Well I thought I would share my first flight experience with everyone here at RCU. Yesterday I flew my superstar 40 for the first time and got to solo all in the same day. It was exciting, rewarding and worth all the time spent preparing for that first flight. I followed the advice of my instructor and did a fair amount of research, talking, and asking questions before I spent any money. The local rc club
where I live is FIRST CLASS. Everyone I have met so far is extremely kind and helpful. I was able to solo on the first day not because
I am *a natural*, but because I had prepared for success by getting help and spending some time with the simulator. The simulator made a HUGE difference. I was amazed how true to the sim my plane was. When I took control of the plane for the first time, there were no surprises, I had already experienced it with the sim. I flew with my instructor several times, performed some take off's a few times, performed a few landings, then made a solo flight. If I had tried to fly on my own, I have no doubt that it would have ended in failure. Even if someone has the skills to fly, I think it is unlikely that they will be able to properly set up/trim the plane. (I know I could not have)

At any rate it was well worth my time to get an instructor, get some advice, and fly the simulator for a while.

[8D]