Don't quit. Please take time to read this. I've got some good stuff for you.

Being a real pilot and a pretty good RC pilot I have learned a single important thing over the years that separate those who learn how to fly well and those who don't. This thing is epsecially true for landings.

OK, so this thing is understanding what really makes an airplane fly, stall, and basic aerodynamic behavior. It's UNDERSTANDING that will make you fly better and not God given skill. If you don't understand, you WILL NOT LEARN TO FLY WELL.

My first recommendation, please take my word for this I know what I'm talking about, is get a good trainer plane and find a good instructure that really knows RC flying and theory and do not fly alone again until you get the basics down. That means you can fly and grease landings consistenly. I would bet if you put in 10 - 15 flighs with a good instructor and have an open mind for learning - don't pick a guy who just can fly a circle, but someone who really gets it, you will be fine and love the hobby. After flying for 8 years I don't crash much anymore and my average lifespan for a 3D airplane - taking risk - is 3 or so years.

Second, if your aircraft setup is poor and your transmitter setup is poor you ARE NOT GOING TO SUCCEED - PERIOD NO EXCEEPTIONS. I see guys at the field week after week that cannot setup a DX7 and they just crash planes for a living. If you don't know setup a tx any plane can be really hard to fly. I can make a trainer a devil to fly by messing with the CG, trim and tx. For instance, a tail heavy airplane with no expo on the tx is a recipe for disaster and I see guys do this all the time.

Third, landing is DEAD EASY on a nice day. I fly with my dad a lot and he struggles from time to time with landing. He won't listen to me but I keep telling him the key to landing well is not really the wheels touching the ground part. The key to landing well is setting up a good approach. Guys watch me land my GS plane and say well, some guys just have it. He greases it every time. What they don't know is I land a RC plane whether it be 3D or other just like I land a Cessna 172. If your approach altitude, turn to final, glide slope and throttle are off your landings will ALWAYS suck and you will hit the grass and the fence and whatever else is in the way. When I land and when turning on final approach I am almost always at the same altitude, nose down and throttle setting. Then I practically just watch the plane glide 5 degrees nose down to the ground and give it a little flair - greased and as easy as pie. ITs ABOUT SETUP FOR THE APPROACH. Please get this. Landing on a calm day is not a high-skill or coordination intensive thing. It's just about setup, setup, setup. If I was flying with you I could explain this by showing you how in 10 minutes an if you listened you would be landing great for the rest of your RC days.

Get someone good and get on a buddy box and start enjoying this wonderful hobby. It sounds like you almost there. You just need some understanding and good training. The skills will come naturally even if you are not gifted and I am not say you're not.

Now, if you want to compete for the TOC, that's a different topic alltogether

Have fun, PM me if you have any questions.

Steve