Hey Kids,
Just found this web-site a couple of days ago and I can't get away from it! It's even startin' to cut into work time[sm=biggrin.gif]! Anyway, let me give my tale of woe and open the door for some opinions.

Bought my first plane back in '98. Told my wife I wouldn't touch it until our list of home improvements was done.[] Big mistake.

Assembled the trainer (H9 Easy Fly .40) over the winter of '99. Joined a club in Summer of '00. Got rid of the knee shakes in a few lessons and soloed on July 4, 00.
Crashed a few times and repaired. Stored the plane for the winter and broke it back out in the spring of '01. Oh yeah, bought myself a Dazzler .40 kit for the next winters project. Had a real hard crash in Sept. 01. I was flying with a buddy who has bigger "cahonies" than I do and it was way too windy to be up. Pretty much re-kitted the EF40. [sm=crying.gif]

Folks bought waterfront property that needed a lot of cleaning up so I didn't fly at ALL in '02 because I was over there helpin' them out when I wasn't working my 57 hour work weeks. (I do still see a float-plane in my mind when I'm there but that's "down the road".)

Finally picked up a used RCM 40 at the LHS. What an awesome little plane. Came equipped with an OS40LA which is a pleasure as well. First day back at the flying field was a ball except for one minor mishap. I SCREWED it right into the ground. I was on my third flight for the day and was easily three mistakes up when it would not respond to radio inputs. (It also did this once in my yard when I was playin' around with it.) When I say radio inputs, I mean ALL RADIO INPUTS! I even tried to kill the engine on its way down to minimize the damage but that wasn't happenin' either! (It's true what they say, takeoffs are optional but landings are mandatory!) I was deeply saddened by my loss.[sm=crying.gif]

Bought a new RCM Trainer .40 and am back in the air! Got rid of the knee shakes again and am gaining a lot of confidence.

NOW, HERE'S THE QUESTION (s).
What should I be able to do with my trainer? And where do I learn to do it? Don't suggest a buddy box because there are RARELY any other flyers around when I'm at the field. Where can I get written instructions for the more intricate maneuvers? I want to be very proficient at this game before I brake out the Dazzler with the 46FX or the Aresti with the Saito FA.72 FS. (I'm way too scared to bring them out of my hobby room let alone try and fly them!) When will I be ready for the 2nd, 3rd, and fourth plane? I eventually want to get into my dream Focke Wulfe FW-190. I need some tips and I'm willing to read anything I can get my hands on.

Thanks for the input guys! I really appreciate your input.[sm=thumbup.gif]


...nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile.
"Bakes"