And I honestly think that a better use of the $63 up front investment in spare parts for the inevitable self-learning fly, crash, repair cycles would be better spent joining the AMA and finding an instructor. While we do see occasional reports from people who are self-taught, there are just as many who saw the light and got help, and even more who just give up and find another hobby.

I brought my Slow Stick with me to the field last Saturday. There was a new person who had joined the AMA, but had not yet bought a trainer plane. I wasn't in the mood for teaching, so I offered to let one of the other instructors use my plane to give him some flying time. If he hadn't been on a buddy box, the plane would have been toast, several times.

Also remember that while the slope version has many of the replacable parts, the prop and gear box are right up front and are likely to suffer damage too.