Troy, the cost of a 600 m. round trip is less then the cost of another plane in most cases. Even if you add a night at a cheap motel. I have been twenty years trying to get into this, crashed the first one,(15+ years ago) flight time approx. 10 seconds. Waited about two years before trying again with a gas ARF- nearly beheaded a friend on take-off... got disoriented in flight, I still remember the crater in the ground. Flight time was about 15 seconds. Impressive, huh?

Third go around, this summer, I finally had enough humility and patience to go the instructor route. Helped with the plane, engine, trim, covering.... invaluable. Saved my butt on the buddy box quite a few times. The biggest problem was in between my ears- The closer the ground got (landing) the more unnerved I became... Experience got me past that. Now I love it, I'm flying with snow skis, beautiful landings... Can't get enough.

Downside? Waiting around for the instructor to help everyone else, 12-14 hours every weekend for 1 or 2 hours of flight. He was right, though: You have to take a break. Flying always improved after a week off, that's how I learn, in increments. Thought I would never solo...

Upside? still flying that first plane, got another with no damage, just ordered a third... Crashing and burning left me so frustrated in the past that I gave up for years. 5 or six weekends (for me) with a buddy box was the best thing... Frustrating? yes. Time consuming? definitely. As frustrating and time consuming as crashing, building, fixing, repairing, and crashing again? No way. I'd do it again, with a drive, motel room, and dinners out. Just my .02... good luck, Jim in Wyoming.
***I also understand that guys/gals with alot of video-game or sim time do tend to pick it up quicker... But i'm the youngest old fart I know!***