Welcome - are you really sure you want to jump in? The water's cold and deep! Just kidding.

First and foremost get hooked up with a local club and join the AMA. You're more likely to hook up with an instructor so that you can learn the basics and solo using the club's gear that includes buddy box that will minimize risk. They will likely have a facility set up for flying and with AMA insurance for your and spectator safety. You may well find someone with a complete setup that's moving to something else - very inexpensively. Contacts can help you repair your plane(s) after the inevitable crash. And it's a whole lot more fun flying with others. Your skills will progress much more quickly than if you try to do it by your lonesome.

You'll find glow guys, electric guys, gas guys and thermal guys. (I'm a glow guy) And there are some Renascence fliers with all of the skills / experience. Get into their heads and you'll find them very willing to share. Pick on a local hobby shop that has the expertise that you're looking to fly. It's good to keep the LHS in business because you'll need their services sooner or later.

Good luck ...