Have you thought about getting him an Electric Plane? Much less intimidating plus alot safer. My son flys and electric GWS E-Starter and loves it. Plus if he wants to go fly when I am not home he can just go down to the local park and fly. There are a ton of diffrent electric planes from basisic begginer stuff to 3-d acrobatic.

You should look at something like the GWS Tigher Moth. A slow flyer that is a fun little plane.

Just a suggestion.