Without trying to seem like I'm discouraging electrics, glow powered trainers have the advantage of getting more flight time in a day without spending lots of $ on batteries, chargers, etc. Stick time is the key to success. Having said that, consider contacting your local club. There might be a club member willing to train you on his trainer (I have a plane I use specifically for that purpose). Offer to buy the fuel (at $16.00 a gallon, typically, its a good bargain). After you've learned to fly, you will be in a much better position to evaluate exactly which plane you want to buy, and I'll bet you'll be ready to fly on your own by the end of the first gallon.

I have a father and son that just joined my club. They've been flying a Super Cub at the local school yard and in the street in front of their home. It seems to be fairly well mannered and they've managed to teach themselves some of the basics with minimal damage to the plane. But now they are now wanting to move up to a bigger, more powerful plane, and I'm giving them lessons on my trainer. They're doing very well. They just have to get over the "nerves" of flying a larger plane and realize that larger means easier when it comes to trainers.

Looking at the Tower Catalog, there are some very nice electric sail planes that would make very good first planes. They are by nature light wing loading, dihedral wings. You'll still want an instructor. Something like the Tower Hobbies Vista EP (http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXMUY1&P=0) ($190 RTF) would be a good way to start. The advantage of the sail plane is you will learn to fly the plane, not the prop, and you'll get much longer flight times on a charge. And you'll learn to appreciate flying in the wind.

Realize that when talking about getting into electrics, good and cheap don't necessarily go together. If you want a plane that's going have enough power to overcome more than a gentle breeze, you're going to have to make a good initial investment.

Good Luck
Brad