Someone once wrote that the better looking the plane, the more difficult it is to fly. There is more than a little truth in this statement. The 4-channel duct plane is definitely not a plane to start with. Start with any of the following: Firebird Commander; Firebird Freedom; Aerobird Challenger; T-hawk; Easy Star; Slow-V; Slow-Stick; BeginAir. The easier the controls, and the more stable the plane, the greater are your chances for successful beginner flights.

Don't be discouraged by the failed attempts to fly the Decathlon. I love the way the plane looks, but it is much harder to fly than any of the planes listed above. Its even a more difficult plane to fly than its sister plane, the Cub.

For a quick boost to your flying, get an AeroAce for $30 at Toys-R-Us. Its a blast to fly, very easy to learn and is virtually indestructable.