Ok let me answer a few questions you guys had and give you an update.

1) The battery was a NiCad with a universal connector.
2) The receiver was a Futaba 127. I did show my brother how to plug in the battery (I watched him do it correctly too) because I have heard some discussion about the inner pin being shorted to the center pin.

So for the update: Servocity said they could not replace the battery so they sold him one at cost and they picked up the shipping. They told us they couldn't do anything about the receiver and that we needed to contact Futaba. Futaba told us to send it in and they'd have a look at it. Honestly I'm not too pleased with this, but I guess it's the best we can do.

I gave him some of my electronics to use and he completed the plane. I'm guessing he'll maiden it sometime this week.