I certainly don't think I'm anything special (in fact, I'm sure some would frown on my approach), but I'm entirely self-taught. And as a result I've probably crashed more than my fair share! Still, I feel very comfortable flying my Hangar 9 Arrow these days, although I know I'm not as crisp as many of the old hands. My guess is, my long exposure to flight simulators over the years helped (not r/c specific, but when you fly MSFS from the tower view, it at least helps you to learn to fly the plane when it's coming at you, which was the hardest part for me to master). I also fly real planes as a hobby, so the physics of the process are no mystery to me either. For me it's just been a series of flights with a variety of end results (kind way of saying I spiked it in once or twice...or three times), but at this point I can comfortably take off (or hand launch if the grass is too tall), fly around, do some light acro, and land (with or without power) without pranging the plane (at least not beyond repair!). Latest project is to convert the Arrow into a taildragger, as has been done with some other trainers here, because the nosegear mount was bent a few flights ago (not the gear itself...just the plastic mount on the firewall). Besides, I like the look of the taildragger better anyway, and I suspect it will be easier to launch from the soccer fields I usually fly from. Anyway, as others have said, everybody's different, and this is a hobby that appeals to each of us in different ways. I hope to be in it for the long haul, and to eventually fly more complex planes and systems (particularly interested in aerial video...how cool is that!), and I appreciate the knowledge I've gained from lurking in these forums.

Regards all,

Dave