high-wing trainer to a low/mid wing configuration once you become proficient.

It's "only" $279, including radio, but here's where the prices even up; you need to buy 2-5 extra LiPo batteries if you want to fly for more than 10-15 minutes in a given afternoon. The Hobbico replacement is $50...you could probby get it at HobbyKing for a lot less...and you'll probby want a better charger at some point, too ($40-100, again, look @ HobbyKing). Either way, there's your $100 difference (and then some)!

If you go ala carte with nitro, you can easily do it for $300ish. First off, check Craigslist and/or your club's "for sale" forum for gear near your home (eBay doesn't usually work cuz of shipping charges, and I'd never trust everything to work). Personally, I didn't want/get a flat-wing basic trainer, I wanted something that was tame enough for training, but have enough chops for intermediate/sport flying. That ususally means semi-symmetrical wing, so you might want to peruse the thread I had/have going on many options for this kind of plane: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_10901324/tm.htm

Anyhoo, here's a nice budget nitro 'set (figuring no tax/free ship, which Tower always offers in some fashion):

$85 [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXASPH&P=0]Thunder Tiger Ready 40 Mk. III[/link] cool molded plastic/foam construction...which you'll be seeing more & more of).
$50 [link=http://www.sigmfg.com/cgi-bin/dpsmart.exe/MainMenuFV5.html?E+Sig]Aviastar .46 engine from SIG Mfg (you'll have to navigate the site to 'engines'...I can't link directly[/link] true ABC construction, good reviews...it's not an OS, but it's less than half the cost (If you can swing a Thunder Tiger engine, though...the plane's made for it).
$80-150 for a good/cheap 5-channel radio + 4servos (servos are about $8-15 each). [link=http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__295__190__Tx_Rx_Systems_Parts-2_2E4Ghz_HobbyKing.html]HobbyKing Radios[/link] are actually pretty good, you'll have to add servos & shipping. But you can go [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXAEXR&P=0]Tactic[/link]Tactic, [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXZHG0&P=0]Airtronics[/link], or even go to 4 channels if you want to save more $.

Not too bad, if I say so myself!!.

Thanks for the post DeanDome, I might check out that route. Looks reasonably affordable   My only issue is...I have no hobby shops near by that I can go and actually LOOK at the models and engines, and talk to the guys at the shop. I have to do all of my shopping online, and get alot of my info via forums (like I am now) Thanks again for the info. Will keep you all updated once I make my choice and get in contact with my local club.

Any other info/tips/plane ideas are MORE than welcome

I just wanted to drop another electric option. I have never flown this plane, but I have flown the Sig senior, lt40,lt25 trainers and Sig planes are
all around excellent flyers.

http://www.advantagehobby.com/72655/...4ARFR/?cat=174

Very nice little plane, will need a radio, batteries, charger

Why buy all at once? How about a kit? Goldberg Eagle 2, Sig Kadet Mk II, Sig Seniorita. Build for a couple of months then buy the engine and radio. Then when it gets re-kitted [] it will be a lot easier for you to repair since you know how it went together the first time. It is really cool when a plane you have built from sticks leaves the ground for the first time And by all means find a instructor. I did not listen to my LHS owner. He said get it built and I will teach you how to fly. That worked great the second time around!! Good Luck

I will second most of the advice given here with one very important addition. Lose the link to Nitroplanes...their quality is very hit and miss and the money you think you are saving you will spend repairing or upgrading the equipment you buy from them. Tower Hobbies is a much more reliable online store, the quality is higher (as are the prices). But for someone new to the hobby, go the used route, you'll get more for your money.</p>

For the beginner in Abilene. I am in Odessa Texas just right down the road. I agree that nitro is the way to go for your first plane. There are lots of good flying trainer planes so pick one that you like but not love as all planes have a crash dare, just don't know what date it is. I started fling again aftera 20 year lull and 2 wives but I picked a trainer to get back the feel of the sticks. I bought a TWM sky raider Mach 1 ARF and got it ready to fly. It has a good wing span and a bolt on wing and they are a good looking plane and easy to finish. It is still one of my favorite planes to fly as the west Texas wind seems to blow all the time and the sky raider handles the wind really well and the cost of one is less than 125.00 dollars. Then you will need an engine, 40 size is good, and watch eBay for a good sale price on one. You can usually find one for 75.00 or less and that would include shipping. You will need to get several props, a 10 x 6 is good for the engine and plane. Then you will need to buy some fuel. I fly 15% nitro but you can choose what fuel you want to fly with. And you will need a chicken stick or an electric starter, and if you choose electric starter, you will need a small 12 volt battery also. And you will need a glow plug lighter to light the glow plug. Then you will need a good radio. I personally use futaba radios, but there are other good brands too. Look on eBay as you can get a good system pretty reasonable on there. You are going to need to go ahead and get a complete radio system at the start as you are going to need 4 servos, a transmitter and a receiver and you can get all of that in a complete radio package. A flight box is not mandatory but comes in handy to hold your fuel, starter, etc. oh and you will need to get some fuel hose to plumb your motor. Depending in the plane you buy, you may or may not need to buy a spinner also. All of the above can be purchased at various hobby stores online. I tend to buy a lot of stuff from tower hobbies as they almost always have everything you need in stock. If the radio you buy doesn't have a receiver battery with it, you will need one of those too. Again you can find them on eBay pretty cheap, and I use 6 volt 2500 milliamperes battery packs in all my planes. You will also need some thin ca glue and some 6 minute epoxy to assemble your plane with. And depending on which plane you get, if it has a wing that is held on with rubber bands, you will need to get a box of #64 rubber bands. If you choose a flight box, get you a fuel pump to pump your fuel in the plane. A hand pump works well. You will need to balance your prop too as vibration is bad for a plane. You will need some foam padding to wrap around your reciever and battery pack in the plane and I glue Velcro strips in to hold my electronics. I am sure I have missed a few things but this is most or maybe all the essentials you will need, plus all the sim time you can get.

I see alot of replies that put forth the idea of using the large, slow nitro trainers, joining a club, and so on. not bad suggestions. That said, there is another way to get started. I , personally, had a friend guide me to a local swap meet where I bought my first radio, and airplane, and some inexpensive accessories.<div> I got a used futaba 6 ch transmitter/rcvr set for $30.00, and a GWS Slo-Stik airplane for $25.00. A $10.00 lipo, $10.00 charger for the lipo, and I had all I needed to start flying. He helped me get into the air, and build a little confidence, without spending a lot of cash on something I might not have been able to do otherwise.</div><div> Now, I look all over the internet, using e-bay, hobbypartz, hobbyking just to name a few.</div><div>This hobby is about having fun, not spending money. I have no need to purchase high dollar, big name equipment to have fun. I bought a 9ch, 8 model-memory radio from an internet supplier for $53.00! extra recvrs cost about $8.00. That is a lot better than buying a radio that needs recvrs that cost more than my original set.</div><div> Electric set ups can do anything nitro can,and require less clean-up, my airplanes don't get all gooey and sticky. </div><div> Start with something inexpensive, and have fun!!!</div><div>
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I also got to thinking you might go ahead and sign up for the newletter thing through Towerhobbies, you may get a $10 off $50 coupon right off the bat. But you may get lucky or if you don't order anything for a while after you sign up eventually you'll get a $20 off $50 or $10 off $25. Is a good way to get a few little things that you may need that are "Parts Express" items that are cheaper to ship.

While the others may well be, I have their 60 sized 'blue nosed' mustang, and while I'm still putting it together, there is enough feedback on that plane to have me a little concerned, and going into the build (and eventually the maiden) with a LOT of caution - this one is apparently VERY scale in how it flies, and by no means a 'sport' flying model!

http://www.hangar-9.com/Products/Def...ProdID=HAN2460

What about this plane as a starter? Would have to buy a Transmitter (Tx?) and servos. But looks like a decent deal


http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...amp;I=L7ASPH**

and what about that deal? would I need to buy anything else? (besides fuel)

I don't know anyone who has one of those, but it looks like it would fit the bill if it is the one that calls to you.

RE the engine they recommend, I have one Evolution engine, but I don't like the way it runs. If it were me, I'd select an OS 46. I have one, and it is excellent.

Looks like you were editing while I was posting.

I would presume the 2nd link you have there would also require servo extensions, prop, reciever battery, and maybe a few little things.

You would also need fuel, a fuel pump of some sort, a glow driver, and preferably an electric starter and battery.

Re the radio, I don't know what your budget is like, but if you can swing it a computer radio with model memory, 2.4 ghz would be nice.

How much would a computer radio run me? I can save for a few more weeks/months to get gear that is going to last me a while

The radio setup I listed in my earlier post is a Turnigy 9x. It is a computer radio and is capable of doing anything any of the high dollar radios can do, and extra receivers cost any where from 6 to 8 bucks for use in other airplanes. The initial cost is $53.00 + shipping at hobbyking .com. or you can get thre identical radio at hobbypartz.com, but it's called a Flysky there for 89.00+shipping. It will probably be sufficient for a long time, and you can invest the money you save in other things, such as more airplanes! You don't have to buy the most expensive things in this hobby to Have fun!<div>
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Now the only issue I am having is the Alpha 40 ARF is only sold in stores apparently...and the closest one is 150 miles away in FT. Worth Hate Cowtown LOL. Might be making a trip though. Might do me some good to talk to someone in store as opposed to looking at what the stores site says. See what I really need and what it will cost. My birthday isn't until April, I bet I could save 500$ to get started in what I am sure is going to be a lifelong addiction (much to my wifes dismay) Now...if I could just convince her to let me buy that '82 Piper Warrior I found online.............

I think the Alpha is a good plane. We lost all we owned in Katrina. For three and a half years our life was about the business of living. When My bride told me she could not see me without my planes. She went to the local hobby shop and bought me a Alpha, 4 channel radio and a 46 size engine. Many of the club members helped me with the support equipment. I had never seen a Alpha or did I know anything about the plane. Laying off from flying for over three years. Figured I would have to learn all over.
The Alpha got me back flying and with enjoyment. I used the Alpha to teach for three years and finally just gave it away to a young lad. Is the Alpha the best trainer? You can be sure on this forum there will be several opinions about other trainers. Just about all of the trainers on the market have some good things about them. All I can tell you is the Alpha was a good trainer and it is a nice plane. Hope that helps.

You can get the Alpha 40 through horizon and they sell a combo. The planes I recommend to my students are, Hobbico hobbistar 60 (first and favorite), Alpha 40, for glow. I tell them to stay away from any kind of nextstar because they are not that durable when it comes to student treatment. Their landing gear is not flexible like the wire gear used on my other two recommendations. If you hit something with the wire gear you bend it back. On the nexstar, you have major repairs to do. Having said that, I currently have one student training on a nexstar he got at a swapmeet for $150. The tower trainer is ok once you get them straightened out. We had 3 out of 3 new out of the box with warped wings. All of them to the point they were not usable for training. But in Towers defense, they made it right on all three and we used them. It was just lost time. For electric I recommend the Apprentice 15e and Alpha 450. I've trained a LOT of people on the apprentice. The only down side is wind. The max on both those electrics is about 10 mph. The planes can handle it, the students cant and it turns into too much work just to maintain control. I have shown them that its their skills, not the plane. My glow students can fly up to 18 mph winds, a bit heavier and can penetrate better. But they also dont like training in high winds for the same reason as the electric guys. Any of the planes with restrictors on the engines or built in leading edge flaps, or spoilers, gets all that stuff removed so that we have a straight up plane with none of that nonsense.
Edwin

kiwibob,
I've heard and seen the same thing about the blue nose. There was one in our club that went through a few pilots before it went in with no explanation. The pilot was an old time warbirder with lots of experience and thought he could tame it. Dont know what it is about the blue nose, but keep an eye out for some strange flight characteristics. Horrace's idea about setting both ailerons up about 2 to 5 degrees might help. Mine is an old discontinued P-51 I got at a swapmeet.
Edwin

My opinion: I would hold off on buying anything until visiting a club; if you go the club route.  Many times someone at a club will let you borrow their trainer to get started and you can work on outfitting yourself at a slower pace after you find what you like and even sell you equipment at a more affordable price.  They may be buying their stuff locally at someplace that you may not have found.  For instance, our hobby store has some used ready to fly planes for sub $300.  That comes with a plane set up, proven engine and flyer and usually with instruction.

Radio wise, depending on your budget you might look at Specktrum DX6, DX7 or DX8.

There are a lot of bind and fly planes out there for Specktrum. I find them easy to program, and hobby king orange rx Specktrum compatible receivers are a cheap option for little foamies.

An Apprentice plug and play, a Dx6, a couple three 3s3300 batteries from nitro planes or hobby king, plus a 4 bank charger wouldn't be a bad way to start.