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<hr>There is no good way to teach yourself. #1: The plane will probably not be properly trimmed to fly straight without constant input from the pilot... #2: You have no experience, wo you won't know how to correct when the plane goes other than where you expected. It is possible to succeed... but you'll break a lot more airplanes without help.<hr></blockquote>

If that statement is true, than I am abnormal. I learned to fly about 90% on my own. Te only help I had was Trimming my model once it was in the air for my first full length flight. I even had my first takeoff (accidental) nonetheless a takeoff on my own with my proud parents looking on! My major Help,Reading!!! I learned everything I could about the hobby and them some. Because I am only 17 years old, and with one of the only jobs I am legally allowed to hold at my age, My money has to stretch as far as it can when i comes to this hobby. After insurance and gas and other such necessities, I cant afford to break an airplane every time I go out. Although this is not to say I have complete disregard for the inherent risks involved with flying. I realize that my plane could malfunction at any time, leaving me with monocote covered toothpicks. Even worse having toothpicks that crashed into property that is valuable. Thanks AMA insurance!! I now have 1 Fully complete Avistar ARF from last year in 1 peice, and new cap 232 30 size from christmas I finished a few weeks ago with a new T6XA that i paid for with my income tax refund along with my birthday present of a 20 size j-3 cub that I just finifhed the one wing half. I am proud to say that I learned on my own, and although it was unorthodox, and I wouldnt reccommend it to anyone who is in a hurry to jump into the hobby, all it really tyakes is preperation. Know how airplanes work. You dont need to be in a desperate situation with your plane heading for the ground to learn that if you would have pulled up on the elevator, your plane would still be in one piece. Reading this before hand can save you a lot of money. Now I know there isnt one modeler out there who wants to piss theier money away, crashing every model they own, before knowing how the principles of flight work. So what do you do? Read and learn as much as you possibly can before starting that engine!!