I started off flying gliders because of cost and an individual I met who was an accomplished R/C pilot. He offered me a choice between powered and silent flight. This individual was also a full scale pilot holding ratings on gliders and single engine aircraft. He explained to me the pros and cons between powered and nonpowered flight. Learning to fly without an engine was the ultimate challenge and everything you learned on a glider transfered to a powered aircraft. I was not the only one he taught to fly but his students came away with a higer proficiency level and self confidence.