I purchased the Avistar RTF Combo on Friday 6/6 and put it together in about an hour. I've been flying with Realflight Deluxe for about a month and went flying for the first time today.

I broke the engine in yesterday on a stand and also learned the value of an electric starter after I "saved" by getting a chicken stick. 20 minutes later I borrowed a electric starter.

Hooked to a Buddy Box my trainer took off and let me fly a basic pattern through 1 tank full. 2nd time out I tried to take off but this is the one thing very different from the simulator. In real life you must use FULL Throttle. Tall grass saved all but my prop and 2nd time around no problem. Flew awhile and even landed on my own.

3rd time up take off went even better flew around awhile landed a couple of times and lost prop number 2. Changed prop and flew one last time no problems at all thanks to a fast take off of a helicopter as my transition to rudder was a little slow.

The Avistar is great as is the Realflight simulator. But I think the best part of it all were the great people I met. Jr. that helped me break in my plane, Mike that helped me adjust a servo and "break in" my engine on Sat. R. Stanfield that controlled the buddy box and all the Helicopter guys and others that answered questions and helped me here and there. Thanks them all.

This is a great hobby and I'm looking forward to many more flying and tinkering days.