Re: "If you pick it up in a week fine, if it takes a year fine. As long as you are enjoying it." << Exactly!! I have had some new flyers being able to have complete control of the plane after about 3 flights! This is far from normal however. Most new flyers come out on the weekends and it usually takes most of the summer to get good enough to solo. The 2 most common causes of not being to solo in 1 summer: 1. equipment; using a plane that flys too fast or is too maneuverable or using a cheap engine that is hard to keep running. Other goofy ideas such as using a 46 size engine on a 25 size trainer, makes landings difficult because the plane doesn't want to come down! 2.consistancy; coming out to the field only every other week or once a week isn't going to cut it. You are going to run into a weekend or 2 of bad weahter but, when the weather is good, get out there. Make it first thing in the morning as well. The winds are usually calmer then and a better chance that there is going to be an instructor around. Showing up at 3 pm when the wind has come up isn't going to impress anybody! Being nervous is common and only stick time and confidence will help that. I have been flying for years now and I am still usually jittery on the first flight of the day before I calm down. Thats why I get in a few flights on my own planes early in the morning before I start teaching the new flyers on their planes. Talked too much here, sorry. [X(]