ORIGINAL: FlyinTiger

For people who's closest club field is over an hour away, I can see learning on the Champ, Super Cub and I recommend the full size Parkzone T-28. All of these models together equals one larger model, but it also gives these guys that have no instructors a chance to progress in a way that they will have all their airplanes after learning to fly.

After a person can take off, fly figure 8s at a constant altitude and land both directions, I always recommend someone go to a club event to fly with others, watch others, and VERIFY what they have learned is a safe and productive flying style. There are often fun fly events at local clubs and they can be looked up quite easily these days online.

If a person flies in a public park or soccer complex it is EXTREMELY important that they are extra careful to avoid people, as these places often have a lot of activity and most spectators don't stay a safe distance away. Also, a small three pound plane can still do a lot of damage, especially if it hits someone in the head.

Throttle management is the one thing I see people struggling with...even those that learned on a buddy box with an instructor. Under powered glow trainers are more forgiving when the pilot takes off and leaves the left stick full forward until landing.

Speaking of the left stick...rudder training is a MUST. People need to learn how to keep a plane going down the centerline of their runway surface (gym floor, soccer field or club runway) to avoid taking off into people or in any direction not intended. There are other uses for the rudder, but if we could start here, runway centerline control, we'd make a lot of progress.

Regardless of the aircraft, I teach a syllabus that only focuses on basic building blocks for a good take-off, pattern and landing, from BOTH directions....that's it.

Straight and level flight, small corrections
Figure 8s, simulates each side of the traffic pattern when the plane is turning toward the runway from the back side of the eight.
Square patterns in the sky, constant altitude.
Bring the pattern segment that is over the runway lower and lower until doing low passes. Teaches approach and go around techniques from BOTH directions.
Square pattern approach to go around after reaching ground effect (one wingspan above the ground) where they learn to throttle up, fly level to gain speed, then execute an on centerline climb out before a gradual climbing turn to crosswind.

At this point have the student do a loop once in a while to practice throttle control. Power up, pull...on the back side of the loop have them bring the throttle to idle, then back to half when level again.

Next is rudder control exercises. Being able to drive the plane from one end of the runway to the other, from the pilot's station, on centerline at a slow speed is a good way to start. The student should be able to drive the plane down the runway centerline, slow by coasting at idle and wagging the rudder if necessary, then turn around and taxi back to the other end of the runway without deviating from the centerline more than two or three feet maximum.

Takeoffs are next. Taxi faster down the center line, smooth throttle push to 3/4 power, then gradual climb out into the pattern, just like they practiced before on the "go around" training.

Landings. At this point they can be crosswind landings or calm wind landings, use what you've got.
Practice each maneuver on the simulator before the real thing and between training sessions...go to the local hobby shop, use the sim for free if necessary.

This usually takes a minimum of eight training sessions for a person that has never flown before. If the student is using the simulator between sessions and at the field once or twice a week, maximum. This stuff takes time to sink in...rushing it faster than eight sessions and 30 total days to solo is usually a bad idea for most students.

Full scale pilots tend to take slightly longer to train.

I've trained people that taught themselves and just wanted to get more precise and confident with their flying on a larger model...took about eight training sessions, but sim time was not required.