Originally posted by RC-Lew
2. Instructors
Once I've picked a club, how do I pick an instructor? Both of the larger clubs near me have multiple instructors (so their websites say), what do I look for in an instructor? I've read a few horror-stories of instructors crashing the student's plane, and, well, let's say that I wouldn't deal with that in a professional manner
- so I really need a good instructor
Thanks for your help! I'm looking foward to getting into the hobby
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I went through the club training program last summer and here are my thoughts:
1) You may encounter many instructors, I had about five, this is a good thing. I learned different stuff from each of them.
2) Try and tell the instructor what you want. I wanted structure and goals, many instructors just say "go fly".
3) Go to the field and watch! Go to training night and observe the instructors, then ask for one. But remember, you may not be able to monopolize the "best" instructor all the time.
As for soloing, I had about 30 hours on a park flyer and a lot of G2 time.
When I went to my LT-40 I spent:
3 sessions - 7 flights - on the buddy box (took off on flight 6)
2 sessions - six flights - with an instructor beside me (first landing on flight 10)
Soloed (instructor went back and sat down under the shed) on the 14th flight.
Oh, had a minor crash on the 25th flight, lost confidence, and got the instructor to trim fly the airplane and stand by me for one landing.
Have at it.