piper chuck, I have read many a thread here where the 'instructor' causes the crash! One I believe was a young boy's plane, because that instructor was watching another instructor's plane crash. The thread I think is called '3 crashes' or somethingwhatever. They had 3 planes in the air at once with instructors in control. Ya see even with an 'instructor' it can get expensive. I encourage others because it can be done. I, like others, take pride in learning something on my own. If it costs me a litte more, it's my money. Now I'm sure you will say it is safer to have an 'instructor' to teach one to fly, see my earlier comment on the 3 instructors having 3 student's planes in the air at the same time. How safe is that? Like gjeffers said it's an individuals choice.