RE: First plane
Best advice I can give is to "Slow down". I've seen it over and over again. People, including myself, get nervous and forget to slow the plane down. They wiz the plane around with their brain 3 steps behind it and the only thing they are thinking about is why are their knees shaking so bad. Just take a breath, relax and pay attention. This advice doesn't only apply to the flight. If you are rushing around trying to get to the field and throwing your plane together to squeak in a flight before dark, you are asking for trouble. Slow down. Make sure your batteries are charged. Maybe tug on the control surfaces to make sure a hinge didn't come loose. Are your wheel collars still tight? A few seconds of paying attention can save you hours in repair.
Good luck, this is the best hobby there is.