It is amazing how many of us have had the same experience. I too tried to fly on my own and was lucky that my first flight ended on the gear. I thougt.."good job JC". Well the next flight was the last flight. Not so good.

At some point I let go of the notion that I was going to be able to do this by myself. Not happening.

I purchased the G2 sim and practiced for about a year, in the meantime getting my finances together for the next "first", and second plane, etc. I made contact with an instructor that I found right here at RCU. He is awesome! He has got to be the nicest guy in the world too. Yes I too made a new friend in him.

Now this man went beyond what you would expect from any instructor. Example; after the first meeting, and a modest amount of stick time, he offered to give me the trainer he was training me on. Now before I could accept or decline, he "gave" me a new in the box Global RightFlyer ARF! Just like the one we trained on. Awesome generosity! Very good pilot as well. Has been in it for as long as many of you have been alive. Longer than I have been around, and I'm 45. I feel fortunate to have met him. Anyway...get an instructor! It makes all the difference. You will learn so much more, so much faster, and as Rick always points out to me, so much cheaper.