as for the newbies and instruction issue I have over the years been lucky to be with some nice clubs that are more than happy to give instruction to the newbies. Our clubs like all others lose a lot of the guys we train but not because they lose interest it is because of the increaseing AMA dues then on top of it the club dues then the increasing costs at the LHS. What most of the newbies i see are doing is joining for a year learning to fly then goto local parks and schools and fly with out having to pay all the money out in all the dues each year. now not all stay in the hobby but we have some nice areas around here to fly plus the Mississippi, and Rock Rivers to fly loat planes from and a lot of nice size open grass fields at state parks and they are usually loaded with people flying in the nice weatehr rather than at the clubs. So i have to disagree that a lot of the newbies lose interest it is just that a lot of them join and learn to fly then go find someplace where they can fly for free.

Joe