ORIGINAL: bigedmustafa
A .40-sized glow engine like the Super Tigre G-40 will cost you about $49.99. An equivelant brushless electric power system can be purchased to fly the plane with similar authority, it will set you back about $250 to $300 for motor, speed controller (ESC), and LiPo battery.
If you need to go cheap, go glow. If you need to go electric, spend a little bit extra and buy a real airframe. Balsa flies better. You can purchase a Ready-to-Fly electric trainer with a brushless power system and radio for around $299.99 plus batteries:
http://www.hobbico.com/airplanes/hcaa12.html
Good luck and good shopping.
Big Ed,
Now you know that almost every Spad I have built flies as good or if not better, than some Balsa Planes. You have seen most of them fly in person. An Electric spad can be done, and flown successfully just [link=http://www.putfile.com/omaha_rc_flyer/images/95015]Look at this one.[/link] Here is the video to prove it.
http://media.putfile.com/Mini-Spadstick
Later,
Omaha