Here area some options - Easily within your budget

RTF

If you are going to try and teach yourself, foam and plastic is a better choice than wood. These are great flyers, can do some simple aerobatics, are easy to fly and both have great glides so you can fly them very slowly. Later if you want, you can hop them up with bigger motors, batteries, etc.

T-Hawk - RTF - Excellent Value - $170 -
Add a third battery pack for about $25
Comes with extra wing, tail and battery
Flies well and stands up to hard landings
Can be flown on 27 MHz or 72 MHz
http://www.toytx.com/thawk3chrtf.html
T-Hawk - Without Radio - add your radio and receiver
http://www.readytoflyfun.com/wittran.html
T-Hawk Discussion Thread
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...ighlight=THawk
Videos
http://www.readytoflyfun.com/thawkvideos.html


Easy Star - RTF - $180 -
Add two 7 cell battery packs for about $50 total.
Believe this goes easily back in the box to keep in the car
Super tough foam. Comes with 72 MHz radio in the US.
Good parkflyer and a good glider
Radio in RTF package can be used to fly other planes
http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/240025.asp
Easy Star - ARF - Add you own radio gear
http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/240009.asp
Discussion Thread on Easy Star
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=258656
Video - touch and gos
http://plawner.org/video/easygo.wmv
Video - Testing the plane's behavior
http://plawner.org/video/easystar.wmv



FOUR CHANNEL AILERON TRAINERS - ARF and Kits + Computer radio, batteries and charger. Over your budget, but a better investment.

If you feel confident, you can start with one of these. The Smooth-E has two wings available and would make a great wood kit trainer. You would need a radio to go with it.


Magpie - with both wing kits - $55
Easy to build Foam kit -
Has trainer wing AND and aileron sport wing
Master the first, then advance to the second.
They offer a complete package with both wings and all the electroncis for $160
http://www.mountainmodels.com/magpie.php
discussion threads
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...51#post3502851
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...=SmoothE+build
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...51#post3502851
Video - slow fly wing
http://www.mountainmodels.com/Magpie.wmv
Sport wing
http://www.mountainmodels.com/MagpieSP.wmv

SmoothE - $50
Easy to build Balsa and foam
4 channel aileron trainer
http://www.mountainmodels.com/smoothe.php
Discussion Threads
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...=SmoothE+build
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...&page=19&pp=15
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=276761
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=295225
Funny video
http://www.mountainmodels.com/SmoothEsmall.WMV

Models Dandy Sport - $45
http://www.mountainmodels.com/dandysport.php
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=295225
Complete Package $155
Video
http://www.mountainmodels.com/ds1.wmv

GWS E-starter 400 - Simple Foam Kit - $50
http://www.gwsexpert.com/product_inf...roducts_id=551
Available as a ARF complete package kit with radio - $150
http://www.gwsexpert.com/product_inf...roducts_id=611

GWS Tiger Moth 400 - Simple Foam Kit - $70
http://www.gwsexpert.com/product_inf...roducts_id=203
Complete kit including Radio - $175
http://www.gwsexpert.com/product_inf...roducts_id=658
Review
http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...article_id=345
Video
http://67.18.81.100/rcuvideos/magazi...345/TM400m.wmv


If you go the kit/ARF path, you will need a radio - here are some good starter computer radio set-ups that would be approrpiate for these planes.


Futaba EXAS -
http://www.futaba-rc.com/radios/futk55.html
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...=LXJUV7**&P=ML
review
http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...article_id=556
6 channels, 6-model memory, Prop Flaps on ch 6, Flapperon using 1/6, 1 user
defined mix. The particular package I have listed at tower comes with micro
servos and receiver suitable for parkflyers

Airtronics VG 6000
http://www.airtronics.net/VG6000.htm
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...I=LXEUY5**&P=7
This particular package is very attractive for small electrics. Comes with two
small servos and a 20 amp ESC. 6 channels, 4 model memories, 6 standard
mixes, no user definable mix capability listed. I can't find any info on the
range of the receiver in this package so I must assume it is around 1000 feet.
Suitable for low speed parkflyers.

Low cost DC peak battery charger - $20
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Shop/ByC...ProdID=HBZ1026
HobbyZone Peak Charger for 4-7 cells from 300 mah to 1.2 Amps.
Plugs in to car cig lighter/power port

Two batteries, about $25 each. = $50

$50 + 20 + 160 +$50 = $290 approx, depending on combo of options. But you have a much better and reusable computer radio system.

Just some options.