I posted this yesterday on another tread, this is about my first time.

A month ago I decided to look into RC flying, I went on the net and found a local field close to me. Found the Presidents phone number and gave him a call, from that point on it has been one awfully kool ride...

He said to come down and meet him and the guys and maybe have a try flying. My heart was already beating, he asked if I had bought any gear which I hadn't, he said that was a good start.

I went down and meet about 8-10 people and they were all very friendly, with lots of advice and as I take advice well I really appreciated it.

After a hour or so I was invited to have a go at flying, I was shown the TX and it's basic use and we practiced with power off. He then took up a another guys trainer after a few minutes I was given control, whoo I had flown heaps of flight sims for many years but to actually have something real respond to my every move was awesome. After a couple of circuits he brought the plane down. My mouth was dry and I was so of lost for words, a few of the guys said I did well for my first time. Anyway I spent the next few hours talking about what type of setup, and where to buy and what not to buy.

A week later everything was bought I went home charged up the TX&RX (I was dying to try it after a few hours but resisted until fully charged 24 hours later). I started to assemble the Boomerang ARF in the middle of our lounge room, my wife stayed away and I banned our dog. (Garage is full as we have just moved house).

I had it all built in a few night's, but I had to wait a week to give it ago. Early this Saturday I woke up to the clearest blue sky, it was warm but not hot, I finished off my field box and then got the engine going and went through the run in steps, I put six tanks through and it was great and loud for a set of units. (I was waiting for one of my neighbours to knock on the door, I know which one). That night I was so excited for my first fly on Sunday, everything was all setup and ready for packing into the car in the morning.

Sunday morning I got up and it was pissing down with rain, great I thought (I'm sure I used something else to describe it, but let's stick with great!)! Anyway I thought I'll go to the field and see if anybody was there, I got there and low and behold there were cars in the parking lot, and some had planes in the back. I meet the guys and for the first few hours we just watched it rain, we did the radio check during a break and had to wait till it stopped completely. A couple of the guys took there planes up during the short breaks but as a beginner with my instructor we had to wait. Finally at about 3pm the rain stopped and my instructor said let's go, so he walked me through the start-up procedure and the safety process and once he felt I know the basics we walked to the runway. By this time we were the only two there, he took off and re trimmed the plane from the earlier flight. He then asked if I was ready and gave me control, it didn't long for him take back control, he tells me it's normal. We a few more circuits I was getting better we did a loop and dropped the throttle and then increased. It was so much fun to be flying by own plane.

He did comment that I was doing well, so he landed and we walked to the plane, he then started to explain the take off process and which direction to fly towards. After a couple of example take offs he said your turn, to which I gulped a mouth full of air. No way I thought but here goes, so he read out instruction and I slowly taxied down the runway, a bit to the right, a bit more straighten up, full throttle, elevator down, elevator down and within a instance I was off the ground and relatively straight, he then took control as I relaxed. I was told that was good, we did this four or five times moving further away from the back of the plane so it was harder to see the plane going straight. He then landed.

We had time for another flight as the sky was clearing so I fuelled up and he took off, after a few more circuits he got me to fly slower and slower and told me to fly straight down the runway at height, after a few passes he said watch me as I land, so he slowly approached the runway describing every move. Before I knew it I was flying the plane in for final approach, I was a bit too short so he took control for another pass, I tried again then again and I got closer and closer to the ground and before I knew it I touched terra ferma, and was taxing down, he then said full throttle and take off which I did, this completed my first touch & go. He then took control as I yelled out some four letter words in exhilaration. We did another land and some rolls and loops, I had the most enjoyable day in a long time, my wife's ears are still ringing.

Hopefully this was interesting for somebody, My main point is that by going through a club and even without the excellent instructor you get support that I believe is invaluable, as a beginner I could not think of a better way to learn.

Arie