I've newbys flying pattern in their second year also. But they didn't start flying pattern ships in the first 6 months of flying either. They started out with the proper training, the proper plane and the proper technique. You must learn to crawl before you can walk. Too many newbys start out with planes that are too far advanced for their owners capabilities.

When I am going to maiden a new plane I know it's straight and balanced. I know it's going to take off level and climb out straight. I know that my installations are correct and air worthy. I have confidence in my ability to fly the plane. Therefore, I am excited to fly it.

With the world of ARF where someone else built the plane, you don't know what's going to happen when the plane leaves the ground. But with close inspection and measurements, you can take some of the guess work out of the results.

How many people have we seen or heard of that purchased a RTF and took it to the school yard or park and tried to fly it with no instruction? Quite a few I'm sure. They crash the toy plane, it breaks and they walk away saying, " Well, there's a shot $200. They drop it in the trash and go play video games. If they had purchased the correct plane, had so instruction, and learned the correct technique, they would probably be enjoying a great hobby now.

I am sure there will be some people pop on here and claim that they taught themselves to fly. Well good, but at what costs? How many planes did you go through? How long did it take you?

This is the internet, so everything you read here is always the truth and no one lies about their experience and how great they fly or how long they have been flying.

Frank