I have been flying for 20 yrs and I am still learning. I sort of taught myself out of necessity, got tired of going to club several times before the plane flew, 30 miles away ,just to have my instructor fly 4 times around and me once Just to be there 3 or more hours. ,I wanted to move Into RC from control line. I however did have my plane checked out by an experienced flier. He also told me to taxi the plane back and forth on the runway tell I could easily control it on the ground at take off speed. I had the use of a 60 acre field out back and used the farmers dirt path as a runway. I developed some bad habits that had to be corrected. I did however go to my instructors while I was learning he had a runway at his house. Once I had the feel of touch and goes I would fly with him once or twice a month He would help me, and set up another lesson I should work on. Like deadstick landings or fly in a figure eight pattern. Then moved into loops, rolls,Inverted flight. Kinda got used to traveling 50 miles to fly. Then I never flew in back again. Only set back was he liked to fly at the crack of dawn so I would sneak out of the house before light and make it home just in time. just in time means I used to have one of those wifes that thought I couldn't have any life outside of her. Boy if she only knew what I got away with. Currant Wife doesn't understand the immersion into the hobby but supports my decisions and I cant get away with nothing cause she doesn't make me feel like I have to hide anything. I would have not been able to fly myself without the experience of control line and the little help I did get. having my plane checked out was an area where I was way off and there is no doubt if I had not had it checked it would have been pieces within seconds.