I knew 2 teenagers who taught themselves how to fly with a Olympic 650 2 channel glider. I was inspired by them to try it for myself. The owner of the LHS gave me about 1 hours' worth of advice and demonstration, then I was on my own.... and totally thrilled with just being able to land it on my side of the barbed wire fence. It was a good way to get started but did not totally prepare me to fly planes that need constant supervision.