I've enjoyed reading these comments on Mode 1 or a Mode 2 transmitter! You must use the same transmitter mode that everyone at your local rc field is using, it will make your learning so easy when someone is standing right next to you and watching your flying, ready to help if needed, or land your plane or heli for you!
I'm a 66 year old Mode 1 RC Heli and RC plane flyer in the Greensboro North Carolina area. I haven't flown in many years now. I have the Real Flight 6.5 with a Mode 1 Futaba Interlink controller. I drove to Indianapolis to watch the 2001 F3C World Championships, seemed like I was the only spectator! We crammed into someone's motor home to watch the Sep 11 tragedy! I brought my JR Superior and a VERY polite and very friendly F3C competitor from New Zealand flew my Mode 1 Heli, he was

Aaron Williams, and helped with my controller settings! He gave me some great practice flying tips!
I started RC Flying while at Kadena Air Base Okinawa Japan, USAF enlisted. I found a RC Hobby Store off base and rode with the owner to RC Field, and old WW2 runway. All the Okinawan RC pilots flew using Mode 1 so that's what I started using, the Japan standard, all of Asia is Mode 1, I think.
​​​​​ I started learning RC Heli first with a Kobe Kiko Hughes 300 with floats on the asphalt runway. The heli was so hard, I bought a trainer RC plane and was flying it without help so soon compared to the Heli! NO SIMS back then, Aerochopper sim was the first I think.
I like Mode 1 because the tail of the RC plane is on one stick, my left thumb, throttle/ailerons on right thumb. BUT the Heli and Mode 1, the swash plate is on two different sticks! Practice is the key, for me that is, the best way to improve is practice.
My Mode 1 worst problem is having a first flight or first hover, no one to help, everyone else is using Mode 2! Someone can help adjust my transmitter trims while I fly straight and level. Sorry this message got so long!!