Find a club - try not to JOIN a club until AFTER you buy your plane - that will cut your $80 budget in half if you're lucky. Here in Southern California there are a bunch of local clubs and few GREAT flying sites with paved runways, but you'll spend more on membership than you will on your first plane/radio/battery/charger.

Also, as a new pilot I found myself getting some very good advice from very experienced pilots, and most say similar - get a good radio you can grow with, and buy a good PLANE not a TOY. However, they know how to fly already. In order to LEARN how to fly, you better get a plane that can take some abuse and withstand the multiple crashes you'll likely encounter.

I have a Firebird Freedom and I like it because it can take the beating from a new pilot who can't fly, and it's affordable to buy and maintain (about $140 RTF). As mentioned before though, and by my friend and experience pilot, the controls are different than a "real" plane. But its loads of fun - when it's in the air.

You don't want to crash your new plane the first day out, and never fly it again. Be sure it can handle multiple crashes.

The Cub might be great for someone who can fly, but will it fly again after a 30 mph nose dive from 50 ft in the air? The Firebird Freedom will.