Excuse me? You have got to be kidding? I fly only electric. And my Dad will learn on an electric. These are not "toys" to "play" with. They are just as real as a gas plane, and in many cases perform just as well. Both types have their place. The reason I didn't discover this hobby sooner was because I though large, gas planes were the only way to go. I would have loved to fly gas, but the expense was too much, as was the drive. Now I don't want to step on anyones toes too hard but...You need to realize that there are alternatives to conventional gas trainers. This person could do just as well with an electric or glider, indeed a glider would probably be better than ANY powered model. Just an opinion, NOT a flame. What ever you do, finding an instructor is the first step, getting what they recommend is the second.

Cheers,
Grant