What I want to know is how are you going to be able to stand looking at all that shiny new stuff all winter and not get the urge to take it out and fly regardless of how cold it is or how deep the snow is?

How long a battery lasts depends on factors like the battery capacity (mAh rating), type of airplane, number and type of servos, etc. You can ususally count on at least 4-5, 10-15 minute flights for an average receiver battery in a typical .40 size trainer though, possibly even more. A good tool to have is a volt meter that puts a small load on the battery so you can check it after a few flights.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...LXWDZ5&P=7