Tom:
Welcome. Lots of good airplanes available but the best advice is from Jim Lee: find someone who is presently flying control-line. I'm sure you would agree a newcomer to RC should not try to start without help, so too should you try to find a partner for the critical first phase of control-line flying. There's a tremendous amount to learn regarding lines, handles, fuel, props, engine settings, and all the other small things that are similar but different in this aspect of modeling. None of this is difficult, it's just different. There are members of this forum scattered all over the country and perhaps we can put you in touch with a flying partner. Besides, it's more fun than flying alone.
It's really fun and it will really impress your friends at the RC field when you show them what you can do with "a rock on a string"!
RK
'way up in North Alabama (but still in Dixie!)