Hello. A few years ago, I got my first real R/C airplane. It was a 3 ch Firebird Phantom, with so called "anti crash" technology. I tried teaching myself to fly. I was only 8 or 9 years old and often over-corrected, causing lots of crashes. After a day or two, one of the motors that made the rear v-shaped aerilons go up and down stopped working (think it's called a servo but I am new so I don't really get all this jargon). We returned (which was a pain because I live no where near a good hobby shop) and got a new one. After a while, my Dad lost orientation while flying and it got stuck in a tree. We finally managed to get it down the next day. After some brief smoking, it flew alright for a minute and then the servo/motor thing burned out again. To make a long story short, the plane completely broke to the point of the flaps ripping off whilst sitting in my closet for several years. Now that I have my first job, I am really interested in flying electric planes. I have a few questions about what I should get or do first.
It seems like almost everybody recommends a Super Cub, but I don't want to buy a 3ch plane to train on and then get bored with it (besides, I have experience from the plane I had before). I have decided that I want a 4ch plane. I need help deciding what to get. I would like to have a bit of range on the plane so I can put a camera on it and fly around town.
This plane seems fine and I really like the pricetag on it, but it seems to be a very unknown plane as there is no real reviews I could find on it. I also know nothing about the range or the transmitter. It also says something about wiring and electronics building, even though it is an RTF, and that makes me afraid I will wreck it.
http://www.bananahobby.com/4-ch-blit...plane-rtf.html
This plane seems cool. It has a bit more reviews. It can switch between low wing and high wing. It says that it has a radio control range of 1000 m, but I wonder if that is a bit optimistic? A few people say they have had troubles with weak servos, so should I buy extras if I get this plane?
http://www.bananahobby.com/4-ch-blit...plane-rtf.html
This Apprentice S 15e is my favorite, but it is also the most expensive. I like the panic button it has and it comes with a better transmitter than the other two (I think they just come with some generic ones, but I could be wrong). I have heard a lot of good things about this, and I saw a youtube video where a guy flew it stock out to almost 900 meters. I also saw other videos where this had some FPV setup or whatever and it flew over 5 miles away.
http://www.redrockethobbies.com/Efli...FVJo7Aodwm8AtA

I was wondering if I should buy a flight sim first. I have always kind of wanted one, but I would rather buy a plane instead, or at least at first. I was looking at the Real Flight 7 with the TTX 600 transmitter, as it is a 6ch transmitter that I can use on other planes later (it is cheaper than the Phoenix one that comes with a DX6i.) Unless the two Blitzworks planes are poor I think I will buy one of those two and then get Real Flight 7. If the Apprentice S 15e is worth the money, then I don't really want to buy Real Flight 7 because that comes out to over $470 dollars. I suppose I could get the BNF version of the Apprentice S if the TTX 600 Radio that comes with Real Flight can bind to it (can it?) but that would still be over $440.
Finally, if I do get the Real Flight Sim with the TTX 600, could I bind that transmitter to the Dynam 1200mm Spitfire? I want to get that after I master the trainer planes.
By the way, there is no Clubs that are around here so I will have to learn flying myself.
Sorry for making this so long, I just want to get into this hobby!

First, welcome to RCU and to your re-entry to the hobby. I'll try to answer your questions as best I can and answer the questions you didn't ask too.

First, you don't have experience. You never completed a flight on the plane you had before (understandable) so you don't have piloting experience that you can apply to a new plane. You learned a few things not to do, but that's not the same as knowing what you should do.

Second, the good quality brands are worth the money, especially for a guy your age who doesn't have a whole shop full of dad's odds and ends to fix things with. I'm going to direct you back to the Super Cub because it really is a decent flyer that bounces well. You're first plane (and that is how you should think of it) is going to get banged up anyway, so you should pick one that can take it.

Third, do whatever it takes to work with an instructor. If you go to www.modelaircraft.org there is a club locator on the front page. You could probably pull off learning just fine with the Apprentice if you get with an instructor, but I have yet to work with a student pilot on a 4 channel plane that is able to make a 180 degree turn on the first try without me having to take control back to keep the plane from crashing. It's not likely you are any different, so get some help.

On the simulator question, they certainly do help. They don't replace an instructor who will teach you to fly properly, but they do let you practice and develop your orientation and reactions in a no risk environment. Since money is a concern, look in the RCU and RcGroups classifieds to find an older version of one of the popular sims like Real Flight. I only paid $100 for my RF 5 and that was when it was the current version.

On transmitter brands, all 2.4ghz radios will only work with their own brand. So if you buy a Tactic radio, you have to use Tactic receivers or buy the "TxR" planes that Tower sells to go with the Tactic radios. Spektrum works only with Spektrum and Spektrum clones (usually) and the "Bind and Fly" planes that are so popular now.

Now I'll ask a couple of questions.
-What is your flying area like? You'll need more space than you think you do, as you probably learned when you put your old plane into a tree. Basically, if you can see trees in your flying area at all you'll need to make a conscious effort not to hit them.
-Is your dad or another adult going to do any of this with you? Investing in better equipment can make a lot of sense when you are doing it together. And while we're on the topic, what do you parents think about RC planes?
-What is your budget realistically, and how do you hope to progress in the hobby? The reason I ask is that if you'll still have some income to devote to this during the school year and you plan to fly higher performing planes when you're ready, I'm going to suggest getting a better radio like the Dx6i. But if you aren't, you may have to live with a basic 4 channel set for now in order to be able to get started.

I apologise if I made it seem as though I only crashed my first plane as soon as I got it replaced. I was doing well on it for a few weeks, but then I handed the controller over to my dad (He also broke my mediocre 4 ch helicopter too..., but we got that fixed). I think that I have enough experience with the old plane and other and perhaps a little from my helicopter that I am ready for a 4ch. Besides, the Apprentice and Star Trainer seem to be really good for beginning., The Star Trainer can fly at a really easy and slow and the Apprentice has the panic button and beginner mode.
Anyway, to answer your question, my flying area is ok. It is a bit less than 25 acres in almost q squarish shape. The main problem is it my school's sport area so it has a few lights, fences, stands, and a couple small buildings. It isn't really bad at all though as most of the obstacles are in 1/3 of the area. I also have another one that is much furhter away that is a oval sort of shape that is roughly 1700 long and 500 feet across. Again there is a few obstacles as there is a small park, baseball field, and a low shelter, but north and south of the park is very open.
I will mostly do this alone but I think on weekends my dad and I might fly together. I am hoping my dad will go 50 - 50 or at least 75 - 25 for paying for the planes but he is not sure yet. My Dad think RC planes are kind of cool (he really like these gliders we saw off of some cliffs in La Jolla when we went to California). My Mom couldn't care less if I had a plane or not.
Budget- I am getting almost $200 within a few days (not sure how much of that goes to taxes or whatever). I hope to make at least another $150 before school starts but a part time low wage farm job doesn't give a whole lot of income. If I can work during school, I realistically would probably only make around $50-100 a week since there isn't much help needed during the schoolyear. The place also closes sometime during the fall, as it is a berry farm.

You may do fine with the Apprentice then. There are a lot of guys who have started with them and were happy with the performance. I'm still going to push the instructor idea though, because there is no substitute for having someone teach you how to do things right the first time. You will either learn by messing up and breaking things and then figuring how how you messed up, or you'll learn by having someone show you how to do it right without breaking anything. Which option sounds better to you?
Did you check out the club locator? Many clubs have junior memberships at reduced cost, and the AMA has a special free youth membership for pilots under 19. I am aware that lots of new guys who are on a limited budget think of paying any club dues or extra travel to a club field to be a waste, but 99% of the time joining a club will save you more money than it will cost you. Having a proper flying site without any obstacles is worth it alone most of the time. You'd be amazed at how easy it is to hit just a single light pole or to have a landing approach go long and put you into a fence. A club field, even without the help of instructors, will save your plane several times during that first year of flying.

I will go for the Apprentice then. Thanks!

Well said Jester.
Jester is spot on about finding an instructor or at least someone who fly's RC planes proficiently. An experienced pilot can tell more easily if you are flying just at the edge of stall and overt a crash along with many other things you could encounter. We alway's highly recommend people who contact our club to get help with thier first plane. We even offer complimentary first flights with a trainer and buddy box. I have always recommended the Super Cub as a first plane. As I have also flown the Apprentice I would recommend it too.

"If you are not sure about something always ask questions. The only dumb question is the one that should have been asked."

Happy flying and soft landings.

BlazerB52
President of local RC club.
Pic of buddy box being used. Both radio's linked by cord.

The easiest road traveled when entering this hobby is #1 join AMA, #2 join a local rc club, #3 find a buddy at the club that will take you under his wing and buddy box with you.

daddyrabbit1234 is right. Every other method adds to the cost and frustration.

Actually, the very first step to getting into this addiction is to accumulate a huge pile of money.

That doesn't have to be the case. Yes, you need some disposable income for this. I'm always amazed at the guys who don't have a pot to piss in who want to get into model planes or shooting or hot rods or whatever. I'd say a guy can have a good time in the hobby if he's able to manage $500 a year on it. There will usually be a bit more of an investment up front to get started, then after that it's parts and the occasion new acquisition. Of course, the cost can rise as high as you're comfortable with as you get interested in nicer planes, but it doesn't have to.