My first plane, a Sturdy Birdy, crashed several times before it actually got off the ground and flew. I learned with each crash, and the SB wasn't too difficult to repair. On the first flight, I flew around a little, got nervous and decided to land. That's when I got to learn about that reversal of control, and on approach I gave it left when I should have given it right. Broke the wing, on the jungle gym (I was behind a school, on a Saturday, nobody there.)

Now I do instruction, using the tandem transmitter method with connector cord. I explain that if they have come to see me, my objective (beyond teaching rules, techniques and skills) is to make their training plane last far beyond the instruction period. I presume that those who do not come to an instructor are prepared (as I was) to learn repair skills, concurrently.

Good luck,
Dave Olson