Though new to the sport I'll toss out my 2 cents worth anyway. First, I think you have to consider the marketing angle. A lot of R/C planes are marketed with the appearance that anyone can immediately be flying in minutes, no experience required. As a Technology Manager, I equate it somewhat to computers. Buy one and you'll instantly be doing all kinds of wonderful things. Neither are true. I recently completed my first glow plane, a 1/5 scale World Hobbies Cub. Spent several months building it and it looks beautiful. But one lesson learned was that ARF is strictly a matter of interpretation. If I had not done my homework, had the tools and some background in building static scale aircraft, I doubt I would have able to finish it. Otherwise a great learning experience. Now to get to a field and have a more experienced soul give it a test flight.

While that was going on I got into electric's to help 'scratch the itch'. Started with the FB Outlaw. They were okay, a few crashes and fly-aways but not there yet. Moved to the FB Commander. More crashes and a fly-away. But I stuck with it, learned to repair them and do a bit of tweaking. Also carried them around in my truck, taking every opportunity to fly, or crash. I think doing that made all the difference. As long as the plane is fly-able, practice practice practice. I can now see a marked improvement in my flying. I can gauge battery level by how its flying, or what the wind at altitude is doing. How to control it in turns and setup for landings, basically learning how to think ahead of the airplane. Recently I got a GWS Slow Stick to better prepare me for one day flying the Cub. Got it all together, was testing electronics without wing when accidently turned on TX last. Went to full power and sailed out of garage trying to fly. Busted up the tail assembly. Repaired it. First flight it looped and twisted and smashed hard. Figured out servo torque was pulling servo mount toward tail making it unrecoverable in flight. More repairs and tuning. Today I launched it and it started to fly beautifully, suddenly it began twisting. The GWS glue didn't hold and the engine had flown off the plane. Fortunately it dived and nose buried straight up, so no repairs for once! I'll secure the engine and have no doubt it'll fly great.

Yes it can get expensive after a while. But that expense will decrease and the enjoyment will increase if one sticks it out and realizes that no plane is crash proof and flyable by anyone right out of the box. I've got several buddies hooked into it and they're having the same learning pains. But thats what it is, learning. No different with this hobby than school or anything else in life that finally at some point provides a level of satisfaction. STICK IT OUT AND DON'T GIVE UP! Now grab that plane and go flying!!