No I wasn't there Minnflyer. A good friend of mine gave me a nitro car for my B-day. He also bought his son one so thats more less what brought me to the hobby shop. I built and have flown lots of control line and a few free flights when I was a kid. Back then RC was way more expensive, it was a grown up thing. They did have button flyers, the ones you wound a rubber band, clicked and the band worked the rudder. It was a pulse system I think.
I am having fun. Im suprized stang didnt suggest a shrink instead of an instuctor on my choice for a first plane. I knew what I was getting into. Funny thing is I can't say I had any less fun going home and analizing what went wrong than I would have if I got something I knew I could fly and flew the batt. or the tank out.
After 2 months of Sundays I got a 30 sec. flight. Im happy. My choice to get a good radio and a trainer type plane is because I learned,had fun and got something out of all those Sundays. My next flight on the F-35 is gonna be when I can really fly it. kinda telling it thanks.

mean while I think I'll set a fan in my hall way, adjust its speed along with my Citabria's speed and see if i can fly it into the head wind standin still.