[sm=lol.gif] I've been in this Sport for 3 years, and I'm still a Newbie! Every flight is a new experience for me. I finally Solo'd at my club after 3 flights with the instructor. And I wasn't the one who determined that I was ready to Solo... HE WAS!

Why I learned so quickly to begin with was because I flew full sized planes for 15 years, and flew model planes for a year before I joined a club.

To this day, If I felt the littlest inclination or was told that I couldn't handle my plane, or I was too scared about a maiden, I wouldn't hesitate to ask my Instructor to test my plane out for me. And I would not think twice to hook up the "Buddy Box" If I had to.

I lost quite a bit of money by flying on my own and doing it my way, and flying at places that weren't really made for R/C Planes. So in the Nutshell, I'm glad I joined a Club and humbled myself enough to say I don't know anything. And the more I'm around this Sport, I'm starting to realize I don't.

It is my experience, that most of the crashes is from sure lack of experience, or not paying attention to details. Some people are so smart, you can't tell them anything, because they know more than you or me with a little experience. They make a couple of flights on a trainer, then think they can handle a Warbird or a Advanced Plane.

Some Newbies with EGO's are so bad, they'll blame the Plane, before they blame themselves. Well, it's there money, and not mine... it is a shame.

Not to stereotype... and to set a example, you get a bunch of 70-75 year Old Geezers with a EGO. Or Newbies getting together with a bunch of Warbirds or Advanced Planes, 6 out of 10 you're bound to see a crash. It takes quick reflexes to fly some of these planes, and they are not forgiving when you screw up. I used to fly a 1948 J-3 Cub all the time during the 80's. When I flew my first R/C Cub, it wasn't the same, why? Because I wasn't in it, and there is no " Fly by the seat of your pants!"

From my experience, people who flew the full sized birds learn faster than people who don't know the basics in flight. But even though I have had 387 hours or more in full size planes, I knew enough to take other peoples suggestions when I got into this Hobby. Even though people say at my field that I'm above average after 3 years of flying, I still won't fly a Warbird or Gee Bee until I get my Second and Third Plane, and have flown it for a couple of years without wrecking it.


So I'm with Rebsix 100% on this one, I just have a different way of explaining it.


Peter Dowling aka Luftwaffe Oberst
AMA District II # 865404
Aero Modelers Club
Pulaski, NY