When I read the posts on these boards, I continually feel like a complete novice is being given the impression that they no matter what they do, their trainer is going to crash and end up in a thousand pieces.

Granted, over your life in the hobby, many years, you're certainly going to lose a plane (or two or three).

However, in my (albeit limited) experience this year, none of the four student pilots had a major crash that required rekitting.

Of course, the experienced pilots in our club piled them into the dirt left and right.

So, if you do your preflight religiously, know your limitations, and keep air between you and the ground, I bet you can keep a trainer in one piece. Conversely, if you try flying inverted at six feet off the deck your probably toast.

GB