My first RC plane was the Aerobird Challenger by Hobbyzone. I still have it, but I thought that a pod-and-stick, v-tail design was too difficult to keep trimmed out and flying straight for a first plane. I smashed up my Aerobird Challenger quite a bit before I figured out how to get it to fly.

I think a plane with a traditional "t-tail" design like a Hobbico Flyzone Mini Ventura or Ventura would be a better first plane. They are easier to keep trimmed correctly. The Parkzone Slow-V has a v-tail, but would also probably be a better choice for a first airplane. The Parkzone J3 Cub and Super Decath aren't recommended for beginners, but I believe they'd be much easier to keep trimmed for smooth flying than my Aerobird Challenger was.

The foam v-tail and stick-and-pod body on the Aerobird Challenger were very difficult to keep lined up for proper flying. The "stick" portion of the body would angle down from the pod and make the plane almost impossible to get to climb. The tail "elevons" were trimmed with fishing line and very small screws that adjusted the tension on them. When these would slip out of place, the plane would only steer toward the side that still held tension, and spiraling out of control was very common.

The best inexpensive plane is probably the Mini Ventura. The traditional tail and the solid fuselage avoid the pitfalls that I delt with on my Aerobird Challenger. At $89.99, it's also less expensive than the Aerobird Challenger. I've read feedback from many folks who have purchased the Aerobird Challenger and flew it successfully as a first plane, so take my advice with a grain of salt. I simply wish I'd gotten something that was easier to keep flying straight ahead.