I agree with everyone but there is another way. First I would start out with a sim. You will gain more flying knowledge with a sim then ever. A sim really teaches you the controls quickly. After you learn the controls it is just a blast. You can learn all the fundamentals on a simulater, then take them to the field with a buddy box. Just remember to put the winds to 6-10 MPH on the sim after you learn how to fly a little bit.

Also, for you first plane I would load a fomie. If you crash it all that is needed is a little CA Glue. If you crash it to bad it will cost you close to nothing to replace. Also, fomies don't have to be flown at a flying feild. I fly them at the local soccer field now. I have not been flying to long and my first plane is a 52 in Yak 54 with a .56 glow. Fomies were my first flights though.

It really all just depends on what type of flying you are interested in. I have flown a trainer a couple times and I get bored with them after a couple minutes. You just don't have the same control with them as most other planes. Don't get me wrong, trainer are never a bad way to go but I don't think they are as much fun. My friend loaded a 100cc Yak 54 withing the first 4 months of real flying. He just practiced on the sim a lot before he went to the field the first time. He hasn't crashed his Yak or Edge yet and he is still going.