I learned on a Hobbico Nexstar. I loved it, and it looks great. After a few weeks I flew the Hobbico Avistar, and couldn't believe the difference! It was so much more agile, and easier to land, especially in wind. The Avistar is a 'high wing trainer' but is a little more sporty than most, due to a little less dihedral (v-shape of the wings) and a 'semi-symmetrical' wing, as opposed to the flat bottom of the Nexstar.

If you're on a very tight budget, the Tower Trainer is an awesome plane, and very inexpensive.

You only need a 4 channel radio to get started. It would be quite a while before you're ready for more than 4 channels. I didn't think this when I started, so I got a 6 channel computer radio. I'm about to start flying my 3rd plane and have no need for more channels. I won't for my 4th plane, either.

I suggest an ARF plane, so you get to assemble it and get an understanding of how the plane goes together, and you get to choose your own engine and radio gear. The Tower Hobbies 4th radio is really a Futaba radio with a different sticker on it, and is a great beginner radio.

Glow engines are fun. I just had the pleasure of cleaning mine after a crash, and having a little fuel powered engine capable of 13000 RPM and somewhere around 1 full horsepower is pretty cool. Electrics are clean and quiet, and battery technology has come a long way, so you can get good flight times. They cost more up front as you should get a few batteries and a good charger to start. Glow planes are a little less up front, but glow fuel is $30/gallon, and if you like to fly as much as I do, you could be buying a gallon maybe every 10 days or so. I like glow planes personally. I like the engines, and the ability to land, refuel, and take off, without needing to charge or switch batteries.

I have an OS engine. They are the pricier brand, but mine starts every day with a flip of a stick, sounds great, and runs the best out of any engine at the field. No problems, no starter, just a great engine.

You will be progressing through planes pretty quickly. It's nice to have the trainer and keep it set up, then get a new plane, new engine, and new receiver so you can use one radio to control both planes. I just crashed a plane and wish I had another to fly while I assemble the one I'm working on. Point is, don't spend a ton of money on this plane. You can spend the extra money on a radio if you want, or on the OS. Then you can put the OS in your second plane and put a cheap engine in your trainer, or if you decide you want a bigger engine, keep the OS in the trainer and buy a bigger engine.