RE: Getting back into the hobby
Turbodave. I had a similar time away from the hobby. My old plane was a 4 star 40. I thought "should I relearn everything and buy a trainer?". I talked with the local club president and he told me to come out to he field and fly the club trainer a few times to see how rusty I really was. It took about two flights. It would have been a waste for me to buy to buy a trainer.