Just looking through the new posts and saw this thread, and saw many parallels with my recent experiences.
Less than a year ago I learned to fly by myself ( with a little encouragement from a friend).
I used a semi scale ( we call it "squint scale") Spacewalker, made entirely of styrofoam. the airfoil section I used was a "NERENUF 001."
Everything was reinforced in the critical areas with wood, and covered with coloured parcel tape!

Yes, I crashed it quite a few times in the process of learning, but it hasn't broken as yet! - just wrinkled the wingtips a little, and I can actually fly now!
It does loops, rolls and all the other things you'd expect it to do, - who said you need a high wing to learn on!
Best of all the airframe only cost me a little time, and approx. $10 to build! + the cost of a secondhand radio, and an FP 40 engine which I got new for $70USD. and it's all still flying today.

Now, is this the "go get" American attitude you talk about? - no, but it's probably the same thing, - we have it here in New Zealand too, but we call it "Kiwi Ingenuity", in Australia they call it "Aussie Ingenuity", they have it in Britain as well as France , Germany, Spain, Russia, and all those other countries in Europe, Africa, India, China and the Middle East, etc.etc. and I believe they have it in Sweden also, ie. "Swedish Ingenuity" (The Swedes contributed their fair share of solutions to the worlds needs and problems too).

My point is, all this ingenuity from around the world found it's way to America, and made America great, - you must not forget your roots ( for instance, what is your name? is it an American name? )


BTW, I grew up in Ireland, and we had it there too!, and I found when I moved to NZ, they were just as ingenious and resourceful as we were.
Also, my maternal Grandfather was an American citizen, my wife's brother is an American, and my son lives in NC, so please don't think that I am biased against Americans, quite the opposite in fact.

If I can learn to fly by myself at 60 years old, anybody can, and I've found I can learn to do these things just as well as when I was 20, ( a little more cautiously and with more thought of course ).
Many years ago I did quite a few lessons on a full size aircraft, but there is really no way you can compare the two, model aircraft are much harder to learn the basics on, with no "seat of the pants" feedback, however much less dangerous!

I agree with most of what you say, and a tough resilient aircraft, whatever it is constructed of, or however it is constructed, is a must, as is that "just do it" attitude.

Use a leather glove to flick the prop, a lightweight welding glove is ok. after a while you'll get used to it and probably won't even bother.

Someone ( BELIBLIS I think ) earlier on mentioned keeping well away from people, and I endorse this, these aircraft can be lethal if they hit someone.
Sorry BELIBLIS, I think I just contravened about every regulation in the book, at my age I should know better! - I guess I'm a little lucky being able to find somewhere to fly without too many people around.
Good luck with your flying Todd,
Will Dunlop.