WOW. ok i dont know where to start haha. so i went out to the feild with airplane after making arrangements with someone to help instruct me on flying this thing. today it was rather windy, about 8-12 knot max gusts or so. when i got there there were like 5-10 people all with airplanes who i could tell before getting out of car were passionate about flying rc planes more than i would have thought. i never knew there were even such things as special clubs or fields with small runways just for the purpose. anyways, at first we got the plane out and they trimmed it and tunned the engine. i had messed with it and it was running to "rich" they tell me so before i even touched it i let them take it for a short test and trim flight and it flew fine for a few passes. then the instructor landed and brought it over. then they got another remote but this one was vey fancy and had all kinds of switches and knobs and with this one they connect my remote with a cord that connect them together. this was really cool because i could take control in the air and then hand it back and forth. so i just waited for instructor to taxi and get up high before i got a few tips and he handed it over. my first few tries would have been crashes without this system. the orientation is very confusing at first! i would have it flying straight then go to adjust and it would do the total opposite of what wanted so he just flipped the switch and saved it and brought it back in front so it was easier to see. so after about 5 minutes i was able to fly in wide circles and fairly keep it under control with small corrections here and there. so i flew for about 10 minutes total the first time and then instructor took the plane and landed. so i take break and thne refuel airplane and have breakdown of what i need to work on and what was in store for next flight. so then i went out for a second flight and once the plane got up high i took controls. this time i was told to just fly "figure 8" pattern. this really helped build my reflexes and now i am confident with simple flying around and then i was told to just take it back and forth on high passes to test the airplanes abilities and reactions. then with instructor he teach me a little on landings. just low and slow fly bys and a few passses he touched the wheels. i am still hesitant on landing though as i ahve not attemptd one. i always come in to fast and by the time the wheels get low enough i am out of space so i just pull up. i did do one take off and probably get 30 minutes of flight time total. three fuel tanks went by quick lol so now i just have to practice landing and they said to hook up included simulator to laptop and practice. i never would have done it without an instructor. i am slowly building confindce with flying it and getting better. i was just worried i would take somebody out with it not being properly trained and that would not be good. it is fast and heavy could do some damage. so it is safe to say i am now addicted to this hobby lol. ive got flying bug now as they say it was very intense. i almost still have butterflies from the first flight. so hopefully tomorrow morning before work i will head out and fly again. winter is coming but as somebody said earlier you can still fly in winter. thanks so so much for your advice everyone i think i found a new hobby. one question, how do you turn on this active flight stabilizer thing that is says it has on the box. that might make it easier. i forgot to ask someone today lol