I will echo Campy's comments and add this:

If you find the club in your area (Just about every town has one - Best way to find it is to find the local hobby shop and ask) The club members will often have some good used equipment, and you can get flying for much less money.

IF you want, here's something you can do: Get your dad a nice A.R.F. (A.lmost R.eady to F.ly) trainer for around $100. Then, do all of the "Leg Work" of finding a hobby shop and a club for him. That will be enough to whet his appetite and he can lay out the cash for his own engine and radio.