Now it's my turn to get abused. I have been flying for 3 years. I am TOTALLY self taught. My first plane (if you can call it that) was a SPAD BUHOR. I couldn't fly it worth a crap. I had a very very short lifespan. I had a much more experienced pilot test fly it and he was surprised that it flew as well as it did. Still, I couldn't control it.

Then I went on to a very slow flying electric, which you can see in My Models. I flew the bejezus out of it. I flew at night in illuminated parking lots because I was so horny to fly. At the same time, I INVESTED in Aero Fly Pro, yes Pro. This little program has saved me THOUSANDS. After I had figured that thing out I bought a GWS Estarter, then a Formosa, then a brushless for the Formosa, etc etc. Heck, my first balsa nitro burner was a TH Uproar 40. I flew the crap out of that thing. Now I have Carl Goldberg Extra 300 with a .90 in it.

Here's the point. I'm an instructor now, after three years. I didn't volunteer for the position. I fell into it. People gravitate to me and I don't know why. I'm 26. Figure that out. Don't discount the capabilities of simulators, don't discount the value of stick time. Yes, there is a vast difference between time and experience. But with time, comes experience. It's a symbiotic relationship, and you can't have one without the other.

Fastinated, I've been where you are. Stay excited, and hungry to fly, and try to learn as much as you can and you will broaden your horizons.

Congrats to you on what you have done.