Your air cadet experience won't be much help at first. I flew in military planes for about 20 years - I still needed an instructor. Two of my squadron buddies are in the same club and also needed the help of an instructor.

The Taylorcraft might not be the best trainer. Your aircadet training should have told you that you need the ailerons for turning. But, if you want to learn to fly yourself, it's your airplane.....

I think that everyone here can appreciate your enthusiasm - we've all had it and have all been bitten by that bug. BMEFLYER (and everyone else) has given good advice - find an inexpensive flight simulator.

You're starting out right with asking for help here. Try to find that club again. Head up to www.modelaircraft.org. Click on "About AMA", then click on "Chartered Clubs". The "Chartered Club Locator" link is broken but you can search through the appropriate district for info.

If you find that club, perhaps one of the members has a flight sim that he can let you try out before you get your own. Seeing is believing...

Hope that this helps.

Bob