I am new but can answer with what advice was given to me and what I did buy. If you want to build, everybody seems to love the Slowstick or Magpie. As I didnt want to build, people told me the Slo-V or Aerobird Challenger from the Hobbyzone/Parkzone people. I ended up with the Slo-V and couldnt be happier. If flies great even for a complete rookie like me. It hates wind, so keep that in mind. Anything in the 5mph-10mph range it gets a little erratic and you need to keep an eye on it. You can help it out with a bigger battery pack and playing with the adj wing position, but it really likes calm days. If its calm it can almost fly itself its so stable. Its pretty much a copy of the Slowstick in a RTF. $130 gets you out the door and flying in under an hour. Replacement parts are dirt cheap as well. Keep in mind that all Zone products are proprietary and you cant transfer electronics or change things around easily.

The ABC is bigger and faster than the Slo-V and can take a pretty good beating as long as you do some reinforcements before flight to the motor mount, boom, v tail, etc. If you go that route there are several threads covering those mods and they are all simple. If you like the pod/boom style there is also the Wing Dragon from Parkflyers. Its not a v-tail and I believe you can transfer the eletronics around. I dont know much about that plane...

That being said, I now want something faster and more aerobatic - I think the Stryker is next on my list I think I will always like flying the Slo-V though, its perfect for the small park next to my house.

EDIT: If you really want him in a 4 channel, Parkflyers makes a Cessna trainer that can be flown 3 channel first. Then he can always switch over when he is ready.